The Atlanta Track Club (ATC), organizer of the world’s largest 10K running event, the AJC Peachtree Road Race, presented Grady Health Foundation with a $20,000 donation to continue support of the Grady Bicycle EMT program. The 20-member EMS Bicycle Team represents a critical component of the team of over 50 first-responders from Grady Health System who support Peachtree runners on the Fourth of July. The Atlanta Track Club has provided support to the Grady Bicycle EMT program through annual donations totaling over $100,000 since the program began in 2003.
“The generous and continued support of the Atlanta Track Club for the Grady EMS Bike Team has not only provided timely, life-saving medical assistance for AJC Peachtree Road Race runners, it has created a top-quality emergency response program that has benefited participants in numerous other events. The Atlanta Track Club has played a pivotal role in helping Grady EMS create and sustain a valuable community resource,” says Lisa Borders, President of the Grady Health Foundation.
The Grady Bicycle EMT program started with four specially equipped bikes and six team members in 2003 and has since increased to a team of 20 with 13 fully equipped bikes. Each bike holds 55 pounds of equipment including three bags filled with IVs, oxygen, AED bandaging equipment, pharmaceuticals and airway equipment enabling the Bicycle EMT team to serve the role of first-responders in locations that an ambulance cannot quickly reach. All bike medics are required to complete a five-hour cycling course based on International Police / EMS Mountain Bike Association laws and Georgia bicycle traffic laws, including a technical cone course test, scene safety and defensive riding.
“We have seen first-hand the importance of the Grady Bicycle EMT program in contributing to the safety of our runners, and we are extremely grateful to have their support out on the Peachtree course every Fourth of July,” said Tracey Russell, Executive Director of the Atlanta Track Club.
At the 2011 AJC Peachtree Road Race, Grady Bicycle EMTs responded to a cardiac arrest on 10th Street near the race finish and were able to revive the runner. In addition to providing first responder support at the AJC Peachtree Road Race, Grady Bicycle EMTs play an important role at other large-scale events throughout Atlanta including the Dogwood Festival, Pride Festival, Macy’s Great Tree Lighting and the New Year’s Eve Peach Drop.
About the Atlanta Track Club
The Atlanta Track Club is a non-profit organization established to inspire and engage the community to achieve health and fitness through running. With over 15,000 members, the ATC is the second largest running organization in the United States. In addition to the AJC Peachtree Road Race (peachtreeroadrace.org) – the world’s largest 10K running event, the Atlanta Half Marathon and Thanksgiving Day 5K (atlantahalfmarathon.org) and the Atlanta Marathon and Marathon Relay (atlantamarathon.org), the Atlanta Track Club directs more than 25 running events per year. For more information on the Atlanta Track Club, visit atlantatrackclub.org.
About Grady Health System
Grady Health System is one of the largest public health systems in the United States. Grady consists of the 953-bed Grady Memorial Hospital, six neighborhood health centers, Crestview Health & Rehabilitation Center, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding, which is operated as a Children's affiliate.
With its nationally acclaimed Emergency Department and Burn Center, Grady has the premier level I trauma center in the region and serves as the 911 ambulance provider for the city of Atlanta. The state's only Poison Center is housed at Grady as well.
The Marcus Stroke and Neuroscience Center , Grady Diabetes Center, Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, and the Avon Breast Health Center are also notable components of the health system. Additionally, Grady's Ponce de Leon Center was named one of the top three HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics in the country.
Other key services include Grady's Regional Perinatal Center and its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Primary Care Center, dedicated 60 Plus services for older adults, Teen Services, and the Rape Crisis Center. Nationally ranked in one specialty, Grady was named one of Atlanta’s Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.