The Chinnaswamy Stadium in the city, the homeground of the IPL team Royal Challengers Bangalore, has another feather in its cap. The International Medical Group (IMG) has certified that the stringent medical precautions and facilities at the stadium are the best in the country compared to other stadia.
The experience from the last four seasons of IPL seems to have made the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) wiser in terms of medical safety. “Unike the previous occasions where we had doctors coming from Mallya Hospital, the ambulance from St John’s Hospital and the first-aid personnel from other hospitals, this time, the health care service at the stadium is being allotted to a single service provider (Manipal Hospital). This way, co-ordination becomes simple and easy, which is not so in the case of other stadiums across the country”, said Colonel K. Ramachandran, Chief General Manager, KSCA.
Dr Nagendra Swamy, president, Manipal Healthcare Enterprise, said: “The set-up is as per the standard manual of KSCA and IMG. We have 12 first aid centers at different stands and two medical centres, which will function as a mini emergency room, of which one is exclusively for players”.
Each first aid centre will be manned by two trained personnel. Besides, during matches, eight doctors (emergency specialist, sports specialist and orthopaedic) will be present at any time. In addition, an advisory panel consisting of eminent doctors from the hospital as well as KSCA will be present. He said: “We have tied up with Mallya Hospital, Vikram Hospital and Hosmat Hospital in case there is any emergency. Besides, six ambulances which include two ICU ambulances, are stationed at different stands of the stadium”.
“During a match, there are no less than 50,000 people coming in to the stadium. With contagious diseases like H1N1 and conjunctivitis on the rise, we have kept information pamphlets at the first-aid centers”, he added.
Dr Mabel Vasnaik, consultant and head, Adult Emergency Department, Manipal Hospital, who is heading the team, said: “At any given time during the match, there will be about 40 medical team members around the stadium at the first-aid centers. The medical centre is equipped with a defibrillator, monitor to check oxygen, ambu bags and life-saving drugs. We get around 36 patients (which include players as well as spectators) during a match”. For medical security in the event of a bomb scare or sudden fire outbreak, special arrangements are in place, said Mr Ramachandran.