Dr. Chynn tries to prevent future tragedies at the marathon
To The Editor:
The 2 deaths during and after this year’s NY Marathon are tragic because they are in part preventable. When I ran the NY Marathon in medical school in 1998, the field was much smaller, so participants were in better shape. Race Director Wittenberg’s plan to increase the field past 50,000 ensures more unprepared participants–and increases the likelihood of future fatalities.
Instituting a “cut off” time of 6 hours would allow anyone in reasonable shape to participate (they could walk each mile in 12 min.), while encouraging others to get either get in shape, or choose a less strenuous, safer recreational activity.
In this year’s Five Borough Bike Tour, I had resuscitated an overweight participant who had a massive heart attack in front of me while struggling up a bridge. Several doctors, all in bike gear, took turns performing CPR for 15 minutes before the ambulance crew took over. We then got back on our bikes, assuming we had lost the patient–but miraculously, he apparently survived.
Instituting reasonable standards for participation is not only reasonable, but morally imperative to decrease the chance of future tragedies.
Sincerely,
Emil William Chynn, MD, MBA
