Jefferson County health providers ‘well equipped’ for The World Games
Thousands of people from across the globe will gather in Birmingham next week to celebrate The World Games, an influx that will increase pressure on local health providers.
Officials with the state’s largest hospital said during a press conference Wednesday they are prepared to care for athletes and spectators.
The biggest concern is heat-related illness.
“Y’all may have noticed, but it’s really hot outside,” said Dr. Sarah Nafziger, vice president of clinical support services at UAB Hospital.
Nafziger said area hospitals and nursing schools are collaborating to staff first aid stations and medical tents to care for spectators at every venue.
Cooling stations will be available with ice, fans and hydration.
For more serious injuries, medical providers are working with the Jefferson County Emergency Medical Services to coordinate transportation to hospitals.
Nafizinger said UAB has increased staffing and added telemedicine capacity.
She said the hospital is prepared for a possible surge in patient volume, but the goal is to treat as many people as possible onsite at The World Games.
“We’re setting all this up in an effort to hopefully not overload the local system of emergency departments and urgent cares,” Nafziger said.
Jefferson County, and most of Alabama, continue to face a high level of community spread of COVID-19. County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson encouraged event spectators to wear masks indoors and get vaccinated against COVID-19, although neither is required.
COVID testing will not be provided at venue medical tents, but the health department recently opened a new rapid COVID testing site downtown that can test around 300 people per day free of charge.
Wilson said local and state health departments are also monitoring the global spread of Monkeypox, but he said it shouldn’t be a big concern for people attending The World Games.
“We have not had cases detected yet in the state of Alabama,” he said. “That doesn’t mean they don’t exist, but we are prepared to do testing and contact tracing if needed.”
UAB medical personnel will work with Andrews Sports Medicine to care for athletes with orthopedic injuries and other needs.
“Lots of planning that’s been going on over the past two and half years,” said Dr. Irfan Asif, chief of UAB Sports Medicine. “I think we’re well equipped for the things we’ll probably see in the next few weeks.”
With $2.7 billion settlement approved, college sports’ big money era is officially here
The settlement in House v. NCAA brings an end to the NCAA's long-standing tradition of amateurism. Starting this fall, schools will be able to pay players directly up to a salary cap of $20.5 million.
ICE raids grow tense as protesters confront immigration agents
Bystanders and protesters have been confronting ICE agents as the Trump administration ramps up immigration enforcement.
Deportees are being held in a converted shipping container in Djibouti, ICE says
Deported migrants have been stuck at a military base in Djibouti for over two weeks — and ICE officers are also there, guarding them 24 hours a day.
Supreme Court grants DOGE access to confidential Social Security records
The order, for now, overturns actions that limited DOGE's access to sensitive private information. In a separate case, the court said DOGE did not have to share internal records with a watchdog group.
Trump admin asks SCOTUS to intervene and allow Ed Dept cuts
In an emergency appeal, the administration is asking the Supreme Court to lift a lower-court order blocking mass staffing cuts at the Education Department.
Sea turtle Dilly Dally released into the ocean with three flippers after undergoing amputation
Dilly Dally, a loggerhead turtle who survived a run-in with a predator that ultimately cost her a flipper, has been rereleased into the wild.
