The team is made up of about 30 doctors, 40 nurses, 10 physiotherapists and about 200 university students.

Their roles during Ironman Australia and Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie on May 6 include mobile medics on motorbikes between Port Macquarie and Dunbogan, students performing first aid at aid stations and health professionals in the medical tent and at particular points along the course.

Dr Dawn Martin will swap Port Macquarie Base Hospital’s emergency department, where she works as an emergency consultant, for the race day environment.

Dr Martin, as Ironman Australia medical director, will ensure the safety and medical care of the athletes, while aiming to keep as many athletes out of hospital as possible.

She will be at the swim leg start and then spend most her the day in the medical tent.

“I just love the teamwork and being part of the buzz of the day,” Dr Martin said.

Local Organising Committee medical director Simon Ross will coordinate and manage the medical volunteers and equipment.

“The day can throw anything at us, depending on the weather, everything from bike accidents to dehydration, hypothermia, nausea and vomiting,” Mr Ross said.

Mr Ross, a nurse at Port Macquarie Base Hospital emergency department, has been a volunteer across different fields for 13 years, the past seven of which were in the medical arena.

Some 170 athletes were treated in the medical tent during the 2017 event.

Only three required a hospital visit with one athlete admitted.

Port Macquarie Base Hospital emergency department will be ready to treat athletes, when needed.

A plan is in place to ensure the day runs smoothly in the emergency department.

Some health professionals will take to the course as competitors.

Paramedic James O’Brien is competing in Ironman Australia.

“It will be a big challenge,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to competing with good friends as well.”

Mr O’Brien said while Ironman Australian was an individual sport, the other competitors were so friendly and supporters cheered you on.

Port Macquarie Ambulance Station duty operations officer Josh Smyth is competing in Ironman Australia as part of fundraising for the Leukaemia Foundation.

The event will be Mr Smyth’s fourth race in the fundraising effort but his first Ironman Australia.

Click here to support Mr Smyth’s fundraising.