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Abstract
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An organised mass gathering has predictable medical problems. Yet emergency care at these events has been criticised as haphazard at best and dangerous at worst, with a wide variation of medical care provision.1 On 31 December 1999 potentially the largest ever series of mass gatherings will occur. What lessons should we apply when planning the millennium celebrations?
No clear definition of a mass gathering exists. Large crowds are commonly associated with leisure events but may occur at religious festivals, parades, and demonstrations and during public disorder. A figure of 1000 has been suggested to constitute a mass gathering, and this is reflected in the recommendations for first aid support of one first aider per 1000 people.2 Casualty rates vary considerably with the type of event, category 1 events (short all seater events such as football matches or a concerts) having a lower rate than category 2 (spectators mobile within a defined area often over a long period, as in a fairground or golf tournament).
he potential for a major incident always exists, and such an incident must be anticipated. Planning and exercises will ensure that the infrastructure to control the incident is in place, that staff have predetermined roles, and that stores of major incident equipment are held in strategic areas within the venue.
The millennium celebrations will take place at the worst possible time. The workload over any new year is the highest of the year for ambulance services; an influenza epidemic or normal winter pressures may limit hospitals' capacity for additional admissions; medical cover for individual venues, often provided by volunteers, may be difficult to find because the volunteers want to celebrate or are needed at their normal place of work; and the millennium bug threatens to disrupt utilities, transport, and communication systems. Yet many organised mass gatherings are already planned, and medical problems can be expected at all of them. Organisers must plan their medical resources now.
Keywords: Soccer; Golf
Language: en |