11 runners finish Tel Aviv marathon in ER
Tel Aviv marathon 'great experience' but leaves four runners in serious condition
Thousands of runners took part Friday morning in the Tel Aviv marathon. Eleven runners finished it in the ER of the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. Four of them suffered from dehydration and heat stroke and were admitted to the hospital in serious condition. The marathon, held for the second year running after a break of 15 years, was run in the heat of Tel Aviv. A number of participants suffered from dehydration and heat stroke.
Twenty-eight of the Run TLV Run participants were treated in the special MDA tent. Two of those who were admitted to the hospital lost consciousness upon reaching the finish line and had to be resuscitated.
Asi Saar (40) from Ramat Gan participated this year. "The run was a great experience, he said, "and it's great to make the run a tradition, though the route was less interesting than last year.
"It wasn't an unbearable heat," he noted, "just regular. A bit of heat, that's all."
Dr. Pini Halperin, director of the ER at the Sourasky Medical Center, said that most of those requiring medical treatment were suffering from heat stroke. However, the hospital had expected such a scenario and had prepared accordingly.
"Last year, the marathon was in March," he said, "and this year it took place two months later, in hot, humid conditions. Apart from the weather, it may be that we need to educate the runners on how to prepare their bodies for the run. Loss of consciousness is a typical symptom of heat stroke, and the treatment is an infusion of cool liquids to reduce body temperature."
The ER is also equipped to administer salts and oxygen. "Early treatment is the key to rapid recovery," Halperin added, "which is why we set up a tent at the site of the run."
More than 400 participated in the full marathon (42.195 km), which was won by Avraham Malkot, who specializes in "ultra-marathon" events covering distances of 80 and even 100 km. In addition, races of half-marathon, 10 km and 4.2 km were held, as well as hand-bicycle races for handicapped participants. All races set out from the Ganei Yehoshua park.
Similar cases occurred during the international Ein Gedi run, which also takes place in significant heat even though it is held in February. Two years ago, three runners were hospitalized in Tel Aviv's Nike run.
