The Prairie State Games: Organization of Medical Care

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Public Health
• Event Management

Background:

• The Prairie State Games, an Olympic-style festival, draw nearly 3,000 Illinois amateur athletes annually.
• An average of 265 injuries occur each year, with a significant portion being orthopedic.
• Heat-related illnesses are also a notable concern alongside common sports injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline medical care guidelines for a large-scale amateur athletic event.
• To inform the management of common injuries and heat-related problems in sports.
• To detail the organization of a volunteer medical corps for athletic events.

Main Methods:

• Describing the established medical care protocols for the Prairie State Games.
• Coordinating over 30 volunteer physicians and 60 athletic trainers.
• Implementing a physician medical director to oversee medical operations.

Main Results:

• The majority of injuries are orthopedic, with soccer, wrestling, and basketball being high-risk sports.
• A moderate incidence of heat-related issues requires specific medical attention.
• The event successfully manages a large number of athletes with a dedicated medical team.

Conclusions:

• Effective medical guidelines are essential for managing injuries and illnesses in large amateur sports events.
• A well-organized medical corps, led by a physician director, is vital for athlete safety.
• Addressing both orthopedic injuries and heat-related problems ensures comprehensive care.