Venemergencia leads medical training for the 2026 CAF Marathon
With this training, Venemergencia reaffirms its commitment to safety, prevention, and timely care during the 2026 CAF Marathon on Sunday, February 8. The organization invites runners and attendees to experience this sporting event with confidence and peace of mind, supported by a comprehensive, planned, and coordinated medical care system
As part of the tenth edition of the CAF Marathon 2026, the Venemergencia Group led the Medical Update Course for runner care, a training day aimed at strengthening the preparedness of medical personnel and volunteers. They will participate in this emblematic sporting event, which this year will include a 10K race for the first time, in addition to the traditional 21K and 42K distances. The races will be held on Sunday, February 8th.
The training session took place in the Antonio José de Sucre Auditorium at the CAF Tower and was part of a joint effort between Venemergencia, CAF, and Mercantil Seguros, key partnerships that ensure optimal conditions for safety, prevention, and medical care during the event.
During the session, experts from Venemergencia, the Venemergencia Foundation, and sports specialists addressed key topics such as musculoskeletal injuries, heat-related illnesses and dehydration, basic life support, emergency medical management in marathons, and the strategic placement of resources on race day, all aligned with international standards for care at large-scale sporting events.
Medical management and training for the marathon
One of the central themes of the day was the presentation “Emergency Management System during the CAF Marathon,” given by Dr. Luis Enrique Velázquez, Founding Partner and Operations Director of Venemergencia. During his presentation, he explained the technical and operational challenges involved in providing medical coverage for an event of this magnitude and highlighted that, in previous editions, up to 30 % of runners required some type of care, including highly complex emergencies such as cardiac arrest and heatstroke.
Dr. Velázquez also emphasized that the medical operation is designed according to IAAF international standards, which allows for the precise definition of the number of professionals, units, points, and care stations needed. In this context, he explained the integrated response system implemented by Venemergencia, based on four fundamental pillars: human resources, material resources, care units, and communications, and stressed the importance of coordinated work among the institutions involved.
As part of this comprehensive deployment, all runners in the 2026 CAF Marathon will have Mercantil insurance, granting them access to the Urgent Care network of emergency rooms. In cases where the required care exceeds the emergency level, participants will be immediately referred to partner clinics, ensuring continuity of timely and specialized medical attention.
Specialized training for runner care
From an educational perspective, the course addressed the main medical situations associated with long-distance running. Carlos Lobo Oropeza explained the most common injuries in runners and the role of volunteers in identifying warning signs, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing athlete safety.
Likewise, Christopher De Faria, a surgeon and member of the Venemergencia Foundation, reinforced knowledge in Basic Life Support, including the early recognition of cardiac arrest and the correct use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Finally, Dr. Ricardo Javornik addressed heat-induced thermal stress injuries, thermoregulation, hydration, and care protocols for this type of emergency.
A comprehensive operation for the safety of all runners
The medical operation for the 2026 CAF Marathon will be made possible through the coordinated efforts of Venemergencia, CAF, Mercantil Seguros, and various security and response agencies, including the Fire Department, Civil Protection, Salud Chacao, Ven 911, paramedics from Vías Rápidas, and Ángeles de la Autopista (Highway Angels), forming a comprehensive care system to respond effectively to any eventuality.
With this preparation process, Venemergencia reaffirms its commitment to safety, prevention, and timely care during the 2026 CAF Marathon. The organization invites runners and attendees to experience this sporting event with confidence and peace of mind, supported by a comprehensive, planned, and coordinated medical care system. Together with its strategic partners, Venemergencia will be present before, during, and after the event, prepared to safeguard the health and well-being of all participants.
With information and main image provided by Grupo Venemergencia
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