Abstract des Autors

Medical care delivery for a bicycle tour is unlike most special event medical care because participants are spread out over a long distance during the event. To help plan medical care on future tours, the medical problems encountered among 480 participants on a 2-day, 150-mile, cross-country bicycle tour were characterized, and participants were studied to determine characteristics of participants in such a tour. Also, the medical care provided for the tour was described to assist others who will have to plan medical care for an event that covers a long distance with a moderate number of participants. Twenty-six of 480 riders had to stop for physical problems, but generally they just needed rest to recover. Medical problems encountered were mostly blisters and abrasions, with one case of heat exhaustion. Women and riders who were undertrained were more likely to drop out. On a bicycle tour, medical care can be delivered via mobile first-aid vehicles with provisions for rapid evacuation of more seriously injured participants. Medical problems tend to be minor, and two or three medical vehicles staffed by RNs with backup by local emergency services are adequate to serve such a tour. Verf.-Referat