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Haddon matrix analysis of medical preparedness for mass gathering music festivals
Andrew J Rosenblum1, Christopher M Wend2, Asa M Margolis3
1Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2146-0511.
Insights
The Haddon matrix, a public health tool, was adapted to analyze risks at music festivals. This approach ensures preparedness for injuries, substance abuse, and other threats during these large events.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Mass Gathering Medicine
- Injury Prevention
Background:
- Music festivals are growing complex public health challenges.
- Providing medical care in austere festival environments is difficult.
- Traditional injury analysis tools require adaptation for mass gatherings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To apply a modified Haddon matrix to music festival safety.
- To assess human, physical, and sociocultural factors impacting festivals.
- To promote an all-hazards preparedness approach for festival medicine.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a modified Haddon matrix framework.
- Analyzed pre-event, event, and post-event time periods.
- Focused on factors influencing festival health and safety.
Main Results:
- Identified key risk factors across different festival phases.
- Highlighted the need for comprehensive risk assessment.
- Demonstrated the Haddon matrix's utility in complex event medicine.
Conclusions:
- The modified Haddon matrix provides a robust framework for music festival safety.
- An all-hazards approach is crucial for managing festival-related health risks.
- This methodology enhances preparedness for diverse threats at mass gatherings.
Abstract:
Beginning in the 1960s as a tool to disaggregate complicated auto injuries, the Haddon matrix has evolved into a modern method of analyzing complex public health challenges. Throughout the United States and internationally, music festivals have become a rapidly growing and increasingly complex area of mass gathering medicine. Given the austere environment and inherent challenges of providing medical care during a music festival, we utilized a modified Haddon matrix. The objective is to assess the relevant human, physical, and sociocultural factors that impact these festivals throughout the pre-event, event, and post-event time periods. This will ensure an all-hazards preparedness approach to the historically high incidence of traumatic injuries and polysubstance abuse, coupled with modern challenges such as infectious diseases and acts of intentional violence.
