HPD Perspectives Magazine Summer/Fall 2019

46 | DR. PALLAVI PATEL COLLEGE OF HEALTH CARE SCIENCES EVENT PERSPECTIVES EVENT Perspectives NSU Students Help Out at the RunDisney Marathon BY JOHN GERKE, JR., M.M.S., PA-C; JONATHAN CAPLAN, M.H.A., PA-C; AND DEREK JACKSON, M.P.A.S., PA-C, CHES On a cold weekend in January, more than a dozen students and faculty members from NSU’s Physician Assistant (PA) Program in Orlando, Florida, got up at 3:00 a.m. and made their way to Walt Disney World’s Epcot theme park to participate in the RunDisney Marathon Weekend. They would soon be joined by more than 18,000 racers participating in the half marathon and 12,000 in the full marathon. Many individuals use the event to challenge themselves in their exercise goals and gauge where they are in their pursuit of wellness, while others use the races to prepare for larger events. Whatever the motivation, racers get fit while taking in the world- renowned scenery of the Walt Disney World Resort. The RunDisney Marathon Weekend also provides a wonderful chance for faculty members and students to get out into the community in support of health and wellness. The enormity of the event necessitates large numbers of medical and nonmedical volunteers be present. Medical volunteers span a spectrum of professions, including EMT/paramedics, LPNs, nurses, doctors, and PAs. With excited looks in their eyes and caffeinated beverages in their hands still steaming in the cold early-morning air, NSU students arrived ready to volunteer their time and put their freshly minted medical skills to the test. They served in the triage center and medical tent for both the half and full marathons. A few of them were second-year students who already had several months of clinical experience and their full didactic education to apply to these real-life scenarios. The remaining students were barely halfway through their first year of studies. For some, the event marked their first time encoun- tering real patients. For the majority, the acuity level of those being carted in on wheelchairs and gurneys as the hours and miles steadily progressed was far beyond their prior experiences. Each day presented new challenges and scenarios for the students to face. For Saturday’s half marathon, sprains, strains, and fall injuries were exceptionally common. For these patients, the students applied wraps, slings, braces, and crutches and provided the necessary patient education required for use and care. Heat played a major factor in Sunday’s full mara- thon. Most runners who finished late presented with heat exhaustion and cramping, while some were suffering from heatstroke. Others presented in critical condition, with altered levels of consciousness, abnormal heart rhythms, and more. NSU students saw them all, stepping up to the task by performing focused assessments, obtaining brief medical histories, and treating each runner with care and compassion. They witnessed the physiological toll exercise can take on the human body, but also saw how quickly it can recover with some simple electrolyte replace- ment beverages, ice, and a banana. Regardless of the presenting complaint or condition, the students met the various challenges. For those having chest pain or experiencing trouble breathing after miles of dedication and enduring spirit, the mantra of the students was “We’ve got you covered” as they provided oxygen, nitroglycerin, or speedy transport to the ambulance and nearest hospitals when necessary. Weekend Volunteer