Dr. Peter Mancao, the one given the unenviable task of overseeing the medical aspect of today鈥檚 Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Triathlon, said his all-Cebuano team is ready to extend swift medical care to anyone who would meet any accident in the energy-sapping, three-discipline race which starts and ends at the Shangri-la鈥檚聽 Mactan Resort and Spa.
Mancao, a聽 Cardiovascular Surgery specialist聽 here in Cebu who also organizes local running events, assured that his group is ready to address the medical needs of the more than 2,000 participants.
The race鈥檚 medical aspect has been given greater importance this year in light of last year鈥檚 death of a relay racer.
Dr. Mancao said his group composed of personnel from the Emergency Response Unit Foundation (ERUF), Philippine National Red Cross (PRC), All-Terrain Medical Relief Operations (AMRO), Chong-Hua Hospital, ACERT of Mandaue City and TREAT of Talisay City will be on full alert.
鈥淧articipating medical groups and organizations are assigned specific areas along the route to ensure that聽 medical care will be promptly extended,鈥� Mancao said.
Marshals and medics will be stationed along the shoreline of Shangri-La Mactan for the event鈥檚 swim leg. Rough waters are expected in the Hilutungan channel today due to a low pressure area which also cancelled some age categories in yesterday鈥檚 Alaska IronKids .
In case of an accident, Dr. Mancao said they will immediately apply first aid. If the victim鈥檚 condition worsens, he/she will be brought to their mini-hospital and command center which has a standby ambulance聽 in the event聽 the victim needs intensive treatment.
鈥淚f that happens, we will send the victim to our base hospital which is the Chong Hua Hospital.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 better to have Chong Hua Hospital as our base hospital because it鈥檚 in the middle of the city, very accessible and it has all the needed medical equipment,鈥� said Mancao.
In the bike portion, TREAT and AMRO personnel will be stationed along the South Road Properties and in Talisay City. Mancao said that he reinforced the deployment of medical response teams in the area near Talisay City聽 to ensure a swift medical response.
In the run portion, Dr. Mancao said he is a bit worried about the area near the edge of Punta Enga帽o which has no trees and thus subject the athletes to extreme heat.
Overall though, Dr. Mancao believes Cebu鈥檚 second hosting of the IronMan 70.3 Philippines will be hassle-free.