Ironman organizers ensure prompt action during emergencies

EVEN if everything seemed to have been laid out for this Sunday’s Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Cebu which will start and end at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, organizers are still on their feet to ensure that one of the biggest international sporting events that Cebu has ever hosted will be trouble free.

The Organizing Sunrise Events Inc. (SEI) and host cities Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Cebu and Talisay are making sure that medical concerns will be promptly attended to.

SEI project director Princess Galura, has directed all those concerned to immediately inform her of any medical emergencies during the race.

She said that the Capitol has also instructed her to bring participants with major emergencies to the Chong Hua Hospital.

Each city has also identified the nearest hospitals in their jurisdiction.

Lapu-Lapu has the Mactan Doctors Hospital and Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital; Mandaue has the Mandaue District Hospital and South General Hospital while Talisay has the Talisay District Hospital.

Lapu-Lapu has also requested a helicopter from the Philippine Air Force for air evacuation during emergencies aside from four sea medical teams and six ambulances aside from nine medical stations.

An ambulance will be stationed at the Cebu Port Area to receive a participant who might be brought in by sea.

All resorts in Lapu-Lapu, with a hundred percent occupancy, will be manned by Lapu-Lapu City’s tourist police to secure guests while about 1,500 policemen and force multipliers will be deployed.

Mandaue will provide three ambulances and 6-8 strategically-placed medic tents while Cebu City will deploy 130 police personnel including mobile patrols, motor emergency rescue plus 50 force multipliers. For medical emergencies, the city is planning to ask the help of Dave Tumulak’s team.

Talisay will have two ambulances, 26 medics and four doctors. /CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON