Medics on full alert today

Dr. Peter Mancao, the one given the unenviable task of overseeing the medical aspect of today’s Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Triathlon, said his all-Cebuano team is ready to extend swift medical care to anyone who would meet any accident in the energy-sapping, three-discipline race which starts and ends at the Shangri-la’s  Mactan Resort and Spa.

Mancao, a  Cardiovascular Surgery specialist  here in Cebu who also organizes local running events, assured that his group is ready to address the medical needs of the more than 2,000 participants.

The race’s medical aspect has been given greater importance this year in light of last year’s death of a relay racer.
Dr. Mancao said his group composed of personnel from the Emergency Response Unit Foundation (ERUF), Philippine National Red Cross (PRC), All-Terrain Medical Relief Operations (AMRO), Chong-Hua Hospital, ACERT of Mandaue City and TREAT of Talisay City will be on full alert.
“Participating medical groups and organizations are assigned specific areas along the route to ensure that  medical care will be promptly extended,” Mancao said.

Marshals and medics will be stationed along the shoreline of Shangri-La Mactan for the event’s swim leg. Rough waters are expected in the Hilutungan channel today due to a low pressure area which also cancelled some age categories in yesterday’s Alaska IronKids .

In case of an accident, Dr. Mancao said they will immediately apply first aid. If the victim’s condition worsens, he/she will be brought to their mini-hospital and command center which has a standby ambulance  in the event  the victim needs intensive treatment.

“If that happens, we will send the victim to our base hospital which is the Chong Hua Hospital.”

“It’s better to have Chong Hua Hospital as our base hospital because it’s in the middle of the city, very accessible and it has all the needed medical equipment,” said Mancao.

In the bike portion, TREAT and AMRO personnel will be stationed along the South Road Properties and in Talisay City. Mancao said that he reinforced the deployment of medical response teams in the area near Talisay City  to ensure a swift medical response.

In the run portion, Dr. Mancao said he is a bit worried about the area near the edge of Punta Engaño which has no trees and thus subject the athletes to extreme heat.

Overall though, Dr. Mancao believes Cebu’s second hosting of the IronMan 70.3 Philippines will be hassle-free.