After around thirty persons had to seek medical attention during a half-marathon running event that took place in the city on Sunday, Santa Barbara, California, police are conducting an investigation.
Officers said they got a tip from Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital regarding race participants who sought medical attention “for unusual symptoms” following the run, in a statement given to the US partner News.
“The cause of the reported symptoms has not been confirmed,” the statement continued.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Santa Barbara Half Marathon |
| Location | Santa Barbara, California, USA |
| Runners Treated | 27 participants |
| Discharged | 24 patients |
| Still Hospitalized | 3 patients in stable condition as of Monday |
| Hospital Locations | Santa Barbara and Goleta |
| Reported Temperature | 86°F (27°C) |
| Reported Causes | Dehydration and overheating |
| Medical Transfers | 15 people taken from the medical tent to hospitals, according to the event director |
| Event Director | David Monico |
The hospital’s operator, Cottage Health, reported that it had received “a larger than expected number of emergency visits” from marathon participants.Participants who feel ill should seek medical attention and heed the advice of healthcare professionals, but there is currently no special action advised for the general public, according to police.
According to Cottage Hospital, emergency departments in Santa Barbara and the neighboring city of Goleta served 27 participants from the half marathon.
Three patients remained in the hospital as of Monday in stable condition, but the great majority of them—24—were released following treatment.
One of the racers who was admitted to the hospital told KEYT-TV, a local news outlet, that they had lost consciousness and were unable to recall certain aspects of the event.
The runner, who wished to remain anonymous, stated, “It is incredibly suspicious.” “We had people saying they were hallucinating.”The runner continued, “I’m not too familiar with heat exhaustion, but I have never seen anyone forget a significant portion of their run.”
15 people were sent from the medical tent to nearby hospitals due to dehydration and hyperthermia, event director David Monico told US media.
