Medical care at the Sweetwaters Music Festival

To describe medical cover and medical presentations at the four-day 1999 Sweetwaters Music Festival, and make comparisons with other festivals.

All medical contacts were counted, and patients presenting to the medical tent were included in the study. Case records were studied to determine demographic data, nature of complaint, treatment and disposition. A Medline literature search was performed to obtain information on other festivals.

There were 2,231 medical contacts overall (8.9% of estimated attendees) and 217 presentations to the medical tent (0.9% of estimated attendees). 53% of patients presenting to the medical tent were men and the mean patient age was 25 years. Lacerations (16%), intoxication (13%), local infections (12%) and soft tissue injuries (9%) were the most common problems. There were no deaths or cardiac arrests.

Problems encountered were similar to other music festivals, with minor injuries predominant.