Articles: emergency-medical-services.
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This study of patient and bystander responses to medical emergencies revealed serious shortcomings in the public's ability to respond appropriately to such situations. Decision delays at least as long as ambulance response delays were found to be the result of confusion regarding the seriousness of the emergency, confusion regarding the appropriate reaction to the emergency, and a reluctance to burden the rescue service unnecessarily. A significant group of high-risk patients were identified who not only reacted slowly but who bypassed the emergency ambulance service entirely. A substantial fraction of these patients have had prior contact with the local medical care system for problems related or identical to the one causing the emergency.
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A three-day open air musical festival attended by approximately 20 000 people was held at Ngaruawahia in January 1973. A medical service was provided and staffed mainly by medical students, nurses and young medical graduates. There were 1998 patient visits to the medical area, the five most common complaints being sunburn, headaches, minor foot trauma, gastroenteritis and lacerations which collectively accounted for 75 percent of the diagnoses. The medical services provided are discussed and recommendations for future festivals made.
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Clinical pediatrics · Apr 1975
Medical services at outdoor music festivals. Risks and recommendations.
Those planning provision of medical services should consider the type of music, the anticipated size of the crowd, the locale, the available local resources, the length of the festival, the numbers and types of patients to be treated, and especially the potential criminal and civil liability.