As they count down to this weekend's 37th annual Chicago Marathon, race officials say medical preparations include how to handle suspected cases of Ebola.
Dr. George Champas, head marathon physician, said a staff of 1,500 volunteer medical personnel along with the Chicago Fire Department and emergency medical services personnel are prepared to deal with communicable diseases -- just as they have been in the past.
"Our message to all of our runners has always been if they develop any sort of symptoms, whether prior to arriving to the United States, or prior to coming to Chicago or while they're here, is if they see any viral sort of symptoms to seek some medical advice," Champas told reporters Tuesday. "So that message is something that we'll continue to communicate."
Champas said runners represent all 50 states and 132 countries but none hail from West Africa, where the most severe outbreak of Ebola has occurred. He said some runners are coming from East Africa.
Gary Schenkel, executive director of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, said city and race personnel are taking precautionary measures.
"There is no direct threat from anyone that may have even been in contact with Ebola at this point," Schenkel said. "It's being watched very closely."
Mary Sheridan, a representative of the Chicago Fire Department, said she has worked with the Chicago Department of Public Health and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prepare for the possibility of medical complications.
"Chicago has plans to deal with any communicable disease," said Sheridan, assistant deputy chief of paramedics with the Chicago Fire Department. "Guidelines have not changed because of Ebola. They're the same guidelines we practiced with SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus), influenza and any other communicable disease that our runners may come in contact with."
Sheridan said runners and others can rest assured because emergency personnel are trained in body substance isolation, a procedure that requires paramedics and firefighters to use gloves, masks, hospital gowns and isolation packs while working with patients who show symptoms of a communicable disease.
From a safety standpoint, Steve Georgas, acting chief of special functions for the Police Department, said there have been no credible threats to the race.
Georgas said many procedures used last year to enhance security will be used again. These include requiring runners to register with a valid photo identification, using clear plastic bags to store items in designated areas and not allowing non-runners on the course.
He also said that canine units will be on the scene as well as uniformed and undercover police officers who will conduct random searches.
Just one day after federal authorities apprehended a teenager hoping to travel to the Middle East to join ISIS, Georgas said officers and race officials are asking that runners and race observers reach out to Chicago police if they see any suspicious behavior over the weekend. He also suggested that runners register for free emergency alerts from the city of Chicago.
"The biggest threat we feel, the biggest threat we prepare for, the biggest worry that keeps us up at night is the lone wolf," Georgas said Tuesday. "You don't understand the power of how that could be one little missing piece to a giant puzzle that's being put together."
dferguson@tribune.com
Dr. George Champas, head marathon physician, said a staff of 1,500 volunteer medical personnel along with the Chicago Fire Department and emergency medical services personnel are prepared to deal with communicable diseases -- just as they have been in the past.
"Our message to all of our runners has always been if they develop any sort of symptoms, whether prior to arriving to the United States, or prior to coming to Chicago or while they're here, is if they see any viral sort of symptoms to seek some medical advice," Champas told reporters Tuesday. "So that message is something that we'll continue to communicate."
Champas said runners represent all 50 states and 132 countries but none hail from West Africa, where the most severe outbreak of Ebola has occurred. He said some runners are coming from East Africa.
Gary Schenkel, executive director of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, said city and race personnel are taking precautionary measures.
"There is no direct threat from anyone that may have even been in contact with Ebola at this point," Schenkel said. "It's being watched very closely."
Mary Sheridan, a representative of the Chicago Fire Department, said she has worked with the Chicago Department of Public Health and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prepare for the possibility of medical complications.
"Chicago has plans to deal with any communicable disease," said Sheridan, assistant deputy chief of paramedics with the Chicago Fire Department. "Guidelines have not changed because of Ebola. They're the same guidelines we practiced with SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus), influenza and any other communicable disease that our runners may come in contact with."
Sheridan said runners and others can rest assured because emergency personnel are trained in body substance isolation, a procedure that requires paramedics and firefighters to use gloves, masks, hospital gowns and isolation packs while working with patients who show symptoms of a communicable disease.
From a safety standpoint, Steve Georgas, acting chief of special functions for the Police Department, said there have been no credible threats to the race.
Georgas said many procedures used last year to enhance security will be used again. These include requiring runners to register with a valid photo identification, using clear plastic bags to store items in designated areas and not allowing non-runners on the course.
He also said that canine units will be on the scene as well as uniformed and undercover police officers who will conduct random searches.
Just one day after federal authorities apprehended a teenager hoping to travel to the Middle East to join ISIS, Georgas said officers and race officials are asking that runners and race observers reach out to Chicago police if they see any suspicious behavior over the weekend. He also suggested that runners register for free emergency alerts from the city of Chicago.
"The biggest threat we feel, the biggest threat we prepare for, the biggest worry that keeps us up at night is the lone wolf," Georgas said Tuesday. "You don't understand the power of how that could be one little missing piece to a giant puzzle that's being put together."
dferguson@tribune.com