The Ultra Marathon: The Four Main Dangers Dissected

The ultra-marathon has to be one of the most gruelling events on the planet, whereby competitors can be on the run for over 24 hours. This is a danger in its own right, which can be made worst by treacherous trail and environmental conditions. In a world where it is not unheard of to be debriefed about mountain cats, it would surely make sense to make it a requirement to possess basic first aid skills.

Ok so the mountain cat example is exceptionally rare. However one unlucky runner was sadly killed by one whilst training in the hills of California several years ago. If you took dangerous wildlife out of the equation there would still be a huge list of other possible dangers. This article is going to look to break down the four biggest dangers, and provide advice on how to counteract them.

Dehydration

Dehydration is problem number one on the list of dangers. The ultra-marathon season usually runs throughout the summer months, when the snow has cleared from mountain ranges. This means that temperatures can run anywhere from the mid 20's to high 40's.

Signs to look out for are severe headaches, flushed appearance, muscle cramps and disorientation. The runner who ignores the signs of dehydration could develop heat exhaustion, and then then heat stroke. First Aid treatment requires getting the runner off the course to restore fluid balance. In more serious cases this requires withdrawal from the event and rapid cooling of the body. The most common way to do this at remote events is to plunge someone into a paddling pool.

Hypothermia

At the opposite end of the scale runners can become hypothermic. This is when the body's core temperature drops to dangerously low levels as a result of the cold environment. Even though the majority of ultra-marathons are held in the heat the temperature in the mountains can plummet during night fall. This is compounded by the runner's low energy levels, which exacerbates the effects of the cold.

Signs to look out for are intensive shivering, cold & pale skin and strange irrational behaviour. First aid treatment in this case requires the casualty to be slowly rewarmed. In the first instance this should be done through extra layers of clothing and drinks. By slowly rewarming the casualty there condition can begin to improve, but it is still essential to get checked over at a local hospital.

Fractures

Fractures are a real possibility during ultra-marathons because of the difficult underfoot conditions. The most common fracture sites are the lower leg and ankle, which cause complete immobilization. This is deadly in itself especially if it is a very cold night and no help is to hand.

The role of the first aider is to assist the casualty towards the care of the emergency services. They should make sure that the casualty does not put any more weight on the injured limb, and then run to arrange a rescue from the emergency services. In very remote locations it is quite feasible that a group of first aiders would need to stretcher a casualty to safety.

Altitude Sickness

Many ultra-marathons are mountainous in nature, which means they are run at high altitudes. At high altitudes there is less oxygen in the air. Running for 100 miles is hard enough with 100% in the air, so you can imagine how tough this makes it.

Signs to look out for are dizziness, disorientation, shortness of breath and nausea. Failure to spot the signs can lead to fatal brain swelling and then death. It is therefore essential that a first aider spots the symptoms in a runner, and then gets them to lower altitudes to seek medical attention.

So this has been a pretty crazy list, and some of these conditions can even combine with one another. It is therefore essential that ultra-marathoners keep their first aid training up to date.