Medic on the Green

A call went out over the event radios, “There’s a biker riding all over the place on the cart paths. Get him out of there. We’ve already called security to head that way.” “Where is he?” “He was last spotted at the fifth hole.”

And so began my stint as a bicycle medic at the BMW BUY.COM Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs golf tournament. Security did find me and tried to throw me out, but the tournament organizer intervened. Over the radio, he explained my situation and told security I was just doing my job and to leave me alone for the remainder of the tournament. It was a PGA-sanctioned tournament played by celebrities and amateur and professional golfers. The four-day tournament was played at Cliffs Valley and Keowee Vineyards golf courses in upstate South Carolina.

A month prior to the tournament, volunteers were sought out to help staff it—including from the Greenville Technical College EMT Department, with which I am affiliated. The school runs an associate’s degree paramedic program and students are often given opportunities to provide volunteer medical support for special events.

“The working relationship Greenville Tech’s paramedic program has with the surrounding community gives our students the opportunity to take advantage of unique extracurricular activities related to prehospital emergency care they may not otherwise have,” says Mike Fisher, department head of the college’s EMT program.

I am always eager to volunteer for special-events coverage. It allows me to practice prehospital medicine in a different atmosphere from the norm. The position of bicycle medic was an opportunity I could not pass up.

On the first day of the tournament, I reported to the volunteer organizer and established my responsibilities for the tournament. Several other students also volunteered for first aid duties, but I was the only bike medic.

The organizers had encouraged me to ride the course and become familiar with it before the tournament began. My only responsibilities were to remain in radio contact with the event staff and respond to any emergencies that were announced. Since I was free to ride around the course, I was able to provide mobile medical support rather than from the fixed first-aid station alone.

I rode the course several times over the next few days prior to the first tee-off each morning. This allowed me to see where each hole was and how I might best ride from place to place to respond. When the crowds arrived and the celebrities teed off, I followed the crowds, which was where the highest probability of injury would be. When I was not on the course, I stayed near the clubhouse or assisted at the hospital RV.

Most of the medical responses were for typical event injuries/illnesses: headaches, sunburns, blisters and requests for Band-Aids. Aside from these, the touring golfers presented another set of problems. Because of the nature of their tour, the regulars tended to travel for weeks or months with very little rest. Since the tour did not have a traveling doctor, the golfers would often develop untreated colds and sinus infections as they became exhausted and their immune systems could not keep up. Nor could they arrange visits with private doctors at tournament locations because of time constraints on both the golfers and tour organizers. Without definitive treatment, they were left to remain sick until they gave out or recovered in spite of it. Several golfers showed up at the hospital RV with significant coughs, sinus drainage and congested lungs. But the only primary care we could provide was an address to the ED or the nearest general practice physician.

Although the call volume at the tournament was light, it provided an excellent opportunity to practice my people skills and perfect my bedside manner. I was often approached for medical advice or with questions concerning bike medics or paramedics in general. I enjoy interacting with people outside the normal ambulance run—it allows me to relate to them on a different level. The majority of folks I run into are genuinely interested in what we do as paramedics, even if they only know what they’ve seen on TV or are mystified or frightened by what they don’t understand.

I was also allowed full access to the clubhouse and other private areas such as the driving range and putting area. This opportunity allowed me to meet and talk to several celebrities, like Kevin Costner and Dan Marino. All the celebrities were exceptionally polite, and even allowed pictures to be taken and autographs signed.

Special events present exciting ways to participate with EMS in different venues. Each event presents its own challenge. If you’re tired of the routine and desire something different, check out your area and find out who covers the concerts, the sports and so on. Volunteering will offer you a new experience and be well worth your time.