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Prehospital Severity Scoring at Major Rock Concert Events

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Timothy B. Erickson ,
Max Koenigsberg ,
E. Bradshaw Bunney ,
Brian Schurgin ,
Paul Levy ,
Jacob Willens  and
Logan Tanner
Timothy B. Erickson*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA Toxikon Consortium, Cook County Hospital/University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Max Koenigsberg
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA Department of Emergency Medicine, Chicago North EMS System, Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
E. Bradshaw Bunney
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Brian Schurgin
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, MacNeal Hospital, Berwyn, Illinois, USA
Paul Levy
Affiliation:
University of Illinois at Chicago, The School of Public Heath, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Jacob Willens
Affiliation:
Medical and Safety Engineering (MASE), Chicago, Illinois, USA
Logan Tanner
Affiliation:
Medical and Safety Engineering (MASE), Chicago, Illinois, USA
*
University of IllinoisDepartment of Emergency Medicine CMW Rm 618 (M/C 724) 1819 Polk Street Chicago, IL 60612USA
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Abstract

Introduction:

Rock and contemporary music concerts are popular, recurrent events requiring on-site medical staffing.

Study objective:

To describe a novel severity score used to stratify the level of acuity of patients presenting to first-aid stations at these events.

Methods:

Retrospective review of charts generated at the first-aid stations of five major rock concerts within a 60,000 spectator capacity, outdoor, professional sports stadium. Participants included all concert patrons presenting to the stadiums first-aid stations as patients. Data were collected on patient demographics, history of drug or ethanol usage while at the concert event, first-aid station time, treatment rendered, diagnosis, and disposition. All patients evaluated were retrospectively assigned a “DRUG-ROCK” Injury Severity Score (DRISS) to stratify their level of acuity. Individual concert events and patient dispositions were compared statistically using chi-square, Fisher's exact, and the ANOVA Mean tests.

Results:

Approximately 250,000 spectators attended the five concert events. First-aid stations evaluated 308 patients (utilization rate of 1.2 per 1,000 patrons). The most common diagnosis was minor trauma (130; 42%), followed in frequency by ethanol/illicit drug intoxication (98; 32%). The average time in the first-aid station was 23.5±22.5 minutes (± standard deviation; range: 5–150 minutes). Disposition of patients included 100 (32.5%) who were treated and released; 98 (32%) were transported by paramedics to emergency departments (EDs); and 110 (35.5%) signed-out against medical advise (AMA), refusing transport. The mean DRISS was 4.1 (±2.65). Two-thirds (67%) of the study population were ranked as mild by DRISS criteria (score = 1–4), with 27% rated as moderate (score = 5–9), and 6% severe (score >10). The average of severity scores was highest (6.5) for patients transported to hospitals, and statistically different from the scores of the average of the treated and released and AMA groups (p <0.005).

Conclusion:

The DRISS was useful in stratifying the acuity level of this patient population. This severity score may serve as a potential triage mechanism for future mass gatherings such as rock concerts.

Keywords

acuityfirst-aidintoxicationmass gatheringsmedical staffprehospitalrefusal of carerefusal of transportrock concertsseverity score
Type
Special Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 12 , Issue 3 , September 1997 , pp. 22 - 26
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1997

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