What do paramedics think of half/full marathon events?

Posted by ArachnidGal@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 20 comments

Today I completed Edinburgh Half Marathon (yay!) and, due to some serious heat, the course was full of people with heatstroke being tended to by many of first aiders/paramedics.

It got me thinking, do paramedics dislike these sorts of events, where people are often underprepared or pushing themselves too hard?

(As a nervous runner, I just want to add that I’m SO thankful for your support during these events. I’m also just curious…)

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AnonymousCapybara72@reddit

I'd imagine they prefer working a marathon over scooping granny up off the floor again and sitting outside A&EA for 12 hours.

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I’m involved with a different sport where we normally have paramedics sitting around doing not much for 95% of the time. Then it’s a variety of small injuries, and an occasional ‘holy shit’ moment maybe once a year.

They love it; there’s very few drunks, hardly any abuse and as well as getting paid, they’re compensated with bacon butties and cups of tea and generally given a bottle of wine to take away as well.

And they generally say it’s less sad as well; I’ve seen them deal with the odd broken leg or arm, and some minor stuff like heat strokes and grit in eyes, but they’re not getting called out to deal with babies who passed away overnight or elderly loved ones with a heart attack.

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dazed1984@reddit

I bet they prefer it to all the drunk calls they get.

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Frosty_Leg4438@reddit

They’re paid to be there and I imagine it’s a lot less disliked than a town centre on any Saturday night!

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iffyClyro@reddit

They’re mostly privately contracted first aiders, they’ll be happy to be kept busy.

They normally complain about the boredom.

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mattjimf@reddit

Every year the tender for the Great North Run goes out, every year St John's Ambulance get the contract, every year the North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust get contracted to supply extra paramedics for the event weekend by St John's (and also do something regarding the comms).

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Pedantichrist@reddit

Very seldom will a 999 ambulance be sent to an event like this, they will have event cover for most eventualities.

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Illustrious_Bus8440@reddit

They get paid to be on shift, i really Dont think they will care either way what they do on the shift

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Pedantichrist@reddit

Of course we do.

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FunkyYoghurt@reddit

My brother is a paramedic. His only issue is people on drugs or drunk.

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mcrrob@reddit

Events like Marathons are covered by private companies. I work for a Manchester based private company and worked on the Manchester Marathon last month.

We had 20 Ambulances 🚑 each with a paramedic plus either an Emergency care assistant or technician, Cycle responders plus countless doctors, nurses, first aiders and physios based at the various medical tents across the course.

Events like marathons are fun and a break from the norm . Its normally done secondary to main day job for NHS.

I love covering Events, we are normally able to have a little fun during the day, we can interact with the public and cheer on the competitors.

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GlitchingGecko@reddit

Is it something you do in addition to NHS paramedic work, (like with Air Ambulance doctors), or do people generally work full time for a private company?

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mcrrob@reddit

It varies, some people work full time for private companies and some do it ad hoc along side nhs.

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Larlar001@reddit

The paramedics at the event will be hired to respond to any emergencies at the event- normally by a private agency. Sometimes they will have an ambulance that they can use to transport to hospital or will have a makeshift A+E on site with doctors/ other healthcare professionals to treat these. If a 999 ambulance is needed to transport to hospital then this is treated as any other job but in my experience, you don't get many call outs to them. Source: paramedic that has worked for 999 and event cover

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escapingfromelba@reddit

They'll be hired via an agency.

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fidelcabro@reddit

Not a paramedic but a 999 call handler.

These events have first aiders and other trained people at them, with equipment.

And are usually set up well.

And most people doing them are sensible and realise they need more hydration and not to go crazy. Especially in heat.

That being said things happen that could happen anywhere.

Last bank holiday weekend a local event like this had someone go into cardiac arrest, and because of people on scene, quick cpr, and a defib on the patient they got a rosc moments before the crew were on scene.

And for things like this and festivals there is usually rvps for people to be taken to for an ambulance. Bit different if its an arrest though.

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