U Of Texas Fans Offered Relief From Sweltering Temperatures

Fans attending unbearably hot Longhorn football games this fall can feel at ease with revamped first-aid stations and more medical personnel spread throughout the stadium, thanks to a lucrative six-year agreement that will make St. David’s HealthCare the official health care sponsor and emergency services provider to the University of Texas’ 20-sport men’s and women’s programs.

Officials would not disclose financial terms of the arrangement, but Scott Willingham, vice president and general manager of Longhorn IMG Sports Marketing, called the donation from St. David’s HealthCare significant.

“It is a very significant annual investment involving cash and in-kind services,” he said.

David Huffstutler, president and chief executive officer of St. David’s HealthCare, also declined to discuss financial details.

UT’s athletic program is one of the most profitable in the nation.

Other terms of the agreement include:

• St. David’s is upgrading seven first-aid stations at Royal-Memorial Stadium and one at Myers Stadium. Jennifer Langlois, clinical director of the UT athletics sponsorship at St. David’s, said each room is fully equipped, from simple bandages for minor scrapes to modern life support equipment for severe injuries. Members of the media toured one station at the football stadium that had four beds and a television so fans won’t miss the game.

• Incoming UT athletes will get free heart screenings, valued at more than $700 each. The program started Tuesday with checkups of 140 athletes.

• A registered nurse from St. David’s will work full time at UT with team physician Mark Chassay to provide services to athletes.

St. David’s will provide about 120 medical personnel — both paid staff members and volunteers — to work each UT home football game. This is in addition to about a dozen medical personnel provided by Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services. Previously, about 100 Austin-Travis EMS medics were placed throughout the stadium during games.

EMS Director Ernesto Rodriguez said his paramedics will continue to work with St. David’s personnel to give fans access to “state-of-the-art medical facilities and first-class medical care.”

Although athletes will benefit greatly from additional medical services, Huffstutler and men’s athletics director DeLoss Dodds said, fan safety is a top priority.