I was sitting around the house on this holiday weekend just browsing through the Nevada Legislature documents…because you know that’s how I roll.
Okay – not so much, but I was recently talking with Jill Rowland-Lagan at the Chamber of Commerce about a new law that will surely have an impact on a number of special events held here in Boulder City…it’s called AB286 (which can be read by clicking here). Have fun with that…
It seems that any event with more than 2,500 attendees at one time must provide one of several levels of on-site medical services..here is what I get from it (and please feel free to let me know through a comment on the Facebook page if I’ve messed this up):
- 2,500 – 10,000 attendees: Provide at least “one first aid station” (Section 11, Subsection 1).
- 10,001 – 15,000 attendees: Provide at least “one first-aid station equipped with an automated external defibrillator, as well as providing a roving emergency medical technician team” (Section 11, Subsection 2A and 2B).
- 15,001 – 50,000 attendees: Provide at least “one first-aid station staffed with at least one registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or advanced emergency medical technician in lieu of an emergency medical technician, as well as providing two or more roving intermediate emergency medical technician teams” (Section 11, Subsection 3A and 3B).
Section 12 says that events with less than 15,000 guests are exempt from needing to have a dedicated advanced life support ambulance on-site if the event is less than 5 miles from a hospital (Section 12, Subsection 1A). I mapped it online and Bicentennial Park is 1.3 miles from the hospital – so I’d think most events in town could avoid the cost of hiring an ambulance all day (whew).
But events with 15,000 – 50,000 guests will have to provide two dedicated advanced life support ambulances on-site (Section 12, Subsection 2).
Section 13 is the doozy…it says that events with 50,000 – 100,000 guests will have to provide “two or more first-aid stations; two or more physicians licensed pursuant to chapter 630 or 633 of NRS; two or more roving emergency medical technician teams; and two or more dedicated advanced life support ambulances.”
This law goes into effect on October 1st, so since Wurstfest takes place on September 28th, they are in the clear for this year. Art in the Park, however, is October 5th & 6th…so they’ll be the first ones up who have to comply. Good thing they know where to find an ambulance and some medical personnel, eh?
So there you go — a little light reading for you to end the holiday weekend and something that begs the question about how many guests are actually in attendance “at the same time”. I mean…how can you really tell and how do you prove your compliance (or non-compliance) with Health and Human Services?
And for those involved with the MANY special events that call Boulder City home…it’s something new to worry about, especially since the violation of this new law is a misdemeanor. Fun, right?
