Spring Break
Kyle Field prepares for next heated game
By: Steven Romo
Issue date: 9/11/07 Section: News
At Saturday's Texas A&M-Fresno State football game, the heat was on - for players and fans.
More than 200 fans were treated at first-aid centers located in and around Kyle Field on game day, and a few of them had to be taken to local emergency rooms for further treatment, said Dr. Linda Lekawski, Director of Student Health Services at A&M.
"In the neighborhood of 230 to 250 heat-effected patients were treated," she said. "They only had about eight ambulance transports to the ER."
A large number of spectators crowded into the air-conditioned first aid centers to cool themselves off, but most of them returned to their seats without extensive treatment, Lekawski said.
"There were people crowded into the first aid room to get cool. They had lots of ice and things in there. A huge number went back into the stands after they cooled off. And also a lot of them went home early (because of) the heat," she said.
Lekawski said that health care centers are in place at most all of the regular season football games.
"At football games there are normally a multitude of heath services available.
There are usually three ambulatory service providers. College Station Fire Department, Scott and White, and TAMU EMS usually donate ambulance services to be stationed around the stadium," she said.
Lekawski said that the TAMU EMT's Care Team was also on hand in the stands providing first aid care for fans suffering from the heat.
"They actually stay up in the stands and watch for people who need help. They pass out water and can (direct) people to the (health care centers) if need be," she said.
The College Station Fire Department (CSFD) is a leading participant in the Emergency Operations Center for game days, and they usually provide six to eight of their personnel to stay on hand at each event, said Bart Humphreys, Public Information Officer with the CSFD.
"We have someone stationed in the command center to help coordinate the fire department and other resources," he said. "We also provide radio equipment to interconnect all of the different radio systems there at the stadium."
Humphreys said that in addition to the ambulance the CSFD provides to stay at Kyle Field, they also provide a fire engine so that if something may go wrong they won't have to fight traffic to get to the scene.
While these safeguards are in place to help treat injured or sick fans, Lekawski said that there are steps that can be taken to avoid heat exhaustion and dehydration such as keeping an eye on alcohol intake prior to game time.
"If people are out late the night before (games) and they consume alcohol - it can impact their state of hydration. They have the same problem at Chili Fest and other outdoor events," she said. "Alcohol and sitting out in the hot sun can be a dangerous combination."
More than 200 fans were treated at first-aid centers located in and around Kyle Field on game day, and a few of them had to be taken to local emergency rooms for further treatment, said Dr. Linda Lekawski, Director of Student Health Services at A&M.
"In the neighborhood of 230 to 250 heat-effected patients were treated," she said. "They only had about eight ambulance transports to the ER."
A large number of spectators crowded into the air-conditioned first aid centers to cool themselves off, but most of them returned to their seats without extensive treatment, Lekawski said.
"There were people crowded into the first aid room to get cool. They had lots of ice and things in there. A huge number went back into the stands after they cooled off. And also a lot of them went home early (because of) the heat," she said.
Lekawski said that health care centers are in place at most all of the regular season football games.
"At football games there are normally a multitude of heath services available.
There are usually three ambulatory service providers. College Station Fire Department, Scott and White, and TAMU EMS usually donate ambulance services to be stationed around the stadium," she said.
Lekawski said that the TAMU EMT's Care Team was also on hand in the stands providing first aid care for fans suffering from the heat.
"They actually stay up in the stands and watch for people who need help. They pass out water and can (direct) people to the (health care centers) if need be," she said.
The College Station Fire Department (CSFD) is a leading participant in the Emergency Operations Center for game days, and they usually provide six to eight of their personnel to stay on hand at each event, said Bart Humphreys, Public Information Officer with the CSFD.
"We have someone stationed in the command center to help coordinate the fire department and other resources," he said. "We also provide radio equipment to interconnect all of the different radio systems there at the stadium."
Humphreys said that in addition to the ambulance the CSFD provides to stay at Kyle Field, they also provide a fire engine so that if something may go wrong they won't have to fight traffic to get to the scene.
While these safeguards are in place to help treat injured or sick fans, Lekawski said that there are steps that can be taken to avoid heat exhaustion and dehydration such as keeping an eye on alcohol intake prior to game time.
"If people are out late the night before (games) and they consume alcohol - it can impact their state of hydration. They have the same problem at Chili Fest and other outdoor events," she said. "Alcohol and sitting out in the hot sun can be a dangerous combination."
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