PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The heat created safety issues and kept first responders busy Friday at The Players Championship.
About noon, News4Jax saw four people being brought into a first-aid trailer at TPC Sawgrass within 10 minutes, and there were already others inside.
Stretchers and golf carts made their way into and out of the first-aid trailer throughout the day treating people for a variety of problems.
From broken bones to heat exhaustion, the staff said they’re equipped to handle just about anything.
Two people had to be taken to area hospitals for more treatment. But most people were released after cooling off and getting some fluids.
St. Johns County Fire Rescue and the first-aid team at the tournament have multiple places on the course where they can help people quickly.
“When we get the report, we go get them. We bring them to an air-conditioned area, we give them IVs. We have emergency room physicians here with us examine the patients and if they feel like they need to go to the hospital, we will send them by ambulance to the hospital,” said Richard Darby of the first-aid team.
News4Jax learned that the first-aid staff treated 139 people last year. They said they hope the number is lower this year, but they’ve already treated closed to half of that number.
Staff said they ask fans attending this weekend to make sure to drink lots of water while walking around.