Dajia Matsu Pilgrimage Takes Place on Apr. 7|大甲媽遶境4/7登場 9天8夜體力大考驗

The annual Dajia Matsu Pilgrimage will kick off soon at 10 p.m. this Sunday. It will last for 9 days and 8 nights, and the accompanying crowd is expected to pass through 4 counties and more than 20 cities and townships, which makes it a physically challenging task, making proper preparations, a must.


The annual Dajia Matsu Pilgrimage is about to kick off this year. Many pilgrims tend to arrive at the Dajia Jenn Lann Temple in Taichung City to light up incense ahead of time. The walk along the Matsu statue will last for 9 days and 8 nights, which takes a heavy physical toll on many of the pilgrims. Those who walk a lot often end up with blisters on the bottom of their feet, and they sometimes also suffer from colds due to the unstable weather.

Many pilgrims end up with blisters on the bottom of their feet. They sometimes also suffer from cold, gastroenteritis, and lose bowel movements. In case anyone suffers any burns, please treat with the following 5 steps: wash the burn area with water, remove clothing, immerse the wound briefly in water to cool it down, cover the wound with ointment, and see a doctor. In case the burned surface area is bigger than three times of the person's palm, he or she should see a doctor as soon as possible.

According to statistics from medical staff members who followed the Pilgrimage in past year, these most frequent injuries suffered by pilgrims during the tour include gastroenteritis, fall injuries, burns from fire crackers, heat exhaustion and fainting from being in a packed crowd. Many pilgrims have prepared light luggage and asked doctors to prescribe medications ahead of time for preventative purposes.

I've prepared (medicines for stomach pain and anti-inflammatory drugs). Free food is provided during the pilgrimage. Maybe people have eaten too much, or haven't eaten enough, many suffer from digestion issues during the tour.

The doctors have reminded the public that if they suffer from a burn during the offering of incense, they must keep in mind of the five-step procedure. The doctor said people should also not overlook blisters, and that they should seek help immediately if their blisters do not heal or if pus begins to come out of the wound. Those with chronic diseases also need to carry their medications with them to make sure they can complete the pilgrimage safely and in good health.



一年一度的大甲媽祖遶境將登場，不少信徒都會提早到鎮瀾宮廟裡過香火。但九天八夜的遶境，對身心體力也是一場考驗，特別是徒步的信徒，最常見的是腳底起水疱，還有忽冷忽熱的天氣，一不小心就傷風感冒。

急診醫學部主任 林宗興表示：「信徒的腳起水疱，或者是常見的感冒腸胃炎拉肚子，火藥炸傷請各位保持沖脫泡蓋送的原理，面積大於三個手掌的話，請盡速就醫。」

根據配合隨行的醫療院所統計，大甲媽遶境期間，最常見的急症除了腸胃炎，還有摔傷、鞭炮炸傷、熱衰竭及人群擁擠昏倒最常見，隨香信徒，除了要先準備好輕便行李，也有人提早到醫院請醫師開立簡易常備藥。

民眾表示：「胃藥或是可以擦的消炎藥，在(遶境)大家都提供一些免費的東西，可是有可能就是，吃得過多或是可能都一直沒有吃，然後造成胃部的消化不良。」

醫師提醒，隨香期間萬一被炸傷，千萬記得沖脫泡蓋送的流程，如果是走到腳起水疱，也千萬別輕忽，萬一水疱傷口一直無法癒合甚至流膿水要盡速就醫，有慢性病史的，也要隨身攜帶藥物，求平安也要保健康。