When Mitigating Risks at an Event Fails: How To Protect Guests At Your Event After a Tragedy

If you own an event venue or host events, you know about event risk mitigation. You understand the need to reduce risks at an event and most likely have a safety plan.

That’s why you’ve chosen a skilled security team, thoughtfully considered safety on the grounds, and checked equipment for safety. While you probably realize that it’s wise to have a med tent because you know you can’t eliminate all risks at an event. Have you considered the skill level of the people manning the onsite medical station at your event?

In today’s environment, risk management goes far beyond physical security. Event organizers must think like emergency planners, accounting for everything from crowd surges and weather events to unexpected health crises.

A well-designed emergency response plan not only protects your guests but also safeguards your company’s reputation, legal standing, and ability to host future events. Neglecting these critical steps could mean facing consequences that extend far beyond financial loss.

Now, this isn’t intended to scare anyone, but a first aid kit and a staffer handing out water bottles is not going to cut it if your event is terrorized by an active shooter.

Nor could it help anyone if a fire broke out and some of your guests were badly burned. These days, you can’t even rule out the possibility that a politically motivated argument could explode into a violent brawl involving entire groups of people at your event. Serious risks at an event are greater today than they’ve been in decades, and your normal med tent or first aid station will not cut it.

To properly prepare for risks at an event, you must have highly trained emergency medical professionals with advanced lifesaving equipment onsite. Unfortunately, you know that we’re not being dramatic by saying that planning for these risks at an event could save lives.

Planning for Unexpected Risks at an Event

All of us remember the 2017 Las Vegas concert shooting that left 58 people dead. Earlier this spring, a gunman opened fire at a concert in Akron, Ohio. On Oct. 18, one person was shot at concert in El Paso. You know this list goes on and on and on... Let’s face it; there have been more shootings at events and venues than we could possibly list in a blog post.

But shootings aren’t the only unexpected risks at an event. Earlier this year, two people were injured at a music venue in Chicago when a wooden ledger fell from the ceiling and hit them. Sometimes, there are just fluke accidents at concerts and other events. Actually, it’s not just “sometimes,” accidents and injuries are far more common than many of us expect.

Between 1992 to 2002, over 66K people suffered significant injuries and another 232 people died at outdoor music concerts around the world, according to a Central Queensland Univerity study, and one thing’s for certain — events have not gotten safer by any means. They’ve gotten more dangerous and the risks at an event we must consider have leveled up.

Lessons About Negligence From the Boat Fire in the Channel Islands

Some of us recall the 2020 Labor Day boat fire that killed 34 people due to electrical issues. The captain of the 75-ft vessel was sentenced to jail time once it was revealed that he hadn’t trained his crew in certain emergency preparedness skills and that he failed to perform lifesaving activities. It reminded people that negligence can be criminal, and lives can be lost in just moments, even during events that most would be considered safe.

It’s important for all organizers and venue owners to realize that they have a legal duty of care. It includes planning for risks at an event, maintaining appropriate security, and adequately planning for emergencies and medical events. One lesson that event hosts and venue owners can keep in mind is that if your negligence to mitigate risks at an event causes injury or death, your insurance might cover civil suits, but it can’t protect you from criminal charges and it can’t turn back time either.

Onsite Medical Professionals Should be Standard at Events

No matter how much you try to mitigate risks at your event, there will always be the potential for an unexpected tragedy. Having skilled emergency medical professionals onsite at your event can save lives. Elite Medical provides onsite medical professionals equipped with state-of-the-art tools and equipment. Our event medical services are second to none.

We bring so much more than a med tent to your event. We don’t just offer basic first aid; We offer comprehensive healthcare services and have the experience to triage medical emergencies and work with the nearest hospital to ensure that no time is lost when seconds can mean the difference between life and death.

Let’s Talk About Keeping Your Event Safe

Protect your guests and reduce the most serious risks at an event with onsite medical support. We offer medical services exceeding the industry standards at a fair and competitive price, and we offer these services regardless of the venue size. We’ll help you assess the risks at an event you are planning so that we can offer you the most appropriate onsite medical services package. Contact us today to make Elite Medical part of your event safety plan.