The defibrillators from the company ALMAS INDUSTRIES have contributed to saving 7 lives since 2015 in the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Half Marathon and Marathon
ALMAS INDUSTRIES, through its Proyecto+Vida, will participate again in the cardioprotection of the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Half Marathon with 10 defibrillators and the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Marathon with 20 defibrillators, which will be held on October 25 and December 6 in Valencia, respectively. Through its corporate social responsibility initiative Proyecto+Vida, the company will contribute to enhancing the safety of both competitions with semi-automatic external defibrillators (DESA) in backpacks with everything necessary to attend to cases of cardiac arrest, continuing a collaboration that, since 2015, has contributed to saving seven lives.
The devices will be integrated into the health operation of the races and will be transported by skating rescuers, professionals trained in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of defibrillators. These specialists, hired by the organization and who move in pairs along the route, play a fundamental role in the initial response to a cardiac emergency, as their mobility allows them to quickly access the incident location and act until the arrival of medical services.
In fact, in the seven cases recorded since 2015 in which the defibrillators from ALMAS INDUSTRIES have contributed to saving lives, it was the skating rescuers who performed the first intervention with the equipment, before the arrival of doctors and ambulances.
A healthcare deployment adapted to the growth of the races
Cardioprotection takes on special relevance in two competitions that have experienced significant growth over the last decade. The Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Half Marathon has gone from gathering approximately 10,000 runners to reaching 26,000 participants, while the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Marathon has increased from 16,000 to 36,000.
Together, both events gather nearly 62,000 runners, in addition to thousands of spectators distributed along their routes. To ensure the proper development of the competitions, each event mobilizes approximately 500 people in organizational tasks, along with about 2,000 volunteers in the Half Marathon and 3,000 in the Marathon.
This device is joined by the health team, which includes the resuscitating skaters equipped with the defibrillators from ALMAS INDUSTRIES. Their ability to move quickly around the circuit facilitates early attention in situations where every minute is decisive.
The effectiveness of this model was reflected, among other cases, in the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Marathon of 2023, when the defibrillators provided by Proyecto+Vida helped save two lives: that of a runner who suffered a cardiac emergency at kilometer 40.5 and that of a spectator who also needed urgent assistance.
"The seven lives saved since 2015 reflect the importance of having accessible defibrillators and, above all, people prepared to use them. The work of the resuscitating skaters is fundamental because their quick intervention can make a difference in a cardiac emergency. From ALMAS INDUSTRIES we want to continue contributing to ensuring that major sporting events like the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Half Marathon and the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Marathon have the necessary resources to protect their participants," says Nuño Azcona, CEO of ALMAS INDUSTRIES.
Cardioprotection, an essential element in major sporting events
In the event of a cardiac arrest, starting CPR maneuvers as soon as possible and using a defibrillator when indicated can significantly increase the chances of survival. Therefore, having accessible equipment and trained personnel is especially important in mass competitions.
Through Proyecto+Vida, ALMAS INDUSTRIES promotes cardioprotection and awareness of the importance of acting quickly in the event of a cardiac emergency, through training initiatives, provision of defibrillators, and collaboration in sporting events.
With its participation in the upcoming editions of the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Half Marathon and the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso Zurich Marathon, the company reaffirms its commitment to the health and safety of runners and spectators, continuing a collaboration that demonstrates how technology, training, and health coordination can contribute to saving lives.