Insufficient drinking water saw marathoners suffer cramps, collapse

Hot and humid weather coupled with lack of sufficient drinking water resulted in many marathon participants suffering from cramps, dehydration and even nausea on Sunday.

According to organisers of the marathon, nearly 4,000 people had to be given medical treatment of which, 17 had to be hospitalised. However, save for one runner who was admitted to Cumbala Hill Hospital, all others were discharged by Sunday evening.

About the number of participants provided minor treatments, Dr Narendra Garaj, who attended to the runners at one of the 11 medical aid stations set up by Asian Heart Institute, said, “Since morning, we saw 162 medical cases. All these cases were of minor injuries and cramps. Fortunately, nothing serious occurred.”

Dr Vijay D’Silva, Medical Director, Asian Heart Institute, and in-charge, medical facilities at the marathon, said, “AHI had set up 11 medical aid stations all along the route for any first-aid requirements and two base camps (with 40 and 20 beds each) at the start/finish equipped to handle all emergencies. The hospital deployed 12 ambulances (each with a doctor and nurse to ply the entire route). The team also had seven 'mobile medics' (doctors on motorbikes for the entire route with defibrillators) and 20 spotters who were especially deployed to detect runners who needed medical assistance. Over 400 people including 100 doctors, 200 nurses and physiotherapists, and the remaining supporting staff from the hospital were on duty.”

One of the police officials present along the route of the half marathon and full marathon said, “Under hot and humid conditions, many runners would stop suddenly or were seen searching for water frantically. While residents of some societies on the route offered water, there were some stretches where nothing was available. At such places, many runners were seen giving up or sitting down to get a breather.”