Doctor
Gets Taste of
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June 12, 1979 By PAUL HART ADA - For Tom Campbell it was a case of "doctor, heal thyself" Monday. Campbell is the official Free Wheel '79 doctor. He is being assisted by an ambulance provided by the Owasso Ambulance Department and Explorer Post 98. "It's been only sunburn and sore muscles so far," the St. Francis Hospital emergency room physician said as he prepared to leave Tishomingo City Park Monday morning. Campbell should know both ailments will because he was suffering from both maladies after Sunday's arduous ride. With a groan, Campbell mounted his 10-speed bike. "I had to borrow a bike just to come," he added as he adjusted his riding helmet. On the road a few miles outside of Tishomingo the first serious injury cropped up. Tow girls side-swiped each other near Wapancka, giving one a badly scraped knee. Luckily, her bike got the worst of it and Campbell was quickly on the scene. By the time Campbell arrived here at Wintersmith Park, the end of day two of Free Wheel '79, his face was bright red from sunburn. "There's a standard four-step treatment for sunburn," 35-year-old physician said. "That includes cold baths, lots of body oil, aspirin to reduce inflammation and Benadril to relieve pain. "But out here cold baths are out of the question, you sweat off your lotion and Benadril makes you groggy, which makes it dangerous to ride. So about all I can do is tell people to take aspirin," Campbell said Although it may not help the sunburn, the ambulance crew has made itself popular with the 250-odd bikeriders by providing cool drinks of water along the route. What about sore muscles, the other bugaboo of the bikers? "Oh-h-h-h-h-h," moaned Campbell, shaking his head. "I rode maybe 10 miles in the past month getting ready for this," he added. "That wind Sunday just took it out of me and a lot of other people." In Ada, Campbell diagnosed his first major injury. Tulsa rider Ken Sheppart, 17, complaining of knee pains, asked Campbell to take a look. The diagnosis was torn ligaments. "I'm afraid you're through," Campbell told the disappointed rider. Campbell and the ambulance crew will continue to ride with Free Wheel '79 until it reaches Chetopa, Kansas, Saturday.
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