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This year’s Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge was a most memorable one, with a record breaking 31 500 cyclists taking part in this increasingly popular event. According to Mande Toubkin, general manager emergency, trauma, transplant and corporate social investment at Netcare, medical support for the event was carefully planned and executed. This was one of the aspects that contributed to making it one of the most successful races in the 17-year history of the event.
 
“The Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge is a large and tough challenge and there are inevitably instances where cyclists require medical assistance. Netcare and emergency services provider, Netcare 911, which have been the medical partners to the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge for a number of years, deployed considerable resources at the event once again this year to make sure that the participants were all closely monitored and, where necessary, provided with world-class medical care,” says Toubkin.
 
“A total of 891 patients were assisted at the 10 medical points along the route and a further 106 at the medical facility at the finish line, most for minor ailments. Because of the extreme heat on race day, which saw temperatures climbing into the high thirties, there were some severe cases of dehydration and heat stroke. Other typical ailments included abrasions, nausea and vomiting, stomach cramps and seizures. Netcare 911 responded to 95 calls for emergency medical assistance and transported 59 patients to healthcare facilities,” says Toubkin.
 
According to Toubkin, three of the more serious cases were flown by Netcare 911 emergency medical services (EMS) helicopter to Netcare Milpark Hospital for specialised care. One patient had suffered multiple trauma but is now fortunately stable, while another suffered a coronary event and is also doing well. A third severely dehydrated patient suffered seizures and had to be given CPR on scene. This patient is also recovering well.
 
All patients who were admitted to Netcare Sunninghill, Netcare Olivedale, Netcare Linksfield, Netcare Garden City, Netcare Rand, Netcare Rosebank and Netcare Waterfall City hospitals have since been discharged with the exception of a patient at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital who is doing well.
 
Over 90 Netcare nursing staff manned the medical stations. According to Craig Grindell, chief operating officer of Netcare 911, they had 97 EMS staff members on scene in addition to the Netcare nursing staff, together with 16 ambulances, nine emergency response vehicles, five advanced life support paramedics on motorcycles, four quad bikes, two logistics vehicles, one media vehicle, as well as one ICU vehicle and eight stretcher bearers at the finish. To ensure critically injured or ill patients could be transferred to hospital immediately should it be required, an emergency helicopter with emergency care practitioners was dedicated to the event. A joint operations centre with six staff members coordinated the activities of all Netcare and Netcare 911 medical support staff.
 
Grindell says that Netcare 911 was well prepared with the race numbers, medical history and medical aid details of every participant, thus ensuring correct treatment or, where necessary, referrals for additional medical intervention or hospitalisation.
“The Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge encourages all cyclists to ‘Ride for a Purpose’ and make a difference. We were proud to be a part of this meaningful event, which has become one of the largest and best organised of its kind in the world. We hope that the record number of cyclists who participated enjoyed the day as much as we enjoyed the opportunity of looking after their wellbeing,” concludes Grindell.

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Issued by : Martina Nicholson Associates (MNA) on behalf of Netcells Cryogenics
Contact : Martina Nicholson or Graeme Swinney or Clemmy Eccles
Telephone : (011) 469 3016
Email: [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]