Behind the scenes at the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon are captains, committee members and special guests waiting to go on stage, but there are also several groups of people who go unnoticed by most.

These groups include the Penn State Emergency Medical Services (EMS), the Central Pennsylvania School of Massage, 336 S. Fraser St., and Penn State University Police.

EMS workers inform dancers before Thon about what types of food to eat and what activities to engage in before the weekend to prepare their bodies as much as possible. Mike Tilden, an EMS member, spent 32 hours total at Thon. He said there are about 30 paid or volunteer EMS workers who gave their time this weekend to look after the dancers, volunteers and guests.

"We see patients for fatigue, lower extremity pain and have had a couple of alcohol occurrences so far," he said.

About halfway through Thon, Tilden said EMS saw about 30 patients, but they expected things to get busier as the weekend progressed.

"The second night is when the fatigue starts to set in, and they lose a sense of what's going on around them," he said.

Tilden said that for minor things, such as upset stomachs, EMS treated the patients themselves.

"If it's anything serious and we feel they need to see a physician, we recommend they go to the hospital, either with a friend, or we can transport them ourselves," he said.

For minor pains such as sore backs and feet, dancers could receive a free massage from a member of the Central Pennsylvania School of Massage.

Ali Banjak, a student at the school, volunteered 20 hours to giving massages to sore dancers.

"My brother had cancer before, so I was here as a family member," she said.

She said they use powder for the massage because it's readily available and easy, and they will rub backs, feet, legs or whatever the dancer asks for. Usually, she added, they want their feet rubbed.

Massages last 5 to 7 minutes, but Banjak said she was told that the line for the massage was up to three hours long.

"They tell us how long they waited, but then again, they have no concept of time," she said.

Travis Burke (sophomore-mechanical engineering) was in line for his third massage at 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

"It's a good way to kill an hour or so, and the 10-minute massage is worth the wait," he said. "The hardest part of dancing is the soles of your feet"

Burke added that the masseuses were "awesome" and "very friendly."

Jordan Chaffin, a Penn State police officer, said police are going in five-person shifts, which are rotated throughout the weekend.

"As far as outside, we make sure no one takes the parking spaces of the Thon workers," he said. "As well as general security to keep things under control."

Chaffin said things stayed relatively under control, but they were normally busier at night than during the day.