Long Beach Memorial and Miller Children`s Hospital to Staff Nation`s Second Mobile Emergency Room at 25th Annual Long Beach ICB Marathon

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20091005006374/en

Test run of unit to treat runners will help Los Angeles County prepare for
disaster scenarios
--(Business Wire)--
Long Beach Memorial Medical Center:

What: In partnership with the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency of Los Angeles County, Long Beach Memorial (LBM) and Miller Children`s Hospital (MCH) will test LA County`s new Mobile Emergency Room (ER) - one of only two in the country - for the first time at this year`s Long Beach International City Bank Marathon and Half Marathon on Oct. 11, 2009.

Located at the finish line to provide participants with medical aid on race day, the Mobile ER unit contains much of the equipment found in a hospital setting, and includes 12 patient beds, four of which are equipped with heart monitors and oxygen, and a two-bed operating room.

Long Beach Memorial`s Emergency and Trauma team will staff the 1,000+ square foot mobile unit. While race participants will mainly be treated for minor injuries and dehydration, the state-of-the-art unit can provide many of the services available at hospital emergency departments, ranging from basic triage to x-rays, ultrasounds and EKGs, to minor surgical procedures.

The Mobile ER unit was designed to provide support in the event of a large-scale disaster or incident where emergency facilities are not available, have been compromised or have exceeded their capacity to treat patients. After using the mobile ER, Long Beach Memorial`s Emergency and Trauma team will provide feedback that LA County EMS officials can use to ensure the unit`s effectiveness in an actual disaster.

Media Opp: Media will have the opportunity to tour the unit in advance on Saturday, Oct. 10, and access to the mobile unit will also be available on race day.

Media will have access to a spokesperson from LBM/MCH, Los Angeles County, Marathon organizers, as well as runners being treated in the mobile unit.

Visuals include:

-- Two, 52 foot "NASCAR-style" trailers that make up the unit - one providing storage space for medical equipment and supplies; the other expands to more than 1,000 square feet for patient care

-- LBM and MCH physicians and staff providing medical care for injured or exhausted marathon participants

-- Six aid stations staffed by physicians and nurses from LBM and MCH along the course

When: Media Invited Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 for advance tours of the Mobile ER Unit
2 - 4 p.m.

Marathon Day: Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009
8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Where: The Mobile ER Room will be stationed at the Marathon`s finish line at the corner of Shoreline Drive and Linden Avenue, near the Long Beach Arena. VIP parking in the Long Beach Arena parking lot is available for media.

Why: With an estimated 20,000 competitors pushing their bodies to peak physical fitness, it`s important to be ready to provide immediate medical attention during or after the race. Long Beach Memorial is taking every precaution possible to ensure participants` safety and comfort by providing fast medical care, if needed, with the new Mobile ER.

To schedule a pre-marathon tour of the Mobile Emergency Room, inquire about
photos or for more information, please contact: Kate Garsson at 571-224-4804 or
garssonk@ruderfinn.com.

Kate Garsson
Cell: (571) 224-4804
garssonk@ruderfinn.com

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