Caring for runners - come rain or shine
St John Ambulance treated 4068 people at this
Sunday’s Flora London Marathon, with most runners going on to
finish the race. Coldness and cramps were common problems and 53
runners were sent to hospital for further treatment.
April showers
Around 1400 St John Ambulance volunteers were on duty to provide
first aid support and advice to runners in the chilly April
showers. Figures were down from 5054 treated last year and fewer
people were hospitalised.
It is a challenging event but a very special one and we congratulate everyone who raced and wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured.
Ann Cable
Commissioner, St John Ambulance London
St John Ambulance is the nation’s leading first aid charity and
has been providing first aid at the marathon since
it began in 1981.
This year we had the following available:
- 50 ambulances
- 2000 plasters
- 200 bottles of baby oil (for cramp rubdowns) and
- 250 tubs of petroleum jelly (to alleviate sore areas).
‘Last year’s marathon was unusually hot but this year we had
typical British weather, with some heavy April showers. We treated
the usual blisters and cramp but there were a few cases of people
suffering from the cold, as there were some sudden drops in
temperature,’ said Ann Cable, Commissioner of St John Ambulance in
London.
‘It is a challenging event but a very special one and we
congratulate everyone who raced and wish a speedy recovery to those
who were injured.’
Fundraisers
St John Ambulance also had 200 people taking
part in the marathon. A group of firemen and a man in a
thong were just some of the people running to raise an amazing £1/4
million to keep St John Ambulance caring for communities and
supporting events like the Flora London Marathon.