Anaesthetists at the Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games are a multi-sport, multi-day event run every four years much like the
Olympics; however because of the different methods for qualification they are more accessible
for athletes of varying abilities who might not otherwise be able to experience international level
competition, leading to it being known as “The friendly games”. This friendly attitude underpinned
the whole approach to volunteering at Birmingham 2022.
All large-scale events occurring across the UK require medical cover for those participating and
attending. Our volunteer involvement in the medical team for the 2022 Commonwealth Games
came via different routes - Veena had previously volunteered at the 2012 London Olympics and the
2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow; Mark is an active volunteer with St John Ambulance with
experience of many large events, and Harshil had medical experience at small events but nothing
on this scale.
Volunteering experience
Regardless of previous experience, the application process was
the same for all, with an online application taking us through
to an in-person interview. Success in this intensive process was
followed by two further face-to-face training sessions for our
individual roles and venues. Here we met our fellow medical
volunteers and learned that we were a varied bunch with many
specialities represented.
As volunteers we gave up our own time and paid expenses
(travel, accommodation) to be a part of the Games, though
some employers allowed part of the time to be claimed back
as study leave/ CPD. Dates and venues were confirmed for our
various events, and games uniform were delivered. Individuals
were assigned to one of two teams, either spectators or field
of play.
All the medical volunteers were asked to arrive a few hours
in advance on any day so that there was ample time to get to
know the team members, gain an understanding of what was
going on and where, inspect equipment, and practise skills
including log-rolls and methods of extricating athletes from the
eyes of cameras and audiences. Understanding the logistics
of the day was stressed – knowing the important moments and
how to stay out of the eye of the media.
Experience within the field of play teams was highly varied from
senior helicopter emergency medical service paramedics, ED
and anaesthetic consultants through to FY doctors. Each team
of four had a leader carrying the radio and communicating with
the dispatchers and medical organisers for each venue.
The aim was for safe movement of the individual, with immediate
treatment/ stabilisation and then transfer off the field of play. With
cameras covering every square inch of ground this needed to be
quick and skilful – an international audience of millions watching
really did give an added layer of pressure to log-rolling a person
at speed.
One could not always just access the field at will, particularly
during the ceremonies where many moving floats, cars, and
performers might cause injury, meaning the decision to move
an individual was sometimes taken entirely out of ones hands.
During the medal events, a key lesson was to not get caught up
in the other events occurring on the field (take it from Harshil’s
personal experience of nearly walking into the middle of a
medal ceremony). This also meant that all necessary kit had to be
brought with the team, ideally anticipating the type of injury from
a distance, but otherwise radioing for extra as needed.
Repeated on-the-day practise of moving an incapacitated
individual was part of the preparation time allowing teams (not
always the same people of course) to get to know each other's
skills and experience. This practise certainly made us feel more
comfortable for the moment that we actually had to transfer
someone from the field of play; for anyone who saw the incident
at Lee Valley VeloPark the teams were likely to have been glad
of this.
As groups, we were encouraged to look at fringe scenarios: how
would spectator teams move a patient who was unconscious
down the steep stadium steps? Or how would we manage multiperson
incidents, especially if there simply weren’t enough people
on hand to help immediately? We had to identify problems as the
days unfolded, reflecting and feeding any issues back, and then
planning how best to tackle them in the event of recurrence.
Game day
Once the venue doors were opened a wall of sound erupted
from the radios. The spectator teams were called into action from
the start, and pulled in every direction to deal with problems
both simple and severe (the earliest ‘collapse’ call coming within
minutes of the gates opening on Day 3).
Being pitch side, knowing it’s one’s responsibility to care for
any person on pitch should they be injured, really gave a new
perspective to the acrobatics, pyrotechnics, sports, and events
that go on at the Games. Certainly it gave a different view about
the javelin event, while watching huge lengths of metal fall from
the sky, with the officials standing in the firing line!
Good communication was key, for instance another team
might alert one to a 5000 m athlete beginning to falter as they
approaching one’s area, with the team leader having to decide
whether to intervene or allow the person to keep going.
The view of the games was spectacular, with floor-level seats for
some of the most tense moments and nearest calls; the women’s
4 x 400 m final was a really outstanding moment with the crowd
roaring and the competition close. On certain occasions there
were more casualties than medics available; the men's 4 x 400 m
final was bedlam, with 32 athletes running to the point of total
exhaustion and collapse needing attention from the nearest four
person team. Cover for these events really was a juggling act and
a team effort from all involved, from those on the ground to the
dispatchers and organisers over all the event sites coordinating
the medical skills needed in each area.
One makes friends (including international) to treasure for
the rest of your life, and one can cross paths with colleagues
(Veena caught up with a Canadian colleague who also
worked at the Glasgow Games in 2014!). Most importantly,
one feels incredibly positive with so many inspiring stories,
examples of perseverance, sheer dedication and hard work.
It was a great experience in which to have been involved
and we would recommend it to anyone who would like
experience of working outside the normal hospital confines,
or wishes to get a foot in the door of event medicine. Some
do these gigs year in and year out, and there are even some
formal qualifications available.
If you are interested, the process of appointing volunteer
positions for the Paris 2024 Olympics opens in February
2023.
Harshil Patel
CT2 Anaesthetic Trainee, Bradford Royal Infirmary
Mark Clayton
Speciality Doctor, Diana Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby
Veena Daga
Consultant Anaesthetist, Leeds General Infirmary
Twitter: @harshilvkp; @medic_m_a_c; @vdaga3
