Cherry Blossom "Barkada" Team
January 2022
Cherry Blossom "Barkada" Team
at UVA Health System
UVA Community Health Haymarket & Prince William Medical Centers
Manassas
,
VA
United States
Glenda Cunanan, BSN, RN
Elgin Dailey BSN, RN, PCCN
Malela DeLeoz, BSN, RN
Belinda Lew, BSN, RN, CCRN
Susan Solano, BSN, RN
Elgin Dailey BSN, RN, PCCN
Malela DeLeoz, BSN, RN
Belinda Lew, BSN, RN, CCRN
Susan Solano, BSN, RN
Their quick actions and immediate interventions helped save this man's life as his temperature was 108 degrees F.
The Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run is an annual 10 mile road race in Washington D.C. In 2020, the race that is normally held in April, was postponed due to the Covid pandemic to September. This team of nurses has volunteered at this race to provide first aid to runners. There was an expected 10,000 runners this year for the 10K run and about 2,000 runners for the 5K run. Due to the time of year change for the race, there was a concern for heat-related illnesses. This "Barkada" (Tagalog term for "a group of friends") of nurses were assigned to the main first aid tent at the finish line of the run. Belinda Lew BSN, RN, CCRN had ER and Critical Care experience, while the remaining RNs in this group had step-down experience.
Definition of Extraordinary: Going beyond what is usual, regular, or customary. I list this definition of extraordinary as it relates to our role as registered nurses volunteering at events such as the Cherry Blossom Run, an international event that goes above and beyond what is usual. Towards the end of the race, Belinda and the other nurses from our hospital; Glenda Cunanan BSN, RN; Elgin Dailey BSN, RN, PCCN, Malela Deleoz BSN, RN, and Susan Solano BSN, RN identified an elite runner who had finished the race with symptoms of hyperthermia. Their quick actions and immediate interventions helped save this man's life as his temperature was 108 degrees F. They began aggressive passive cooling treatments and called 911. When rescue arrived and as the man was leaving the first aid tent to be transported to the hospital, his temperature had been lowered to 102 degrees.
As soon as that runner left for care at a local hospital, a second runner, with a temperature of 104 degrees F entered and the Barkada went to work again, cooling this individual quickly and efficiently. These nurses have volunteered many times but had never encountered an illness or injury as severe as this. They remained calm and professional in every way while they cared for all that entered the tent with compassion and personal excellence. We are all proud of our life-saving Barcada of volunteer UVA CH RNs!
Definition of Extraordinary: Going beyond what is usual, regular, or customary. I list this definition of extraordinary as it relates to our role as registered nurses volunteering at events such as the Cherry Blossom Run, an international event that goes above and beyond what is usual. Towards the end of the race, Belinda and the other nurses from our hospital; Glenda Cunanan BSN, RN; Elgin Dailey BSN, RN, PCCN, Malela Deleoz BSN, RN, and Susan Solano BSN, RN identified an elite runner who had finished the race with symptoms of hyperthermia. Their quick actions and immediate interventions helped save this man's life as his temperature was 108 degrees F. They began aggressive passive cooling treatments and called 911. When rescue arrived and as the man was leaving the first aid tent to be transported to the hospital, his temperature had been lowered to 102 degrees.
As soon as that runner left for care at a local hospital, a second runner, with a temperature of 104 degrees F entered and the Barkada went to work again, cooling this individual quickly and efficiently. These nurses have volunteered many times but had never encountered an illness or injury as severe as this. They remained calm and professional in every way while they cared for all that entered the tent with compassion and personal excellence. We are all proud of our life-saving Barcada of volunteer UVA CH RNs!