The Big Walk took place on the 1st March 2015 and close to 20 000 participants again eagerly took part in this annual community event raising FUNDS for Red Cross Childrens’ Hospital and Islamic Library.
The IMASA [Cape Town Branch] was again instrumental in providing medical services for one of Cape Town’s three iconic events; the City of Cape Town officially placing it in the same category as the Two Oceans Marathon and the Cape Argus Cycle Tour.
During the three day registration drive preceding the event, IMA members, which included teams of Doctors, Nurses and Dieticians, did basic screening on a few hundred eager potential walkers. Blood pressure measurement, glucose testing and body mass index calculations were done and counselling provided where appropriate. A number of newly diagnosed or poorly controlled diabetics and hypertensive patients were identified.
At the Big Walk itself the IMA had over 40 volunteers, including Emergency Physicians, Nurses, Physiotherapists and Massage Therapists. Two small tents were manned by personnel along the route. Each of these tents had an ambulance stationed next to it with one of the ambulances in fact required early on to transport a collapsed non-responsive walker to hospital. Most of the IMA volunteers were stationed at the main tent at the finish point. Cases seen included a number of hypotensive collapses, severe bronchospasm requiring oxygen, and one convulsing patient. The main tent had all modern equipment, including a defibrillator and advanced portable monitoring equipment.
Even a golf cart capable of transporting stretchered patients was available and was extremely useful in the hot and humid conditions. A total of 201 cases were seen, mostly minor issues. For the IMA members there were periods of intense hard work but there was abundant time to meet up with old friends, socialise a bit and network. We thank them for their unselfish efforts.
May Allah reward them for always availing themselves for these types of community events.
Doctors, Nurses & Dieticians in attendance at the registration
IMA Members attending to a walker struck by a vehicle 