An exciting opportunity for EMIG participants has emerged as this year was the first time medical students were invited as part of a 'trial run', to be part of the Emergency Medical Team from Westmead and Blacktown, at the Sun-Herald City to Surf Fun run.

Our team was split into two and assembled in two different medical centres set up along the 14 km fun run route. Many other area health services also contributed teams to assist at other medical centres.

Medical Students' role as medical observers, saw them undertake the important task of contemporaneous documentation. It is a well accepted fact that documentation is a key element to the medical process.

During this time the students needed to act quickly and efficiently to record vital signs and other important parameters real time.

One of our medical teams was called upon to handle a resuscitation emergency.

We thank the team for allowing us to participate in this important event, and acknowledge their professionalism and high degree of training.

We look forward to being able to participate in future Sun Herald City to Surf Medical Teams.

15 August 2008

 

SOME BACKGROUND TO THE CITY TO SURF FUN RUN

The first City to Surf fun run was held in 1971 and has continued as a Sydney tradition, being run every year since 1971.

This year the the event turned a mile stone in registering 70,000 participants. This is a huge number of people undertaking the 14km journey from the City of Sydney and winding their way to Bondi Beach.

The Sydney City to Surf fun run encourages healthy exercise and meets the NSW Health Department Corporate Plan Goal of 'healthier people'.

Taking into account the sheer number of entrants and various possible weather conditions and levels of individual fitness, the run has the potential to generate a large number of emergency presentations.

Thus it is important that NSW Health is involved in the planning and establishment of teams of emergency medical professionals, paramedics and volunteer first aiders to deal with these emergency situations on site, where possible.

As part of the NSW Health Team, Westmead and Blacktown Emergency Medicine Consultants, Doctors and Nurses are an integral part of expert medical teams present during and after the run.