FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MD3 Provides Physician-Level Support to Augusta Fire-Led Medical Response at Ironman 70.3 Maine
AUGUSTA, Maine – July 29, 2025 – As thousands of athletes competed in the grueling Ironman 70.3 Maine triathlon this past Sunday, a multi-agency prehospital medicine and rescue team, led by the Augusta Fire Department, ensured the health and safety of competitors. Supporting this robust EMS response, the physician team from MD3 provided specialized field support throughout the 70.3-mile event.
The Ironman organization managed a comprehensive medical system with a staff medical tent at the finish line and multiple aid stations along the course. These stations, manned by physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, were the first line of care for athletes. They treated a host of common endurance-event issues, including dehydration, heat exhaustion, and muscle cramping.
The broader emergency response for the massive event was a coordinated effort led by the Augusta Fire Department. They were assisted by mutual aid partners including the Gardiner Fire Department, Topsham Fire Department, Sidney Fire Department, and Delta Ambulance.
Working in concert with these agencies, MD3 provided advanced, physician-level field response. When incidents required care beyond the scope of the aid stations or traditional EMS protocols, the MD3 team was dispatched to bring hospital-level interventions directly to the patient’s side.
“Our role is to augment the fantastic work being done by the primary EMS crews and the Ironman medical volunteers,” said Dr. Tim Pieh of MD3. “Under the leadership of the Augusta Fire Department, we work as part of a unified team. When a situation calls for advanced procedures or critical care decisions in the field, we can bring those physician-level skills to bear, ensuring athletes receive the highest possible level of care without delay. It’s a privilege to support our community and our EMS partners at this premier event.”
The demanding 70.3-mile race, which includes a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run, drew competitors from around the world. The course’s difficulty makes a seamless and layered medical response plan essential.
About MD3:
Serving the Kennebec Valley, MD3 is a unique, Maine EMS-approved service providing physician-level emergency field response and support. Our physicians primarily assist agencies in the Kennebec Valley region, but are available for mutual aid response across Maine, availability permitting. Responding in a fully-equipped quick response vehicle, the MD3 team brings advanced equipment and expertise not found in traditional EMS, including capabilities for:
- Field amputation
- Rapid sequence intubation
- Ultrasound
- Administering blood product
