We currently have an understanding of the factors that influence ‘patient presentation rates’ and ‘transport to hospital’ rates from mass gathering events. To date these factors have been used in models to predict workload for those providing clinical care in the pre-hospital mass gathering environment. One factor that has not been explored in great detail, however is understood to have some influence on the ‘patient presentation rates’ and ‘transport to hospital’ rates, is whether the population attending the mass gathering is ‘bounded’ (or within a given fenced perimeter) or ‘unbounded’ (not fenced within a given perimeter). World Youth Day provided a unique opportunity to explore this factor in more detail as a similar population (pilgrims) attended events which were both bounded and unbounded.
Ranse J, Arbon P. Evaluating the influential factors in mass gathering casualty presentation characteristics – World Youth Day, Sydney, Australia, 2008; paper presented at the 7th International Conference for Emergency Nurses, Gold Coast, Australia, 8th October 2009.
