Satara: Runners participating in the Satara Hill Half Marathon on Sunday will be equipped with QR-enabled “protection tags” designed to help medical teams access critical health information faster during emergencies.The initiative comes four years after a 32-year-old participant died after collapsing about 200 metres from the finish line of the 21.1-km race. “This is the first such experiment in a marathon in India. Our endeavour is to ensure that every possible effort is made to provide timely medical aid to participants in this tough hill marathon,” Kamlesh Pisal, head of the organising committee, said.The QR code on the tag will not itself contain any personal information. “We have ensured to protect private information of each runner,” said Pisal.Runners will receive the tag at the race expo after collecting their bib and can activate it by scanning the code and voluntarily entering details such as existing medical conditions, medication, allergies and emergency contacts. In an emergency, medical responders can scan the QR code using a cellphone to access the information, while an alert will be sent to the marathon’s medical team.Organisers said the system would help coordinate medical personnel, bike ambulances and medical tents, besides enabling responders to quickly understand a runner’s medical background and provide appropriate assistance.A senior Army officer, who has participated in various marathons including in foreign countries, said, “This system I have never come across in India. If it gets success, other organisers can replicate in their races. Providing health assistance on time is the most crucial thing in any race.”Neha Dalvi, a regular runner, who had completed full marathon in Berlin and Tokyo, said, “I have never seen this technology in any marathons, including abroad. This is another layer of safety for runners. Some organisers can track athlete through bib. But I never came across protection tag earlier.”Sports medicine experts say rapid identification and treatment are critical during endurance events. “The value of such a system is that it can reduce the time taken to establish basic medical history when a runner is unable to communicate,” said a sports medicine expert.“Knowing about a significant allergy, an existing medical condition or medication can help the treating team make better-informed decisions. But the QR tag must complement, and never delay, CPR, AED (automated external defibrillators) use or emergency medical care,” the expert added.About 8,000 participants from different age groups and backgrounds to take part in the marathon scheduled for Sunday. The Satara Hill Half Marathon, covering 21.1 km, is regarded as one of the toughest hill races in the country.
