BC 1974 09 09 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Statement by Robert L. Wall, Director, Cabarrus Memorial Hospital "Thank you for the opportunity of allowing me to present this statement on behalf of Cabarrus Memorial Hospital regarding the impact of the "August Jam~ on the hospital during the period of August 8, 9, 10, and 11. My first knowledge of the "August Jam" was on July 9, 1974. Two gentlemen came to my office stating that they were providing the medical services for the concert and inquiring what facilities were available at Cabarrus Memorial Hospital. The company they represented was Border Brigand's Music Koncert Medical Services, P. O. Box 1703, Charlotte, N. C. 28232. The gentlemen's names were Mr. Ted Holland and Mr. Rick O'Brian. They indicated that their qualifications were emergency medical technicians and stated that they both worked in the Emergency Service at Charlotte Memorial Hospital. They told me that Dr. Lewis Curlee was their medical advisor for the concert and that they had a meeting with him following the one with me to finalize their arrangements, such as doctor schedule, supplies needed, staffing schedules for paramedical personnel, etc. I asked if they had any other physicians, and they indicated "none" at the time, but they were trying to locate six physicians to work at the race track from 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning to 3:00 a.m. Sunday during the course of the concert. Further discussion from them indicated that they had had considerable expe~ience in providing medical services for fir-aid treatment and d~n§ overdoses at rock concerts of this type, and they stated that they had "worked" all of the major concerts in this area of the country recently. I inquired about the numbers of patients which they anticipated seeing. They stated that from their pas experience, they could plan on seeing approximately 10% of those persons attending the concert at the conce~t site. I then inquired as to the number of patients that might potentially need services at our hospital. They stated that based on their past experience, they probably would be able to treat 90% of the patients they saw; the remaining 10% would need additional medical care from some source. It was at this point in the conversation that I informed Mr. Holland and Mr. O'Brian that two local physicians, the Director of Public Health, and myself were requested to go to the Love Valley Rock Festival to offer assistance at their health care facility. We made the trip, and after a very difficult time reaching the facility, we assessed the situation. There were three treatment areas: one for immediate first-aid; the second for digestive disorders and other illnesses; the third section was a drug overdose tent. It was obvious after a short amount of time that neither the administrative or medical component~ of our team were able to offer any significant assistance. Since their primary problem was drug overdose, the persons there having first-hand knowledge of how to handle drug overdoses were much more beneficial. After learning of our visit to the Love Valley Festival, Mr. Holland and Mr. O'Brian talked freely of the types of patients they anticipated seeing at the August Jam. They stated that since there would be no law enforcement inside the speedway, a large group of people would be affected by the use of illegal drugs. They stated it was impossible to control drug use at a concert of this sort and facilities had to Me made available for overdose treatment. The next item discussed was attendance, and these representatives stated there would probably be a minimum attendance of 150,000 people with a probable attendance of 200-250,000. In applying the above mentioned percentages, it appeared that our hospital would be placed in the position of treatimg a large number from the concert. We took Mr. Holland and Mr. O'Brian on a short tour of our facility and showed them our Emergency Services and transportation access including the heliport. Never at any time was there any agreement either verbal or in writing that our hospital would serve as a primary referral institution for persons attending the August Jam. I specifically asked Mr. Holland and Mr. O'Brian what the participation would be by other groups such as Rescue Squads, Ambulance Service, etc., from Mecklenburg County, and they advised that they felt certain that these other groups would participate. Mr. O'Brian stated that he was a member of the Charlotte life-saving crew and that they would participate in the transportation. A number of other subjects was discussed with these two gentlemen including sanitation facilities, logistics of getting patients from the infield hospital to the outside of the racetrack for transportation to a hospital, the concert schedule, the availability~of food for the participants, etc. At the conclusion of the meeting, I made several telephone calls of inquiry to county officials and to Dr. Curlee asking if they were aware of the concert. Dr. Curl~e's office advised that he had not signed a contract to provide services in the capacity of medical director for the August Jam but had it under consideration. The county officials advised that this was the first knowledge that they had of such an event but would investigate the matter. On Saturday, July 13, I attended a meeting at the law offices of Hartsell, Hartsell & Mills and was invited to present the information that I had received on July 9 regarding the August Jam. In attendance were Mr. W. L. Mills, Jr., Sheriff J. B. Roberts, Mr. C. K. Windham (SBI), Mr Giles Barrier (SBI), and Mr. Glenn Hawfield (Chairman, Cabarrus County Commissioners). I relayed to them the above information and there was other conversation relating to law enforcement problems of this typ~ of event from the experience of the Sheriff's Department and the State Bureau of Investigation. I advised these gentlemen that if we indeed received 1% of the people attending the concert as patients in our hospital that our facilities could not care for them. On Tuesday, July 16, I was contacted by Mr. Ted Holland from Border Brigand's Music Koncert Medical Services, who stated that he wanted to modify the attendance figures that he had given me previously. He stated that he had received additional information which indicated to him that the attendance would not be 150-200,000 prople but would be much less and in the neighborhood of 50-75,000 people. On Thursday, July 18, I was asked and did make a statement to the Cabarrus County Commissioners regarding my knowledge of the August Jam. They were considering the possibility of seeking an injunction to prevent the concert from being held at Charlotte Motor Speedway.