After passing the finish line at IM Switzerland this year I visited the medical tent since I was feeling really weak and thought I was going to pass out. They checked me and my blood pressure was very low but after two bags of infusion via an ivy I was fine and could go and celebrate why I pushed this hard. I managed to go sub 11 and went from an 12.11 in Nice 2007 to a 10.52 in Switzerland 2008.
Last week I got a letter in German which was a medical bill. I thought medical treatment at the finish line was included in the rateher hefty 350Eur you pay in registration. Is this normal?
Hey L-E, I don’t know about the rules in Europe. I have been in the medical tent 3 times in my triathlon career once this last summer at Ironman CDA where I got an IV like you. They did not charge me, nor did they inform me that I might be charged. At one of the non-Ironman races I did locally, they did say they would charge me for the treatment (also an IV), but they never actually did charge me. And the 3rd time (also and IV, do you see a theme here?) was at Wildflower a few years ago where they also did not charge me or inform me of any charge. My assumption has always been that minor medical care like IVs was included in the cost of the race, but I guess it’s not. Especially when you’re paying a huge amount of money to do these IM races.
I’m surprised you got charged for the service, but perhaps each of the WTC IM races have differing rules about medical care or even different countries.
Congrats on your sub 11 hour finish. That’s impressive and a big improvement over your previous PR.
First Aid / Physicians
A well-trained team of first aiders and doctors will be ready to answer emergency calls. The “medical team” would like to remind all athletes to consume enough liquids both during and after the race, especially in case of hot weather. As long as the race lasts, ambulances and first aid posts will be positioned along the bike and run courses. After passing the finishing line, athletes will be received by helpers of the “finisher area”-team. Instructions by the medical staff will need to be followed immediately and unrestrictedly! Athletes who will be given an infusion will be sent an invoice (covering CHF 70) via the treating doctor. Medical emergency service as well as medication only available on prescription are not included in the entry fee and will be calculated along the lines of regional (cantonal) conventions. Health and accident insurance coverage is optional and needs to be provided for by the athletes themselves.
Seems like a missed opportunity. We have IM branded mattresses, why not IM-brand IV bags? Or, they could be sponsorship branded, like “Gatorade - You should have used it.” '-)
My assumption has always been that minor medical care like IVs was included in the cost of the race, but I guess it’s not. Especially when you’re paying a huge amount of money to do these IM races.
Actually, an IV is not considered to be "minor" medical care. It is considered to be an invasive procedure, and somewhere in the food chain there has to be an M.D. giving approval for the therapy. That's the reason it's more expensive. Minor procedures are the gauze and tape type routines, maybe an icebag or two, things of that nature. While IVFT (IV fluid therapy) is relatively low on the scale of interventions, it's still a higher grade of treatment than an ice bag and a bottle of <insert rehydration of choice here>.
Thanks for clarifying that Devlin about an IV being more than minor. That totally makes sense. I’m trying hard to stay out of the medical tents these days using my custom made Infinit, but somehow I seem to sweat way more out than I can get back in. If I had the $$, I’d love to do some type of sweat test, but until then, my motivation is simply to drink enough to stay out of the med tents.