For the fourth time, the Aicher Group is represented at the Oktoberfest with a medical service center. Medical care is guaranteed around the clock for 18 days at the largest folk festival in the world. 450 paramedics and 55 doctors will be on duty during this time. Twelve teams, each with five paramedics, will once again push their mobile emergency stretchers through the crowds to the emergency scene as quickly as possible – always using the whistle to make themselves heard. And a free ride.
“We have an intensive care hospital here again where everything can be cared for,” says Wiesn boss Clemens Baumgärtner (CSU). A lot has proven itself in recent years. This also applies to the computer tomography (CT). That’s why it will exist again.
And Baumgärtner gives numbers. 5,444 patients came to the Wiesn Hospital in 2022. Of these, 3,381 received medical treatment. 101 patients were in acute vital danger. 481 patients had to be cared for in the two operating rooms. Considering the six to seven million Oktoberfest visitors, says Baumgärtner, that’s fortunately “very few”https://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/.”The Oktoberfest is much more beautiful without blue lights.” Say it and appeal to all Oktoberfest visitors to be considerate of one another and to look out for their neighbors.
The CT is set up in a mobile container. A big room, a small one. Everything is there, everything ready for use. 205 patients were examined with CT in 2022. Most (88 percent) were discharged and a cerebral hemorrhage was ruled out. According to the district administration department, cerebral hemorrhage was diagnosed in twelve percent. The rate of people who had to be transported to a clinic fell from ten to eight percent in 2022 compared to 2019. “This has significantly relieved the burden on emergency rooms in hospitals,” says Wilhelm Flatz, radiologist at the LMU Großhadern Clinic. This is extremely important given the shortage of skilled workers. And a CT at a folk festival is “unique”.
Quick diagnosis of head injuries: The mobile computer tomograph helps to reduce the burden on hospitals and emergency centers.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
The additional 20 beds have also proven successful, says operations manager Michael Belcijan. At peak times like on a Friday or Saturday evening, when 110 paramedics and eleven doctors are on duty, it is good to have additional places. Especially for the so-called “late risers” – those who want to recover from their intoxication at the Oktoberfest station until the next morning. According to chief physician Philip Kampmann, there are 50 “lying treatment options”.
Beds for “late risers”: In the room over 17, many sleep off their intoxication until the next morning. The blood alcohol records are often on the board.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
But there are also innovations. The black mat on the medical stretcher, for example. She looks inconspicuous. But the padded base has something special: it is heated. It gets warm up to 40 degrees and is intended to prevent the patient from cooling down. “On rainy days, hypothermia in patients should not be underestimated,” explains Kampmann.
Also new is a small blue box containing sensors that weigh 6.5 grams and can be worn in the ear. These continuously measure the patient’s body temperature, oxygen saturation and pulse rate. During transport on the mobile stretchers, the paramedic can access the data on a cell phone or tablet computer and have it constantly in front of his eyes – without having to open the privacy screen again and again.
A patient who speaks Chinese? Or Japanese? No problem anymore. Voice-based AI is intended to help paramedics understand everyone who needs help. In addition to the “camera glasses,” the stretcher teams will also be equipped with a body camera. This makes audio-visual communication between the deployment site and the operations center even better.
Corona is no longer an issue
By the way, Corona is no longer an issue at the Wiesn Hospital. But we are prepared, says Belcijan, if the infection situation makes it necessary. With masks and protective clothing. But you don’t think about it at first.
A team of twelve has been organizing and planning since March. What Peter Aicher is particularly pleased about is that this particular hospital has no problems with the shortage of skilled workers. “We don’t have that,” he says. “Doctors and paramedics almost ran over our place. As soon as the Oktoberfest is over, everyone is back at the start to help.”
The Oktoberfest is two days longer than usual. How many patients will be cared for this time? In 2022, around 217 meters of thread were sewn into cuts and lacerations in the operating room. This year there could be more meters. Chief physician Philip Kampmann believes that a lot of people can certainly be expected on the last long weekend. Probably also in the Oktoberfest Hospital.