Chapter 6 - Mass Gathering Medicine: Equipment and Planning Considerations

Summary

Providing emergency services to event gatherings of any size goes far and beyond simply having medical providers present. Small events may not need a large cache of supplies or equipment, or even a medical tent to stage out of; however, as events grow, the resources required to provide effective care grows exponentially to the number of staff required. Ambulances, medical supplies, and even self-contained medical shelters are often essential to ensure a comprehensive and capable provision of services to manage any on-site emergencies. Large events necessitate extensive preplanning and support logistics in order to become self-reliant and sustainable. Establishing an effective IMT (Incident Management Team) with multiagency inclusion early in the planning process allows the designation of roles, responsibilities, scope, and associated logistics. As events expand, being able to provide care requires the incorporation of complex algorithms of operations and careful pre-event acquisition of everything from Band-Aids and OTC (over the counter) medications to ACLS standard medications and critical care equipment to compliment capability. Setting up a “base of operations” will allow coordination of a hospital-like treatment area, a command tent/trailer, stretchers, equipment, personnel, and supplies to support the extended events.