Mediclinic medical support at 2012 DIE BURGER Cycle Tour

Posted on 5 December 2012

Mediclinic Corporate Events fielded a strong team of medical staff at this year’s DIE BURGER Cycle Tour which took place in Stellenbosch on Sunday, 2 December 2012.  A field hospital was erected in a school hall at the start/finish line and was staffed by 4 doctors, 3 registered nurses and an enrolled nurse.  In addition to this 10-bed hospital, which included a cubicle containing 2 ICU beds, Mediclinic had 4 ambulances on the route and a golf cart to transport injured riders from the finish line.

“It is inevitable that one would see some serious injuries in a race of this scale. Shy of 6,000 riders completed the race and the Mediclinic team had to deal with serious fractures, cuts requiring suturing, abrasions and a fair share of roasties”, said Dr Basil Bonner, the leader of the Mediclinic Events team and a trauma specialist.  Nine riders were referred to various hospitals in the Peninsula with injuries ranging from fractured clavicles, suspected C-spine injuries and facial injuries requiring plastic surgery. All in all, 30 riders were treated in the field hospital, and 18 attended to on the route.

Marius Reitz, IT Specialist at Mediclinic and manager of the electronic patient management system used by the Events team, proofed that Wintergreen ointment has greater use than soothing sore muscles. The printer wouldn’t work, so he lubricated it with some Wintergreen. Apparently a proven trick in the world of mechanics, but not something advisable to the ordinary DIY person.

The information provided in this article was correct at the time of publishing. At Mediclinic we endeavour to provide our patients and readers with accurate and reliable information, which is why we continually review and update our content. However, due to the dynamic nature of clinical information and medicine, some information may from time to time become outdated prior to revision.