Experience of health-related problems during house parties in the Netherlands: nine years of experience and three million visitors.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to report on a nine years of experience of providing medical support during house parties (raves) in the Netherlands, where they can be organized legally.


METHODS
This was a prospective, observational study of self-referred patients from 1997 to 2005. During raves, first aid stations are staffed with specifically trained medical and paramedical personnel. Self-referred patients were diagnosed, treated, and recorded using standardized methods.


RESULTS
During a nine-year period with 219 raves occurred, involving approximately three million participants, 23,581 patients visited the first aid stations. The medical usage rate (MUR) varied from 59-170 patients per 10,000 rave participants. The mean age increased from 1997 to 2005 from 18.7 +/- 2.7 to 23.3 +/- 5.7 years. The mean stay at the first aid station was 18 +/- 46 minutes. Most health problems were mild. Fifteen cases of severe incidents were observed with one death.


CONCLUSIONS
Unique data from the Netherlands demonstrate a low number of serious, health-related, short-term problems during raves.
Krul
Jan
J
Department of Medical Affairs, UMC Staff, University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands. educare@home.nl
Girbes
Armand R J
AR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000846:Anniversaries and Special Events; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D019370:Observation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012919:Social Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D055815:Young Adult