DAEH Presents Medical Care Plan for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games
The Directorate of Extrahospital Emergency Care Services (DAEH) has revealed its comprehensive plan for medical coverage and extrahospital care during the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026. The presentation was made within the framework of the International Congress of Sports Medicine. 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 detailing the key aspects of the plan. This includes the deployment of medical personnel and ambulance units that will provide service to athletes, coaches, and visitors. Medical coverage at events is designed to respond in a timely, professional, and comprehensive manner to any emergency. De Gracia emphasized that risk-based planning is fundamental. Factors such as the type of event, the number of attendees, and possible emergency scenarios, including trauma, heatstroke, and cardiovascular events, will be considered. 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 coordinated care strategy by Méndez García in the DAEH includes a tiered system encompassing on-scene care, patient stabilization, transfer, and coordination with the hospital network, ensuring service continuity. A model of inter-institutional coordination will be implemented that will integrate the National Emergency and Security Attention System 911, hospitals, civil protection organizations, the COE and security entities. The operational structure will have first responders, basic and advanced life support ambulances, strategically located medical posts, and defined evacuation routes. These actions seek to protect the lives of participants and attendees, as well as strengthen the country’s response capacity to large-scale events.A timely response can make the difference between life and death. Our teams are prepared to act immediately.
Dr. Ruddy de Gracia
