Malta Red Cross volunteers kept a watchful eye on the 3,700-plus athletes at the Malta Marathon thanks to Ċetta, its mobile clinic.

The communication and control centre was connected via a live stream to Red Cross response vehicles, making first response faster and more efficient.

The system allows information such as ambient temperature, alert status, patient information and parameters and GPS position to be passed on from one vehicle to another.

Monitoring the track was made possible via video coverage, with eight cameras positioned in different areas.

Drones were used to monitor the actual locations of the runners and to spot injured athletes faster. These also helped identify traffic zones and instruct emergency vehicles on which routes to take.

“This year, 46 injuries were treated during and after the marathon, most of which were minor. Our set-up consisted of 40 volunteers, including nurses and doctors, five ambulances, two first response motorbikes, three bicycle responders, four Segways, three response cars, one major incident support vehicle and the mobile clinic,” said Robert Brincau, director of operations at the Malta Red Cross.

“Thanks to local sponsors and the help of our volunteers, we managed to finish off the control centre in time for this year’s marathon. It has made a world of a difference to the quality of service we provide to the local community,” he added.

The mobile clinic will allow the Red Cross to provide better medical service and faster and more complex treatment of injuries at big events, minimising the need to transfer patients to Mater Dei Hospital.

www.redcrossmalta.org.mt

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