GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — Hundreds of people from all across the country were packed into Truist Stadium at North Carolina A&T State University. Spectators and athletes endured the sweltering heat for a long day of track and field competition for the AAU Junior Olympics.
Guilford EMS has a new way to respond to the heat-related calls. For the first time, there is a giant tent on site, so the majority of people can be treated right there and then get back to the event, saving them a trip to the hospital.
EMS teams spread out across the crowds.
Devaughan Outerbridge, a paramedic, cautioned people to be safe while riding around on a bicycle. EMTs responded to calls in the stands and then took patients a short way across the parking lot to their tent.
There are three sections to the tent, and all of them are air-conditioned.
“A lot of it is cooling back down and getting out of the heat, but we are doing a lot of rehydration as well, so we are starting IVs. We are giving folks some fluids back … That is really the best way to get people on their feet and out to this event,” said Scott Muthersbaugh from Guilford EMS.
Athletes, parents and coaches all struggled to stay cool.
In extreme cases, people needed to go to the hospital, but most people were treated and released.
That clears up other EMS teams to respond to calls throughout the community.
“It is working exactly like we hoped it would,” Muthersbaugh said.
The heat hit hard with more than 80 people treated combined on Thursday and Friday.
“It was a big mix of both athletes and spectators. The most serious cases happened to be athletes just because they are out in this heat and really exerting themselves, but there is a lot of time spent in the stands too, so you can get real hot real fast,” Muthersbaugh said.
EMS crews will be out there all day Saturday as well. Since this first run went so well with the new setup, you can expect to see the tent at other large events in the future.
