Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-nwzlb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T20:49:17.478Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Experience of Health-Related Problems during House Parties in the Netherlands: Nine Years of Experience and Three Million Visitors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Jan Krul*
Affiliation:
Crisis Management Consultant, Department of Medical Affairs UMC Staff, University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
Armand R. J. Girbes
Affiliation:
Professor in Intensive Care Medicine, Department of Intensive Care, University Hospital, VU Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
*
Department of Medical AffairsUMC StaffUniversity Medical Center GroningenPO Box 13059701 BH GroningenNetherlands E-mail: educare@home.nl

Abstract

Objective:

The objective of this study was to report on a nine years of experience of providing medical support during house parties (raves) in the Netherlands, where they can be organized legally.

Design:

This was a prospective, observational study of self-referred patients from 1997 to 2005. During raves, first aid stations are staffed with specifically trained medical and paramedical personnel. Self-referred patients were diagnosed, treated, and recorded using standardized methods.

Results:

During a nine-year period with 219 raves occurred, involving approximately three million participants, 23,581 patients visited the first aid stations. The medical usage rate (MUR) varied from 59–170 patients per 10,000 rave participants. The mean age increased from 1997 to 2005 from 18.7 ±2.7 to 23.3 ±5.7 years. The mean stay at the first aid station was 18 ±46 minutes. Most health problems were mild. Fifteen cases of severe incidents were observed with one death.

Conclusions:

Unique data from the Netherlands demonstrate a low number of serious, health-related, short-term problems during raves.

Type
Original Research
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Gram, H, Jongedijk, S, Olthof, S, et al. : Dance in Nederland. De betekenis en impact van dance op de Nederlandse economie en maatschappij: Een verkenning [Dance in the Netherlands. The meaning and impact on the Dutch economy and society: a survey]. Amstelveen: KPMG, 2002.Google Scholar
2. Abraham, MD, Kaal, HL, Cohen, PDA: Licit and Illicit Drug Use in the Netherlands. Amsterdam: Cedro/Mets & Schild, 2002.Google Scholar
3. Engels, RC, Ter Bogt, T: Outcome expectancies and ecstasy use in visitors of rave parties in the Netherlands. Eur Addict Res 2004;10(4):156162.Google Scholar
4. Ter Bogt, T, Engels, RCME: Partying hard: Party style, motives for and the effects of MDMA use at raveparties. Subst Use Misuse 2005;40(9):14791502.Google Scholar
5. Van de Wijngaart, GF, Braam, R, de Bruin, D, et al. : Ecstasy use at large-scale dance events in the Netherlands. J Drug Issues 1999;29(3):679702.Google Scholar
6. Pijlman, FTA, Krul, J, Niesink, RJM: Uitgaan en veiligheid: Feiten en fictie over alcohol, drugs en gezon dheidsverstorin gen [Night life and safe ty: facts and fiction about alcohol, drugs and health disturbances]. Utrecht: Trimbos, 2003.Google Scholar
7. Milsten, AM, Maguire, BJ, Bissel, RA, Seaman, KG: Mass-gathering medical are: A review of the literature. Prehospital Disast Med 2002;18:151162Google Scholar
8. van de Wijngaart, G, Braam, R, de Bruin, D, et al. : Ecstasy in het uitgaanscircuit [Ecstasy in nightlife]. Utrecht: CVO, 1997.Google Scholar
9. Grange, JT, Green, SM, Downs, W: Concert medicine: Spect rum of medical problems encountered at 405 major concerts. A cad Emerg Med 1999;6(2):202207.Google Scholar
10. Jancher, T, Samaddar, C, Milzman, D: The mosh pit experience: Emergency medical care for concert injuries. Amer J Emerg Med 2000;18(1):6263.Google Scholar
11. Schult, D, Meade, DM: The Papal chase.The Pope's visit: A “mass” gathering. Emerg Med Serv 1993;22(11):4649,65–75,79.Google Scholar
12. Federman, JH, Giordano, LM: How to cope with a visit from the Pope. Prehospital Diast Med 1995;10(4):273275.Google Scholar
13. Gannon, DN, Dense, AR, Brokema, PJ, et al. : The emergency care network of a ski marathon. Am J Sports Med 1985;13(5):316320.Google Scholar
14. Thompson, JM, Savoia, G, Powell, G, et al. : Level of medical care required for mass gatherings: The XV Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada. Ann Emerg Med 1991;20(4):385390.Google Scholar
15. Shelton, S, Haire, S, Gerard, B: Medical Care for mass gatherings at collegiate football games. Southern Med J 1997;90(11):10811083.Google Scholar
16. Baker, WM, Simone, B, Niemann, JT, Daly, A: Special event medical care:The 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympic experience. Ann Emerg Med 1986;15(2):185190.Google Scholar
17. Boer, J. In: FC Bakker, P Patka, D de Jong, HJThM Haarman (ed.): Triage en scoresystemen in spoedeisende en rampengeneeskunde [Triage and scoring systems in emergency and disaster medicine]. Amsterdam: VU Uitgeverij, 2001: pp 179191.Google Scholar
18. D de Bruin, N Maalsté, G van de, Wijngaart: Goed fout gaan. Eerste hulp op grote dansevenementen [Going welly wrong. First aid at large-scaled dance events]. Utrecht: CVO, 1998.Google Scholar