DAEH Presents Medical Plan for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games
The Directorate of Extrahospital Emergency Care Services (DAEH) participated in the International Congress of Sports Medicine, focusing on medical coverage and extrahospital care for the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026. Dr. Ruddy de Gracia, in charge of Out-of-Hospital Management, representing the head of the entity, Juan Manuel Méndez García, was in charge of presenting the detailed plan. This plan includes the allocation of medical personnel and the provision of ambulance units to assist athletes, coaches, and visitors during the sporting event. Medical coverage at events is based on the provision of health services, designed to respond in a timely, professional, and comprehensive manner to any emergency. De Gracia emphasized the importance of risk-based planning, considering factors such as the type of event, the number of attendees, and possible emergency scenarios, including trauma, heatstroke, and cardiovascular events. A comprehensive coverage will be guaranteed, encompassing both athletes and spectators, offering first aid services, care for musculoskeletal injuries, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and emergency management.The strategy coordinated by Méndez García in the DAEH includes a tiered system that encompasses on-site care, patient stabilization, transfer, and coordination with the hospital network, ensuring service continuity. In addition, an inter-institutional coordination model will be implemented that will integrate the National Emergency and Security Attention System 911, hospitals, civil protection organizations, the COE, and security entities. Regarding the operational structure, there will be first responders, basic and advanced life support ambulances, strategically located medical posts, and predefined evacuation routes. These actions seek to protect the lives of participants and attendees, as well as strengthen the response capacity of the local health system in the face of large-scale events.A timely response can be crucial. Our teams are prepared to act immediately and schedule medical transfers in an estimated time of 3 to 5 minutes in critical situations.
Dr. Ruddy de Gracia
