Erlanger treats 133 at IRONMAN over the weekend

by Mary Maddox

Mon, September 11th 2017, 6:05 PM UTC

For the first time at a national endurance event in the United States, Erlanger Health System made life saving technology, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), available for pre-hospital care to treat patients suffering from cardiac or pulmonary failure. Officials reported “fortunately none of the IRONMAN athletes required the life-saving procedure during this year’s event.” The Erlanger ECMO team is comprised of a cardiologist, two catheterization lab nurses, a respiratory therapist, a perfusionist, a LIFE FORCE nurse and a LIFE FORCE paramedic all of whom are expertly trained in the use of the ECMO technique. (Image from Erlanger)

Erlanger’s event medicine team includes trauma and orthopedic specialists, registered nurses, paramedics, and emergency physicians to provide medical support during IRONMAN. (Image from Erlanger)

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For the first time at a national endurance event in the United States, Erlanger Health System made life saving technology, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), available for pre-hospital care to treat patients suffering from cardiac or pulmonary failure. Officials reported “fortunately none of the IRONMAN athletes required the life-saving procedure during this year’s event.” The Erlanger ECMO team is comprised of a cardiologist, two catheterization lab nurses, a respiratory therapist, a perfusionist, a LIFE FORCE nurse and a LIFE FORCE paramedic all of whom are expertly trained in the use of the ECMO technique. (Image from Erlanger)

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Erlanger says it treated 133 IRONMAN athletes during last weekend's 70.3 competition in Chattanooga.

The IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship took place last weekend starting early Saturday and Sunday morning. Athletes from all over the world came to compete and support teammates.

Jabier Gomez from Spain and Daniela Ryf from Switzerland were this year's IRONMAN 70.3 winners.

Erlanger says this was a very challenging event which resulted in some competitors being treated.

But the hospital says this year's numbers were down from last year, where a total of 611 athletes were treated.

The majority of participants from the 2017 Ironman World Championship were treated for soft tissue injuries, minor sprains and strains, nausea and vomiting, dehydration and respiratory illness.

But in 2016, a majority of the 2016 athletes were mostly treated for heat related illness. There were only 200 patients treated during the 2015 competition.

Erlanger says 19 athletes were sent to Erlanger's Baroness, Erlanger North, and Erlanger East emergency departments for further treatment.

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The hospital says the medical staff treated various injuries such as joint and limb injuries, head and facial injuries, dehydration, chest pain, and abdominal pain.

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