The Race Doctor, his duties, his rates, and everything you need to know about the Race Doctor

General principles for a race or match doctor 

The presence of the race doctor during the marathon is guaranteed by the  regulations of FIDAL  , the Italian Athletics Federation which, since 1986, through Publications 626 and 324, defines his commitment, which is necessary for the meeting director to start the event.

 Not only that: For road competitions,  the so-called "non-pitch  " , such as cross-country running, hiking, mountain running, and, as we said, marathon, ultra-marathon and test-running, there is also  one or more ambulances present 

(including at least one for resuscitation with a defibrillator), based on different logistical situations and number of members.

Indeed,  rapid intervention  on sports grounds is necessary, and also and first of all, because after an immediate medical examination, it may happen that emergency or urgent decisions must be taken. 

Obviously, in order to prepare for such eventualities, the physician presiding over sporting events must have a specific competence, which is  processed and guaranteed by the FMSI,  the Italian Federation of Sports Medicine 

Which, among other things, is responsible for preparing its members. , as well as in practice, also culturally, the development of cognitive and organizational skills in accordance with the event in question.

In accordance with the Regulations, each Association, including FIDAL, approves and signs  the Federal Health Sector Governance Regulation  , which lists the principles, objectives and purposes, as well as the importance of medical personnel and ambulances in foot racing, in order to ensure and protect the health of athletes and the public.

It is clear that the characteristics and safety regulation, relevant to the professional competence of the competition doctor, can  vary due to various factors  , such as the importance and nature of the event

 and the category and number of participating athletes, support staff and spectators, as well as, in the case of competitions abroad, the health regulations and environmental conditions (altitude and climate) of the country hosting the competition.

Duties of the Match and Race Doctor

The physician who follows the sporting event, of course, has  very specific obligations and tasks  , which can be summed up mainly in what are defined as the  functions of the medical judge  , who must be able to classify, in the event of an injury or a competing accident  , the type and degree of injury and/or fracture  . 

In particular, the race doctor must understand and declare whether the physical damage is slight, moderate or severe, especially if the runner, marathon runner or alternate runner is able to continue the race, as well as of course providing it  first as possible.

Before the start of the competition, the professional must be clearly recognized by the organizers and judges of the competition, and together they decide  the best place for the  health service. 

It is possible to find yourself in different situations, given the vastness of the area in which the race takes place: so the logistics rule can be on the road, in a parking lot or in a square, and the line to follow is always dictated by common sense.

As part of his skills, it is essential that he is familiar with the best in  sports injury  medicine and emergency medicine, and be equipped  with the necessary equipment  for any neurological examination  and for the first emergency surgery 

Like tamping tweezers, needles, torches, scissors, tourniquets and sterile gloves, it mainly helps, as a rule, the doctor is already always always kept in his work bag.

In some cases, there may also be  one or more self-  reporters present, in which case the duties of the race doctor also include the  control and operation of the equipment in the vehicles  , as well as the need

 To establish contacts with employees and methods of intervention. Moreover, before the demonstration begins, it should always be clear which  hospital is the nearest area and the  way to reach it.

The essential contribution that an ambulance can make in the foot races is emphasized, given the long distance it travels, and the large number of participants.

 A  recent example is the Verona Marathon when an athlete fell ill during the race due to  cardiac arrest  . Thanks to the quick intervention of the  ambulance crew  and the doctor present, it was possible to take the runner in a short time to the local hospital, where he was given the necessary treatments.