title: Ambulance triage and treatment zones at major rugby events in Wellington, New Zealand: a sobering experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A prospective analysis was undertaken of the workload of prehospital triage and treatment facilities established in Wellington for the 2011 and 2012 International Rugby Sevens, and the Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC). The introduction of an alcohol intoxication pathway, the impact of the initiative on ambulance and Emergency Department (ED) workload, and its cost effectiveness were assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A log of patients seen and their diagnoses and treatment was maintained. An alcohol questionnaire was completed when applicable. Patients intoxicated with alcohol were managed in accordance with a flowchart designed for paramedic use. Costs and savings were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Half the patients were New Zealanders. The average age was 25 years with a slight female preponderance (52.9% female). 30% were students. Alcohol was a contributory or causative factor for the patient's attendance in 80-90% of cases. Approximately 60% of the 121 patients seen at the last two events would have had to be transferred to the ED in the absence of the treatment centre. Cost savings for the ambulance service and ED for the RWC and 2012 Sevens are estimated to be NZ$70,000. No adverse clinical event was identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With minimal supervision, event medics and paramedics can safely care for the majority of patients attending large rugby events in New Zealand, easing the pressure on ambulances and the ED, and generating significant cost savings for those services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia, University of Otago, Wellington 6242, New Zealand. andrew.swain@otago.ac.nz
authors.forename: Andrew H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Swain
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Alasdair J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Stephen G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Palmer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000628:therapy*; D000552:Ambulances / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005538:Football; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014218:Triage / Q000379:methods*; D016526:Workload