Rhythm and Vines

Rhythm and Vines is a multi-day music festival held every summer on the Waiohika Estate in Gisborne. Every year it attracts up to 30,000 party people and around 100 top Kiwi and international music acts. St John has been providing event medical services for Rhythm and Vines since 2006.

Key risks:
Huge crowds attend this event – between 25,000 and 30,000 every year. Drug use and over-use of alcohol are perennial risks, as is the outdoor environment and the requirement for attendees to camp overnight. Adverse weather can increase the numbers of people needing medical attention. The remote location of the event is also a risk.

Solution:
Around 30 St John medics were on site each day at the 2011 event. We also established two medical clinics and had 4WD vehicles for patient transport.

Outcome:
Cases treated include skin injuries, sprains/strains, fractures/dislocations, intoxication, skin inflammation, abdominal pain, eye injuries, hyperventilation, asthma and a few drug or alcohol overdose cases (conscious and unconscious patients). The St John team also tended to blisters, headaches/migraines and a range of pre-existing medical conditions. In 2011, 455 people were treated.