Cross-country race

Martina, a 23-year-old runner, has an important race today. Despite persistent severe knee pain, she intends not to waste this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and give her best performance today. She suppresses the pain with medication—she knows she is allergic to naproxen (Nalgesin), so she decides to take a diclofenac (Dolmina) pill just before the start.

START!

32 minutes after the start of the race, she begins to feel extremely exhausted; she feels hot flashes and persistent abdominal cramps, a red rash appears on her body, and her whole body itches. She cannot continue. She sits down by the track and gasps for breath. Her fellow runner, Peťo, is concerned about her condition and stops to check on her.

What is the right course of action in this situation?

Petit decides to accompany Martina to the next checkpoint, but he won't call 911 because her condition doesn't require it.

He recognizes that this is most likely anaphylaxis, immediately calls 155 (since they are in Czechia), and takes anti-shock measures: he tries to calm Martina down and leaves her in a half-sitting position with her back against a rock. He will ask if she has any allergies and will find out if she is carrying an adrenaline auto-injector (EpiPen).

There is a tent 100 meters away from the site, where the Red Cross is providing supervision. Peťo decides that it would be wise to accompany Martina there, where they will be able to help her much better.

Peťo decides to wait with Martina until she gets better—then they will continue the race together.

years

170

woman