|
Medical Information
Medical Advice & Guidance for Competitors
Competitor Responsibility Prior to
Entering
By entering one of our events we presume
that you already have a good level of fitness and experience and that
your current medical state and history are all in good order. We
recommend that all competitors visit their GP in the weeks prior to the
event and complete a general health check, for the sake of a 30 minute
appointment it will give you reassurance and it will also inform your GP
of the activities you participate in, thereby allowing them to keep more
accurate records. If your past medical history includes blood pressure,
cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary or any other serious health problems YOU
MUST visit your GP in advance to inform him of the challenge.
If you are taking any form of medication
YOU MUST visit your GP in advance and check that there are no potential
side-effects which will lead to problems during the event.
All our events are physically challenging
and should not be undertaken without significant thought, planning and
preparation. It’s unlikely that you will be able to complete the event
if you are starting with illness or injury, so if you should develop any
kind of injury or illness in the weeks preceding the event, don’t take
the risk.
Registration
When you register on line you will be
asked to provide information about any medical condition or information
that may be relevant in dealing with an incident during the event. This
information is treated as confidential.
During the race
First aiders will be in place at various
points on the course and all our checkpoint staff will be monitoring you
as you pass through. They may ask you a few simple questions and ask you
to sit down for a few moments, drink and eat something if they are
concerned. Please listen to them and take their advice.
Common injuries, illness &
treatment
There are many common injuries and
illnesses which you may suffer as a consequence of competing in extreme
running events. This is a list of the most common and is not a
definitive list, it has been compiled to raise your awareness of their
occurrence.
Foot care
Something as simple as foot care may well
cause you to drop out of the event. Blisters can cause extreme pain and
make it impossible for you to run and walk and prevention is always
better than any attempt to cure. Use trusted socks and shoes, especially
over rough terrain which will cause shoe ‘twisting’ and increase
likelihood of blisters. If you blister easily consider pre- taping,
plasters of Vaseline to reduce likelihood but try in advance. Take a
blister treatment pack with you and stop as soon as you feel the start
of blisters rather than continuing to the next point.
Sprains and strains
Uneven terrain increases likelihood of
sprains and strains, especially when you are tired and travelling during
the night. Wear correct footwear and ensure that they are fastened snug
to remove excess movement. Most sprains and strains can be dealt with an
ice pack, compression, rest and elevation.
Trauma
It is possible that you may fall and the
impact may cause trauma such as a broken bone or torn muscle. In this
event you will be forced to withdraw but you should be prepared to
self-treat as you may be several miles from the next checkpoint. Ensure
that you have a first aid kit to include bandages and dressings and you
also have sufficient clothing plus emergency blanket / bag to keep warm.
If you are unable to move, ask the next competitor to inform the
checkpoint marshal and / or use your mobile phone if you have reception
to inform the emergency services - 999 / 112 and the Extreme Energy
team. Remember even if you have no signal you can ring the emergency
service, they can also triangulate your position through your mobile
phone.
Dehydration
If the weather is warm there is a high
risk of dehydration for all competitors and you should ensure that you
drink regularly (guided by your thirst) to prevent its occurrence. There
will be water available at all Check points, carry a water bottle or
similar between checkpoints to keep yourself topped up. Dehydration
results in lowered blood pressure, elevated HR and a raise in body
temperature, all of which will lead to decrease in performance.
Signs of dehydration are:
The treatment for dehydration is rest and drinking fluids, re-hydration
should take place slowly as opposed to drinking large amounts within a
short time
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a reduction in body
temperature caused by poor weather conditions and general fatigue. Heat
is generated within the body by metabolism as a waste product of energy
production. If energy production drops due to factors such as low blood
sugar then body temperature may also drop. One of the biggest factors
which leads to hypothermia is ‘wind chill’ which will be most prominent
on high ground.
Signs of hypothermia:
-
incoherent speech
-
shivering
-
slow and weak pulse
Treatment includes warming up as soon as possible by removing the
affected person from wind chill, changing into dry clothes, raising
blood sugar and drinking warm fluids.
If your question has not
been answered here please contact us with your enquiry - contact us
|
