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A Prospective Analysis of Patients Presenting for Medical Attention at a Large Electronic Dance Music Festival

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 December 2016

Matt S. Friedman ,
Alex Plocki ,
Antonios Likourezos ,
Illya Pushkar ,
Andrew N. Bazos ,
Christian Fromm  and
Benjamin W. Friedman
Matt S. Friedman*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New YorkUSA
Alex Plocki
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New YorkUSA
Antonios Likourezos
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New YorkUSA
Illya Pushkar
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New YorkUSA
Andrew N. Bazos
Affiliation:
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New YorkUSA
Christian Fromm
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New YorkUSA
Benjamin W. Friedman
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New YorkUSA
*
Correspondence: Matt S. Friedman, MD Department of Emergency Medicine Maimonides Medical Center 4802 Tenth Ave Brooklyn, New York 11219 USA E-mail: mattsfriedman@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Mass-Gathering Medicine studies have identified variables that predict greater patient presentation rates (PPRs) and transport to hospital rates (TTHRs). This is a descriptive report of patients who presented for medical attention at an annual electronic dance music festival (EDMF). At this large, single EDMF in New York City (NYC; New York, USA), the frequency of patient presentation, the range of presentations, and interventions performed were identified.

This descriptive report examined consecutive patients who presented to the medical tent of a summertime EDMF held at an outdoor venue with an active, mobile, bounded crowd. Alcohol was available for sale. Entry was restricted to persons 18 years and older. The festival occurred on three consecutive days with a total cumulative attendance of 58,000. Medical staffing included two Emergency Medicine physicians, four registered nurses, and 86 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers. Data collected included demographics, past medical history, vital signs, physical exam, drug and alcohol use, interventions performed, and transport decisions.

Eighty-four patients were enrolled over 2.5 days. Six were transported and zero died. The ages of the subjects ranged from 17 to 61 years. Forty-three (51%) were male. Thirty-eight (45%) initially presented with abnormal vital signs; four (5%) were hyperthermic. Of these latter patients, 34 (90%) reported ingestions with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or other drugs. Eleven (65%) patients were diaphoretic or mydriatic. The most common prehospital interventions were intravenous normal saline (8/84; 10%), ondansetron (6/84; 7%), and midazolam (3/84; 4%).

Electronic dance music festivals are a growing trend and a new challenge for Mass-Gathering Medicine as new strategies must be employed to decrease TTHR and mortality. Addressing common and expected medical emergencies at mass-gathering events through awareness, preparation, and early, focused medical interventions may decrease PPR, TTHR, and overall mortality.

FriedmanMS, PlockiA, LikourezosA, PushkarI, BazosAN, FrommC, FriedmanBW. A Prospective Analysis of Patients Presenting for Medical Attention at a Large Electronic Dance Music Festival. Prehosp Disaster Med.2017; 32(1):78–82.

Keywords

EMSmass gatheringstoxicology
Type
Special Reports
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 32 , Issue 1 , February 2017 , pp. 78 - 82
Copyright
© World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2016 

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