Need some advice please

[Timmy]

Hey everyone, thanks for taking the time to read over this post.

I have a problem and would like any advice.

I’ve been asked to provide first aid at my town’s biggest event. This event attracts about 40,000 'rev heads’ and car goes from all over the country per day. The event goes for 3 days.

It has cars doing burnouts, shine n shine, go to whow, time trials, basically young guys showing off what there cars are capable of. It will be fairly hot over the weekend and alcohol is on tap at the event. The age is expected to be anything from 5 to 35 years old.

Now here’s my problem, the event organizer who is a friend of the family has asked me to get a few first aiders together for the event. They don’t want to spend money on a professional first aid provider and there insurance only requires them to have 3 first aid staff. We have full insurance and public liability cover.

So here I am with 2 of my friends who are first aiders as well, with minimal equipment, expected to provide first aid to 40,000. My biggest fear is a car going into the crowd!

I’ve spoken to the local ambulance boss and he’s happy with what I’m doing so far, there going to have an extra 6 ambulances on for the weekend just in case things get busy. But were the only first aid people at this event, the event covers a huge geographical area! Were getting paid quite well I must said lol.

Does any one have any advice as to what equipment is necessary to perform a ‘low’ level of coverage or any other advice?

[Chardin]

LOTS of bandaids and drinking water. Maybe some kerlix and 4x4s. Beyond that, a car going into a crowd is not your problem, its the local EMS's.

[akroeze]

My advice: DON'T DO THIS

Surely you can see the many ways that this is so very wrong...

[Just Plain Ruff]

Now here’s my problem, the event organizer who is a friend of the family has asked me to get a few first aiders together for the event. They don’t want to spend money on a professional first aid provider and there insurance only requires them to have 3 first aid staff. We have full insurance and public liability cover.

There is your problem. This organizer is not willing to provide professional coverage and their insurance only requires them to have 3 first aiders.

They are expecting you to carry the coverage and they won't have to. What a win for the organizer.

The liability to you and your group is huge. You are putting yourself, your friends, and your company in huge jeopardy and leaves it in your hands. the organizer is getting off easy.

If I were you I'd re-evaluate working with this guy and maybe for future events you might want to make the organizer foot a portion of your liability insurance premiums.

I agree with AKROEZE to not do this event or do it under the organizers umbrella and not your own.

I am betting that since you posted this in October that the event already happened so if it has already happened, tell us how it went.

[Richard B the EMT]

I'm going to find out some information, but remember that it will be as shown under New York State law, and might not apply in the jurisdiction you work in.

Historically, the information I am going to get all started at the birth of the "Woodstock Nation".

I have sent the following letter to the New York State Department of Health, and will publish whatever answer they send me.

To whom it may concern:

Following the original Woodstock Concert in, I think, 1969, new rules were implemented, to the effect that for a set number of people at an event, there would be a set minimum number of either or both ambulances or medical personnel.

Could you enlighten me as to those specific groupings, or the number(s) of the rule(s) or law(s) governing this? I am helping a person in another state who might be providing medical care at an event get an idea on what he should do in advance of that event.

Thank you in advance for any help you can give me in this matter.

Respectfully,

Richard B

[BEorP]

There's a company here in Toronto that employs paramedic students to cover movie shoots and other events but basically sends them out on their own with equipment and no one to help them out. After finding out how this goes, do you think I work for them?

[fiznat]

Understaffed, undersupplied, underfunded, and overworked with the distinct potential for disaster and an ensuing liability.

Hell no.

I am very suprised that the insurance company is only requiring 3 first aid responders on scene. I think, as another poster mentioned, that there are other requirements that must be filled per state or local law. I work for a large company in an urban area that often has to provide "event coverage" for gatherings much smaller than what you are describing. I seriously doubt that my company is getting hired out of the pure generosity of the event organizer. These kinds of things are required. Tell your organizer that he needs to discuss with someone who knows about the applicable laws.

[Eydawn]

Couple of questions about the setup there. Are there going to be track medics? What kind of facility is this place? Are you going to have a base of some sort (eg a first aid tent) or will you just be roaming? Having worked a few times out at Bandimere Speedway (1st aid at the 4th of July Family Fun weekend; water station flunky at Grand Nationals) I know what it's like to face a rather large crowd with minimal supplies.

Now, a few pointers....

If a car goes into the crowd it should be the jurisdiction of A: the track medic team B: Local EMS C: DEFINITELY NOT YOU. You're not prepared to do more than help direct traffic away from the incident if this happens, and maybe assist under the *direction* of whoever is in charge in doing other things.

If you're there as a "favor" to this individual, you might want to think REALLY hard about what kind of coverage you've got. If something goes awry (as it so often does) where does your coverage come from? Your crew that you normally go out under? Do they know that they're taking on this liability? The Aussie equivalent of Good Samaritan? The event organizer?

Think really hard about it, Tim. Truly. Don't risk your future on a "favor".

Now, let's assume that you have coverage of some sort from somewhere and you're still going to be at this event. The presence of alcohol there as well as (assuming here) hot temperatures makes your number 1 priority having a means of treating for dehydration. Water coolers and paper cups would be a good idea. Which would also make a base station with an awning and chairs a good idea.

Radios. You have to be able to talk to your teammates, especially if you three get separated or decide to do a rotating wandering type of patrol. Hopefully decent ones. Will you have a means of communicating with the organizer? How will you reach patients or discover their existence? What's your method for contacting local EMS? Do you go through the organizer, or direct dial yourself?

As for the rest of what you're going to see... the worst, potentially, is someone falling down and breaking a bone or getting a concussion. Especially if they're going to be completely snot-lockered. So carry a few splints (SAM splint comes to mind), some Kerlex and a good cell phone.

It's not really likely for you to see a whole heck of a lot other than scrapes, minor injuries and dehydration. Keep a couple of the bigger gauze pads around for nosebleeds (potential for fights at this?) and cleaning duty.

I'll tell you that in 3 days of the Grand Nationals, (where I was expressly forbidden to provide care without a track medic present) I personally witnessed a syncopal episode off of the grandstand, a puker (too much kool aid) and a few falls in terms of serious incidents. The rest was band-aid city and handing out cups of water.

Good luck!

Wendy

CO EMT-B

MI EMT-B

EDIT: man, I must be tired.. used the wrong form of "themself".. pluralized it needlessly.

Edit X2: Themself isn't a word, is it. Fixed that one.

[zippyRN]

as has been said - check out local to you guidelines on event cover

i could score it using the UK scoring system but it may be different to the systems in use where you are

but as an off the cuff estimate for 40,000 people with cars, alchol ?camping and barbecuing i'd be looking at several ambulances on site , a couple of fixed treatment centres, possibly a mobile medical team (Emergencny med Higher specialist trainee or consultant doc, Senior A+E /Critical care Nurse , Paramedic or QAT as 'driver' ) and making sure there was decent fire cover on site ( i.e. real FFs and a proper appliance with rescue tools etc)

[PatrickW]

The original post in this thread is many months old, the event in question has already passed.