Medical resources for the Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Montreal Marathon: Ranked 1st in North America and 3rd worldwide

MONTREAL, June 20, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - The most popular running race in Quebec, with over 37,000 participants expected to attend in September 2017, the Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Montreal Marathon & 1/2 Marathon boasts the highest medical services standards for this type of event. "The Marathon's medical plan allows healthcare professionals to provide care to runners in less than two minutes, 59 seconds, regardless of where they are on the course. This is an indication of exceptional performance for such a large event," says Eddy Afram, the Marathon's Medical Coordinator.

"We have implemented a response system and acquired state-of-the-art medical equipment for our runners," mentions Louis Malafarina, Executive Director, Competitor Canada. This is the first year the Marathon will be equipped with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) technology, which artificially maintains patients' blood flow and respiration. Heatstroke treatment is also provided, including on-site bathtubs and showers, enabling healthcare professionals to reduce their patients' body temperature. This treatment alone requires 3.6 tonnes of ice.

Furthermore, numbers show the scope of the resources and services provided, which improve each year.

• Professionals – 300 on-site healthcare professionals, including 6 physicians, 12 resident physicians, 16 nurses, 4 respiratory therapists and one pharmacist.
• Emergency vehicles – Over 10 ambulances, 10 medical motorbikes and 7 alternative transport vehicles are deployed.
• Equipment – Over 50 defibrillators and 20 heart monitors are available.
• Value of the medical equipment on-site in 2017 – Over $3M.

Thanks to these facilities, patients requiring medical care can be treated on-site rather than at a hospital, which is rarely seen in Quebec. Among other things, the site includes a biochemistry service and laboratory, a resuscitation room able to accommodate up to six patients, 8 monitoring beds for intermediate care, nearly 40 beds for acute care and 10 beds for sports medicine.

Who will require this care? Weather is the primary factor that may impact the number of patients, which can double if the temperature is too high. "It is possible that certain runners overestimate their abilities and lack training; 70% to 80% of our patients participate in the half marathon," explains Mr. Afram, adding that, "it is preferable for runners to respect their limits and choose the distance for which they trained." 

About the Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Montreal Marathon & ½ Marathon

In 2017, the Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Montreal Marathon & ½ Marathon, whose 27th edition coincides with Montreal's 375th anniversary year, will be marked by novelty. Organized by Festival de la Santé, in conjunction with Competitor Canada, the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series is the world's largest running series, with over 500,000 runners participating in events worldwide every year. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with the international 20 Years Running campaign, the series started with the simple idea of making running fun, and has transformed the running landscape by livening up the route with live bands, cheer teams and entertaining water stations, creating a block-party atmosphere for participants and spectators alike. Today, the series of marathons and half-marathons has spread to more than 30 destination cities, drawing visitors from around the world. Over the history of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, charity partners have raised more than $300 million through the events for a variety of worthy causes. Registration for the Rock 'n' Roll Oasis Montreal Marathon & Half Marathon can be accessed at the following address, and there are five distances to choose from: www.runrocknroll.com/montreal/en/register/.

 

SOURCE Rock'n'Roll Oasis Montreal Marathon

Vanessa Lyssan, 514 266-5434, [email protected]