Development of an Equipment and Supply List for Emergency Medical Services Delivery at an Annual Air Show

Abstract

Reports of medical care at mass gatherings reflect variability in mission and delivery models. Equipment recommendations are similarly varied. Thoughtful pre-planning and experience-based analysis are the best mechanisms for defining general and specific equipment recommendations. This report presents a suggested supply and equipment list developed over a six-year period of medical coverage at an air show, with an emphasis on the usage and cost of expendable supplies. The authors were involved in the planning for and execution of emergency medical care for a large, local, military air show on an annual basis, including provision of expendable medical supplies. A list of such supplies was developed over the initial two to three years, formalized and refined over the subsequent two years, and analyzed in the final, highest patient volume year of coverage. Detailed usage and cost was tracked over the final year for expendable supplies. The results of this analysis indicate that comprehensive emergency medical care from first aid to mass casualty care can be offered at reasonable equipment and supply costs, if existing equipment resources can be supplemented by expendable supplies from a pre-determined list. Given the need for large quantities of supplies for a mass casualty contingency and the low likelihood of occurrence, a loan arrangement with a supplier, with return of unused supplies, is particularly convenient and economical. The approach used in this study should be appreciable in other similar settings. In concurrent scheduled events, the iterative process described can lead to greater specificity of needs for expendable supplies.