Peace, love & EMS reflecting on mass care at the 1969 Woodstock festival.

摘要

Forty years ago, hordes of people set off on a on a pilgrimage toward what was billed as "three days of peace and music" in upstate New York. In addition to lending its name to a generation, the 1969 Woodstock Festival had the potential to generate a medical disaster of epic proportions.Although the planning proved woefully inadequate, the festival came off with a minimum of death and injury. This success is a tribute to the adept improvisation of medical providers and the vibrant volunteer spirit that took over medical care during that trying weekend. EMS has come a long way since 1969, but planning and improvisation are still key to successfully managing actual and potential disasters.