Emergency department volumes and "mass events"

Abstract

When it comes to events that can occupy much of a country, sports largely dominate. On a global level, soccer is probably the best example. There have been sporadic reports of the timing of emergency department (ED) visits in regard to sporting events such as the Super Bowl, but soccer tournaments can consume an entire month. How should an institution plan to staff an ED in the course of such a hugely time-consuming mass gathering? Some fascinating data are provided in the current issue of The Journal by Levin et al, based on the 2010 Soccer World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa. During the 31 days of this tournament, there were one-third less pediatric injuries seen in EDs than in the weeks prior or after, and less than the similar period in the previous two years. Mortality was not affected. The greatest reduction in injury visits occurred during the conduct of individual matches, with a slight spike after they were completed. In addition to providing some insights into the epidemiology of accidental injuries in children, these data may inform staffing patterns for pediatric trauma services in areas in which such events are taking place. Article page 306▶ Impact of the 2010 FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) World Cup on Pediatric Injury and Mortality in Cape Town, South AfricaThe Journal of PediatricsVol. 164Issue 2PreviewTo examine how a mass-gathering event (the Federation Internationale de Football Association World Cup, 2010, South Africa) impacts trauma and mortality in the pediatric (≤18 years) population. Full-Text PDF