Mumbai: More than 3,226 participants needed medical assistance at the Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM) 2019. Out of which, 15 runners were hospitalised at different hospitals in the city. The runners were too excited to participate in the marathon, but were disappointed as the organisers failed to provide water that the given points, which resulted in them suffering from dehydration.
Majority of the marathoners faced a case of muscle cramps, dehydration, minor injuries and exhaustion. “While running, intake of water is mandatory for runners who in excitement forget to drink enough of it which it leads to dehydration and other health related issues,” said a senior doctor.
Talking about the patients who faced problems, Dr Vijay D’Silva, Medical Director, Asian Heart Institute (AHI) and in-charge of medical facilities at the marathon said, “Most of them were given basic treatment and others reported exhaustion, cramps and needed physiotherapy. Over 41 runners were given intravenous rehydration as they all suffered from dehydration. Compared to last year no serious cases were reported, just 15 were hospitalised of which 13 were discharged after getting treated.
Only two person were admitted at the Jaslok and GT hospitals as they suffered severe cramps and injuries.” He further added three people sustained shoulder and head injuries for to which they asked to get an X-ray. The hospital deployed 14 cardiac ambulances and had eight ‘mobile medics’. AHI, who has been providing medical aid to marathon runners, had set up 12 medical aid stations all along the route for any first aid requirements;
it had set up two base camps at Azad Maidan and near Metro Theatre (of 40 and 20 beds each) at the start/finish equipped to handle all emergencies. Out of the 46,000 participants, less than 5 per cent of them needed medical attention. “Last five years have proven to be the safest for TATA Mumbai Marathon. The Asian Heart Institutes’ medical team achieved zero per cent mortality on a course and hope to replicate this perfect score every year,” said Dr Nilesh Gautam, head Preventive Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation, Asian Heart Institute.