Paramedic Michaela: I enjoy when people have fun
Michaela Sternová has been our tournament paramedic since 1998. She is a member of Prague’s Integrated Rescue System, has also worked as an anesthesiology nurse, and continues to actively educate and lecture paramedics across the country. She is the one who takes care of your health at every tournament. How is our tournament from her point of view?
How did you start to work at Prague’s Barrel?
By accident. In 1998, I was approached by a colleague from the ambulance service saying that she is ill and if I would replace her at a football tournament that was going to take place at Hagibor, that there was a lot of beer drinking and it was fun. And I said yes, I did not know what I was getting into yet (laughs).
A long time ago, my dad worked with me at the football tournament, because he is a lifeguard as well, and more recently I worked with my ex-husband. So it is kind of a family business. We even all helped out at the European CompanySports Games in 2013, I recruited lifeguards from all over the country.
And what did you say about your first tournament, what were your impressions?
I had all the lifesaving equipment with me, even the paramedic’s outfit, I just took it conscientiously. But then I quickly realized that people come here to have fun. I thought it was great that even grown-up people can have fun like that, and I think they are having more fun every year. For example, one Swedish football team really entertains me a lot and outdoes itself every year.
So it has been many years since you have been nursing all our injuries, what keeps convincing you to do it?
I enjoy it when people have fun. It is obviously a job for me, every tournament there is an injury that needs to be treated. But the tournament has added value, it is fun, there is a great team that organizes it. I have seen how they have solved some absolutely unsolvable problems. So overall the atmosphere just does not let me down, I want to experience it every time.
Sometimes the language barrier hinders me a little bit, but I like to create friendship with the participants, because here you really meet people from different parts of the world. Some of the teams come regularly, so I am glad that they get to know me and take me as a full member of the team and it is always nice to see them again.
What is one injury at Prague’s Barrel that you will not forget?
Well it was not really an injury, but a very interesting situation when the wife of one of our participants went into labor on the field, she started having contractions. The birth took place at the hospital, we called an ambulance and she was quickly transported. So it was definitely unforgettable, you just do not experience that at a sports tournament.
Then I remember sometime in 2008 when two ladies collided very unfortunately during a women’s tournament. One was left unconscious and the situation between the teams escalated quite a bit. I am used to a lot of things from being a paramedic, but this was special. Emotions were in the air, they were fighting with each other, arguing with each other, it was a bit of a hindrance to my work. Some of them were not even sure I was qualified to treat them. I passed it on to my colleagues in the ambulance and then I had to even give evidence to the police.
Do you have any funny stories from the tournament?
I have never sewn a Christmas tree head in my professional life. (laughs) Or seeing the big parade of fake penises that some people walk around with and play with. I also like to think of the men’s soccer team in tutu tulle skirts with hairy legs.
But as far as nursing goes, I have had other hilarious incidents, of course. At football the boys want to let their private parts breathe, but then some injury like a torn bridle happens, so yes I have to deal with that too.
Do more injuries happen in hockey or football?
I definitely treat more serious injuries in hockey tournaments, but in football there are a lot of minor injuries, so there is always more work to be done, and there are usually more participants. But it is true that at hockey, until the blood is gushing, some people almost feel like not coming in to get treated or get advice. Also, they have gear on their body that protects them more. The ice treatment is the busiest at all tournaments, it solves everything.
