Open air rock concert: an organised disaster
Fulde, G.W.; Forster, S.L.; Preisz, P.
Medical Journal of Australia 157(11-12): 820-822
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-729X PMID: 1454019 Document Number: 395427
Objective: To describe the planning and implementation of health care provision at a mass gathering, and to describe the conditions treated at such an event. Setting: When approximately 93,000 fans gathered outdoors in Sydney's Centennial Park, a natural reserve, for Australasia's largest ever outdoor rock concert, there was an obvious potential for medical disaster. Patients: At most disasters or mass gatherings, accurate patient numbers and details are not available, but an organized patient data collection system allowed the case load at this event to be clearly defined. This showed that 450 patients were attended to by the first aid teams. Triage identified 36 of these as having conditions serious enough to require admission to the medical area. Seven of these patients were ultimately transferred to hospital. Results: A brief practical outline is provided of the medical planning for the concert, detailing the staff and equipment, how to avoid potential problems, the use of voluntary organizations, and specific site organization. Key points in the medical planning, organization and practicalities, especially those which are vital to any disaster response, are highlighted. Conclusion: Solutions to recurrent problems experienced by medical personnel involved with mass gatherings or disasters are suggested. The lack of practice in implementing a multiple casualty or disaster plan may be remedied by organized responses to mass events.