First aiders prepare to treat half marathon runners

Volunteers from St John Ambulance London (Prince of Wales’s) District are getting ready to treat runners in two city centre half marathons.

Providing first aid to everyone who needs it

 

First aiders, ambulances, Cycle Response Units and Motorcycle Response Units will be on duty at the Run To The Beat half marathon on September 25th and at the Royal Parks Foundation half marathon on October 9th to make sure that first aid is available to everyone who needs it.

Ann Cable, Commissioner of St John Ambulance London (Prince of Wales’s) District, said: ‘We believe that first aid should be available to everyone who needs it, so if you need help during one of these half marathons, make sure you visit one of our treatment centres which will be located around the route.’

First aid tips for competitors

As runners prepare to undertake the challenge of a half marathon, St John Ambulance has issued the following first aid tips:

• Drink sensible amounts of fluid to keep hydrated, but avoid drinking too much too quickly, or in short amounts of time
• If you start getting a headache, feel nauseous, have pale clammy skin, cramps or a rapid, weakening pulse, you may be suffering from heat exhaustion which can occur even when the weather is not hot
• If you think you may have heat exhaustion, seek medical advice straight away
• Rehydrate slowly with sips of fluid, do not drink large quantities at one time
• If the weather is wet, make sure that you have a clean, dry set of clothes to change into at the finish line so that you do not suffer from the effects of being cold and wet.