SPEEDWAY — On race day, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is like its own city, with hundreds of thousands of race fans making their way to the track.
And every big city needs a hospital.
It takes 22 nurses, 125 EMT/paramedics and several specialty doctors to be on hand at IMS to make sure all race fans, drivers and crews can be well taken care of.
At the infield medical center, the staff is ready to help anyone who needs it.
With dozens of beds, machines and tools filling the IU Health Infield Care Center, Deputy Medical Director Julia Vaizer said they can handle almost every injury they see.
“This is a small infield care center. We actually have quite a bit and capabilities to take care of a lot of acute emergencies,” Vaizer said.
If race day calls for warm weather, they know they’ll be busy.
“On a warm day, we are busier in this building than we are at Methodist ER,” said Dave Clark, medical manager.
They’re prepared, in part, because of nurses like Jan Baele.
She jokes she’s been working at the field hospital since the track was made of bricks. In her more than 40 years of experience, she’s seen a lot.
“I said when I started doing this that I wish I had kept a journal because there are just so many things that happen that I’ve gone, 'Can you believe that?'” Baele said.
Baele said one never knows what to expect with hundreds of thousands of people in one spot.
“There are days that we have gotten here at 6 o'clock in the morning and there have already been people you know waiting to be seen,” Baele said.
While they are ready to help anyone in need, they hope no one needs them.
“All we want is to sit and watch the race… but we're here if we need be,” Vaizer said.
-
Bill that could improve Indy's roads moves to the Governor's desk.
As potholes and cracked pavement plague the streets of Indianapolis, a new bill at the statehouse could pave the way for significant improvements.More than 1,000 kids show up to The Ross Foundation’s annual Easter Egg Hunt
On Saturday, The Ross Foundation held its annual Easter Egg Hunt. The goal is to help families well beyond the Easter holiday.Ball State students react to ending DEI programs
On Friday, Ball State students protested the decision to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, saying it would hurt diversity on campus and give in to racismStorms, heavy rain move through Central Indiana on Saturday
On Saturday morning, Central Indiana was hit by several rounds of rain and storms that caused some minor damage and even led to the cancellation of the Carmel Marathon.