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Abstract or Description
Large-scale events such as the College World Series (CWS) pose unique challenges for medical services due to high crowd density, prolonged event durations, and variable environmental conditions. This study aimed to assess the medical usage rate (MUR) and injury prevalence at the 2024 CWS to inform future event planning and emergency medical preparedness. A retrospective analysis was conducted using patient encounter data collected between June 14 and June 24, 2024. Data sources included Union Medical event services, which documented on-site treatments and dispositions, and Omaha Fire Department EMS records detailing prehospital care. The MUR was calculated as the number of patients treated per 10,000 attendees. A total of 361 medical encounters were recorded among 377,814 attendees, yielding an MUR of 9.55 per 10,000. The most common medical presentations included heat-related illnesses (47.4%), minor trauma (22.2%), and general medical complaints (16.9%). Alcohol- and drug-related incidents were notably low (1.1%), which may reflect underreporting or a genuinely low incidence. Daily MUR fluctuations suggested an influence of external factors such as weather conditions and game scheduling. These findings highlight the need for targeted preventative strategies, particularly for heat-related illnesses, and adaptable medical staffing to accommodate variable medical demand. Future research should evaluate year-to-year trends in MUR at the CWS and compare these findings with other major sporting events to optimize medical preparedness and emergency response strategies.
Publication Date
3-20-2025
Keywords
Event medicine, mass gathering medicine, college world series, medical usage rate, prehospital care, heat-related illness, sports event safety, emergency medical services, EMS, injury surveillance, large-scale event planning
Disciplines
Emergency Medicine | Epidemiology | Health Services Research | Medical Education | Other Medical Specialties | Sports Medicine
Recommended Citation
Schollmeyer, Roarick; Gregerson, JD; Stevens, Benjamin; Weaver, Katie; and Lippert, Joseph, "Evaluating Medical Usage and Injury Prevalence at the 2024 College World Series" (2025). EMET Projects. 45.
https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/emet_posters/45
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Emergency Medicine Commons, Epidemiology Commons, Health Services Research Commons, Medical Education Commons, Other Medical Specialties Commons, Sports Medicine Commons