title: Emergency medical assistance during a mass gathering.
abstract: The Thunderdome-party was a mass gathering of 14000 young people. Many of them were under influence of drugs (amphetamine and ecstasy (MDMA)). The organization of on-site emergency medical assistance was essential in order to avoid overload at the local emergency department and to avoid a disequilibrium of the local emergency medical system, the 'call 100' system in Belgium. The benefit of a prehospital medical team at the event is illustrated by the description of the population treated on-site. Toxicological screening of blood and urine was not necessary to safely treat drug intoxication during the Thunderdome-party.
authors.affiliation: Anaesthesia-Reanimation, Stuivenberg Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suy
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gijsenbergh
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baute
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001530:Belgium; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008399:Mass Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders