Today's action: Suffering from exhaustion

Today a picture of me with one of our oldest ambulances still running. This vehicle will be replaced soon as it is at the end of its lifecycle doing its service, having run a total of almost 300,000 kilometers.

With the Red Cross I was at the Almere City Run today, a running event with 3,500 participants running 4, 7, 14 or 21 kilometers. A few of those didn't make it to the end of the distance of their choice. The circumstances were tough. Not very hot, but warm and humid.

One runner was reported to be not well on the track not too far from our first aid station. We went there and found a gentleman sitting on the ground, with his back against a tree beside the footpath. He ran 10 kilometers and was not able to continue to finish his 14k run. We took him back to our station but there he seemed to deteriorate. So we decided to call in an ambulance after all to make sure he got the treatment he needed.

He was given oxygen and taken to hospital for further treatment and recovery. I am sure he will be doing fine again and will be back running in another event soon.

But I am not too sure about ambulance 25-121. It won't be long before it will go on its last call and then be taken out of service. For the emergency vehicles too one day are suffering from exhaustion.