First aid is there to help you, in the terrain, finish and in the competition centre

– “After the second control I felt my foot to land in a hole between rocks and get a hard hit to the Achilles tendon.”

Maarit Korte from Turku orienteerers had to drop out on the second leg of the relay after visiting the first aid.

– “Two doctors have checked my foot and both said that the Achilles tendon is broken”, fret Korte about her bad luck at the main first aid point in the competition centre.

She continued her sentence by giving warm thanks of the help and professional care she received to her injury.

– “With the help of fellow runners I was able to get to the road and further to the closest first aid control station. From there I was transported with a quad bike to the first aid station at the competition centre.”

Seppo Ojanen

We lived typical Jukola in this case

The head of main first aid, doctor Seppo Ojanen tells us that injuries in lower limbs are the most typical cases in orienteering events.

– “Nothing more serious has happened, this is just typical Jukola we live here.”

The first aid points in the terrain take care of small injuries like wounds and easy twists. During Venla relay we have two first aid points in the terrain and during Jukola three. In the main first aid we have eight nurses and four to six doctors working in each shift.

– “In addition to that we have one additional first aid point just next to the finish. There we can treat much of the small and easy injuries”, explains Ojanen.

The most needed items in finish are cold packs

The finish area first aid was pretty quiet during Venla relay.

– “95% of the visitors needed a cold pack for bruises or twists. Until now we have had around 60 visitors”, says chief doctor of the first aid point at finish Jari Myllyniemi when half of Venla relay was behind.

Myllyniemi praised the weather conditions which are optimal for endurance sports.

“Not too cold, meaning hypothermia or energy shortage will not hit the runners. Not too hot either to cause exhaustion and fatigue from heat. Good conditions reflect to our work too.”

Teksti: Tiina Keino
Kuvat: Keijo Lehtimäki