Beijing government mobilizes medical resources to protect runners

The Beijing government has mobilized extra medical workers and resources to ensure that participants in this weekend’s Beijing marathon have a safe experience, according to news site thepaper.cn.

An estimated 30,000 people will run in the 2017 Beijing Marathon on Sunday, which will take runners to iconic landmarks like Tiananmen Square and the Olympic stadiums. First held in 1981, the race has been called China’s “national marathon” and is one of the most important events of its kind in the country.

Twenty doctors will run in the race and give medical aid to runners who get into difficulty. These doctors are from top “grade-A” hospitals across the country.

Ten service sites will be set up along the route to offer medical support, and there will be one every 2.5 kilometers in the second half of the race. The marathon organizing committee has also mobilized 50 medical staff to carry defibrillators to give timely treatment to runners experiencing any heart problems.

Bilingual doctors, nurses and volunteers are on standby to offer support services. The organizing committee will also arrange medical services at the finish line.

From September 14 to 16, the committee will invite bone doctors and emergency physicians to help publicize knowledge about health issues and recovery tips for the marathon runners.

In recent years, many accidents have been reported during marathons in China. Last December, two runners died after collapsing during the Xiamen International Half-Marathon in East China’s Fujian Province, even though both runners were given immediate emergency treatment by medical staff.