Ambulance triage and treatment zones at major rugby events in Wellington, New Zealand: a sobering experience
Andrew H Swain, Amanda Weaver, Alasdair J Gray, Mark Bailey, Stephen G Palmer
In 2011 and 2012, Wellington hosted the quarter finals of the Rugby World Cup as well as the New Zealand rounds of the International Rugby Boards Sevens tournament. These events attracted large numbers of fans and revellers and many required medical attention for minor injuries and illness which were most frequently associated with excessive consumption of alcohol. In preparation for these events, on-site treatment facilities staffed by paramedics were established at the stadium and in the CBD in an attempt to ease the strain on the Wellington Free Ambulance Service and the citys Emergency Department. The paramedics worked to pre-prepared guidelines and succeeded in producing a secure environment in which dehydration, vomiting, hypothermia, minor injuries and other conditions could be treated. This reduced unnecessary ambulance transport to the Emergency Department and allowed hospital staff to focus on more serious clinical emergencies. Significant healthcare savings were generated by using this model.