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Celebrating the end of school life: a pilot study
Alison Hutton1, Allison Roderick, Rebecca Munt
1School of Nursing and Midwifery, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia. alison.hutton@flinders.edu.au
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine
|May 18, 2012
Summary
Young adults attending Schoolies Festivals prioritize avoiding drugs and responsible alcohol consumption for safety. They identified risks like drug exposure and violence, but few planned to use on-site health services.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Adolescent Health
- Mass Gathering Medicine
Background:
- Schoolies Festival is a significant rite of passage for Australian secondary school graduates.
- These mass-gathering events attract thousands of young people to beachside locations.
- Understanding student perceptions of safety and health risks is crucial for event management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify young people's perceived safety and health priorities at a mass-gathering event.
- To understand what attendees consider risky behaviors and potential health threats.
- To assess where young adults would seek medical support during such events.
Main Methods:
- Postcard surveys were distributed to attendees of the Schoolies Festival in Adelaide, Australia, in 2008.
- Surveys collected demographic data and responses on safety, risks, and healthcare seeking.
- 165 completed surveys were returned and analyzed.
Main Results:
- "Not using drugs" (73%) and "drinking alcohol responsibly" (54%) were key safety priorities.
- "Violent behavior" (82%) and "exposure to illicit drugs" (59%) were identified as major risks.
- Only 21% of respondents indicated they would seek on-site healthcare if needed.
Conclusions:
- Young attendees express concerns regarding responsible drinking, illicit drug exposure, and sexual harassment.
- Targeted health promotion strategies addressing these specific concerns are recommended.
- Effective health messages can help mitigate illness and injury at mass-gathering events.
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