title: Public Medical Preparedness at the "Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Games 2013": Descriptive Analysis of 1,533 Patients Treated at the Largest 3-Day Sporting Event in Switzerland.
abstract: Introduction. Medical preparedness at mass gatherings is challenging, as little is known about the optimal planning. Most studies and case reports are based on mass casualty incidents, so the results cannot be extrapolated to mass gatherings. Aim of this study was to evaluate the preclinical medical structure and the frequency of specific injuries and medical emergencies during the event.Methods. Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database. Three on-site medical assistance points were set up, completed by mobile teams, and coordinated by an on-site operational management team. Medical staff requirements were calculated using Maurer's formula.Results. A total of 1,533 patients were treated during the three-day event. Overall, the medical usage rate (MUR; patients per 10,000 visitors) was 51.1. A total of 58 patients (3.8%) required a hospital transfer. In 1,063 cases (69.3%) a diagnosis was documented. Of these, 503 patients (47.3%) suffered from hymenoptera stings; the two most common non-trauma-related diagnoses were alcohol/drug intoxication (4.1%) and gastrointestinal diseases (4.0%).Conclusion. Overall, the on-site medical care worked well. However, a high frequency of hymenoptera stings occurred, resulting in a shortage of antihistamine medication. Moreover, more than half of the patients were managed at the second largest medical assistance point. Prospective and critical evaluation of medical care at mass gatherings is crucial in order to optimize on-site medical preparedness at future events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland; Sanitätspolizei Bern (Emergency Medical Service), Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hostettler-Blunier
authors.affiliation: Department for Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Division of Acute Care Surgery, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Department for Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Division of Acute Care Surgery, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haltmeier
authors.affiliation: Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Games (SWAG), Burgdorf, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hosner
authors.affiliation: Sanitätspolizei Bern (Emergency Medical Service), Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bähler
authors.affiliation: Sanitätspolizei Bern (Emergency Medical Service), Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Neff
authors.affiliation: Sanitätspolizei Bern (Emergency Medical Service), Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baumberger
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Aristomenis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Exadaktylos
authors.affiliation: Department for Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Division of Acute Care Surgery, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Beat
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1672-2775
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schnüriger