As many as 15,000 bicyclists and support team members will be making their way into Sac City in just over four months for RAGBRAI 2021, and Loring Hospital is seeking volunteers from the local healthcare community to lend a hand. Development Director, Teresa Wirtjers, says the hospital simply does not have enough staff to provide medical assistance to seven times the town’s normal population.
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While many precautions are taken to keep RAGBRAI as safe as possible, accidents still occur. Injuries can range from cuts and scrapes to broken bones and concussions, and many need some form of treatment before getting back on the road. Depending on weather conditions, heat exhaustion also poses a potential risk to riders. To address these and other concerns, volunteers will be staffing medical tents and providing first-aid when needed.
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Wirtjers adds they are looking specifically for medical professionals such as doctors, nurses, certified nursing assistants and emergency medical technicians. She says they are already compiling a list of volunteers, but they are still searching for individuals interesting in assisting.
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Again, that number is 712-662-6406. Sac City will be the overnight stop for the first day of the week-long ride on Sunday, July 25. The route begins in Le Mars and ends on Saturday, July 31 in Clinton. People interesting in becoming a volunteer in other ways can contact Lance Wilhelm through the information included below.
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Lance Wilhelm