7-22-97

To: David Summer, Safety Officer, Rainbow Incident
From: Dan Wood, Medical Unit Leader, Rainbow Incident
Subject: Summary Medical Report

Attached is the summary medical report for the Rainbow Family Gathering Incident. I have sent the resulting medical records to Dr. John Jui, Incident Medical Specialists Program Physician Advisor, as required.

I have also provided copies of this report to Pioneer Memorial Hospital, Prineville Fire Department, Saint Charles Medical Center, and Air Life of Oregon; all cooperators in this project. I have also attached copies of the letters used to transmit the report.

Thank you very much for allowing me to participate in this operation. It was enjoyable and I learned a lot.


MEDICAL UNIT SUMMARY REPORT
for the
RAINBOW FAMILY GATHERING

INTRODUCTION

The Rainbow Family Gathering is an annual national event involving an estimated 20,000 self -styled "hippies" who met this year on Indian Prairie on the Ochoco National Forest. The focus of this years event occurred on July 4, with large numbers of participants arriving and departing for about a week before and after that date. The Central Oregon Incident Team was called to manage the event. The Incident team was augmented by considerable law enforcement resources from the Sheriffs Offices of Crook and Deschutes Counties, and the Oregon State Police. The Oregon Health Division was also present on the site throughout most of the event.

PURPOSE AND NEED

The City of Prineville, Oregon, with a population of about 6,000, is the community most near the gathering site. The cities medical and other resources were severely impacted weeks prior to the event by the hundreds, then thousands, of Rainbow Family event participants arriving for the event. Many of these early arrivals were homeless. The local Hospital Emergency Department and Fire Department Ambulance Service saw a significant increase in patients requiring their services. Inquiries to medical services in communities that previously hosted the event revealed serious impacts to these services in small towns similar to Prineville. Other hospitals and ambulance services reported losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars, due to unpaid services rendered, and increased risk to the communities they serve due to services occupied by Rainbow event participants.

Representatives from the local Prineville Fire Department, Hospital and Incident Team met in late June to discuss the medical issues related to the event. Specifically, these agencies were seeking ways to provide proper Emergency Medical Services (EMS) coverage to the community and Rainbow participants, and how to mitigate the economic impacts to the meager EMS budgets of the Prineville community. This group agreed and recommended that a temporary field medical unit located near the Incident would better serve event participants and Incident personnel. It was also felt that a medical unit would reduce the impacts to the community EMS through triage of patients, stabilization of more serious patients prior to ambulance transport, and treatment of minor first aid needs. The Incident Commander, Hospital Administrator and Chief of the Fire Department agreed with this recommendation and authorized the medical unit to be managed cooperatively by the parties involved.

THE AGREEMENT

A Memorandum of Understanding was developed and signed as a result of the meetings with representatives of the Prineville Fire Department, Hospital and the Incident Team. The agreement was intended to address the issues of providing adequate medical care to the community and to the event, and save money and resources of the local EMS agencies. The agreement included the following;

* Each agency would coordinate and cooperate to provide the best patient care possible and each would operate under their own authority and protocols.

* The Incident Team would provide an Incident Medical Specialist, a medical tent, a 100 person medical kit and communications (including portable radios and cell phone). The Incident Medical Specialist would be responsible for the administrative and record keeping needs of the medical unit. The medical unit was located at the Ochoco Ranger Station.

* Pioneer Memorial Hospital of Prineville would provide a Registered Nurse at the medical unit who would be the senior medical person in the unit, a Physician Liaison for the Incident, act as primary medical control for the Incident and provide medical supplies and equipment .

* Prineville Fire Department would provide Ambulance service to the Incident, a van for use of the medical unit, and some emergency medical equipment.

* Saint Charles Medical Center of Bend, Oregon also agreed to provide medical supplies for the unit, using an American Red Cross Aid Station inventory list as a guide.

*Air Life of Oregon coordinated with the Incident Command to identify helicopter landing zones and communications for the possible evacuation of critical patients.

CASE LOAD SUMMARY

The Incident Medical Unit was established on 6-27-97 and open to the public from 6-28-97 through 7-8-97. The hours of operation were publicized as from 10am to 10pm. Pioneer Memorial Hospital provided a Registered Nurse (Bobbie Bourne) during these hours. The Incident Medical Specialist was also on duty during these hours and was "on call" at the medical unit 24 hours each day except for July 7 and 8 when there was no after hours coverage due to reduced case load. Several patients were seen outside the 1 10AM to 1 10PM hours.

Before giving the case load statistics for the Medical Unit, it is important to note that the Rainbow Gathering had their own various first aid and medical resources. Several people from the gathering introduced themselves as nurses, EMT's, and physicians. The accuracy of some of these claims were suspect but we do know there was some conventional medical training on site. In addition, there were many non-traditional medical practices we do know however, that the vast majority of medical needs were handled at the gathering and not at the Incident Medical Unit The Incident

Medical unit saw only a small percentage of medical cases generated by the gathering.

The Medical unit saw a total of 101 cases over the 11 days it was open. These included 97 people, one Law Enforcement dog and three Rainbow dogs. There were 10 cases referred on to the local hospital Emergency Department. Three of these 10 were taken to the hospital by ambulance.

A more specific listing of cases is as follows:
Lacerations, abras., etc. 29
Ankle injury8
Burns8
Sore throat7
Headache7
Cold and fever5
Toothache3
Diarrhea3
Urinary tract infection3
Rash3
Asthma treatment3 (patient furnished own meds and equip.)
Ingrown toenail 2
Insect bites2
Upset stomach2
Chest Pain2
Diabetic2
Drug overdose2
Pneumonia1
Vaginal bleeding1
Dislocated finger1
Blister1
Grass seed in ear (dog)1
Possible Scabies1
Dog bite1
Altered mental status1
Request for Iyme disease treatment 1
Request for IV treatment1

SIGNIFICANT CASES

One event related death occurred (motor vehicle accident) prior to the existence of the Incident Medical Unit.

There were 10 cases referred to the local hospital by the medical unit. Eight were released by the hospital after treatment, one required extended observation and one was eventually housed in the Deschutes County Jail.

These 10 cases included:

2 Drug Overdoses
2 kidney infections
1 severe ear and face laceration
1 second degree burn
1 pneumonia
1 diabetic
1 altered mental status (transferred to Redmond Hospital then to Deschutes County Jail)
1 vaginal bleed (held at Prineville Hospital for observation)

DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED

Coordination between the agencies operating the medical unit was excellent, especially considering the long hours, confusion and the many opportunities for mix-information and misunderstandings.

The principle problem encountered was poor communications. The medical unit had excellent radio communications with Incident Command at all times. However, direct communication with on-line medical control (the hospital emergency department) was undependable. (This posses a significant problem to any field medical unit). The medical unit was equipped with a cell phone on the first day of operation but was unable to send or receive calls for two days. A new antenna and more powerful cell phone were installed so sending calls to the hospital was possible for the next several days but receiving calls was not dependable. The cell phone stopped working entirely for the last two days of the incident.

There were three cases where there was a jurisdictional dilemma regarding the transportation of patients 25 miles from the medical unit to the hospital. These three patients needed to promptly go to the hospital but did not have their own transportation, were unable to arrange transportation, and were not in a condition that required an ambulance. (The ambulance would not transport patients that did not require an ambulance.) These cases were the severe face and ear laceration, diabetic, and the possible pneumonia. Transportation of private citizens by the incident in this case posed considerable concern to Incident Command.

SIGNATURES

The following individuals operated the medical unit, collaborated in the preparation of this report and concur with its contents.

(signed) Dan Wood, EMT-1 7/22/97 Date
Dan Wood, EMT-I Incident Medical Unit Leader

(signed) Bobbie Borne, RN 7-22-97 Date
Bobbie Borne, RN Pioneer Memorial Hospital


United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Prineville District Office
P.O. Box 550 (3050 N.E. 3rd Street)
Prineville, Oregon 97754

July 22, 1997

George Drago
Director of Nursing
Pioneer Memorial Hospital
1201 N. Elm
Prineville, Oregon 97754

Dear George,

Enclosed is your copy of the final medical report for the Rainbow Family Gathering Incident, held on the Ochoco National Forest in June and July of this year. Please feel free to share it with the hospital staff.

We want to especially thank you for the personnel, medical equipment, supplies and medical advice provided by the hospital. The field medical unit was a great example of practical people doing what is reasonable to solve a problem; regardless of agency, jurisdiction and "red tape". I was especially pleased to have worked with Bobbie Bourne. She was very enjoyable and I certainly learned a lot .

And thanks for your leadership in making this all happen. We look forward to working with you in the future as we coordinate EMS resources for the benefit of the community.

Sincerely,

(signed) Dan Wood
Dan Wood
Incident Medical Specialist


United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Prineville District Office
P.O. Box 550 (3050 N.E. 3rd Street)
Prineville, Oregon 97754

July 22, 1997

Bob Schnoor, Acting Chief
Prineville Fire Department
500 N. Belknap
Prineville, Oregon 97754

Dear Bob,

Enclosed is your copy of the final medical report for the Rainbow Family Gathering Incident, held on the Ochoco National Forest in June and July of this year. Please feel free to share it with the rest of the Department.

We want to especially thank the Fire Department for the use of the vehicle, medical equipment, and great ambulance service they provided. We feel the field medical unit operations met the objectives of providing better medical service to the Rainbow family members and Incident Administrative staff, and easing the increased caseload burden on community Emergency Medical Services.

Thanks for your contribution to this effort. We look forward to working with you in the future as we coordinate EMS resources for the benefit of our community.

Sincerely,

(signed) Dan Wood
Dan Wood
Incident Medical Unit Leader


United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Prineville District Office
P.O. Box 550 (3050 N.E. 3rd Street)
Prineville Oregon 97754

July 22, 1997

Marty Betsch
Team Leader/Manager, Emergency Department
St. Charles Medical Center
2500 N.E. Neff Road
Bend, Oregon 97701-6015

Dear Marty,

Enclosed is your copy of the final medical report for the Rainbow Family Gathering Incident, held on the Ochoco National Forest in June and July of this year. I thought you might find it interesting.

We want to especially thank you and your department for the invaluable medical supplies and moral support you provided. We feel the field medical unit operations met the objectives of providing better medical service to the Rainbow family members and Incident Administrative staff, and easing the increased caseload burden on community Emergency Medical Services.

Thanks for your contribution to this effort. We look forward to working with you in the future as we coordinate EMS resources for the benefit of our Central Oregon community.

Sincerely,

Dan Wood
Incident Medical Unit Leader


PIONEER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
PATIENTS SEEN FROM
RAINBOW FAMILY GATHERING
JUNE 12 - JULY 10, 1997

# of patients identified as attending Rainbow Gathering and seen in the ED: 74

# of patients initially seen at Medical Unit and referred to ED: 7

# of ambulance transports from Medical Unit to P.M.H. ED: 3

# of ambulance transports prior to Medical Unit being established: 3

# of patients referred from Medical Unit and admitted to P.M.H.: 2

# of patients admitted to P.M.H. prior to establishing Medical Unit: 2

# of patients transferred and admitted to St. Charles Medical Center: 1

1201 N. Elm Prineville, Oregon 97754-1299
503/447-6254 FAX 447-6705


PATIENTS FROM RAINBOW FAMILY GATHERING
JUNE 12 - JULY 9, 1997

M.R.#DATETIMEPATENT
NAME
CHIEF
COMPLAINT
SEEN.AT
MED.UNIT
AMBULANCE
TRANSPORT?
ADMITTED
TO HOSP.?
DISCH.
TIME
886166/13/9712:40.Spont. Abor.noyesno1545
886196/13/9717:20.Poss. Gangrene (R) fingernonono1800
886366/15/9714:55.Trauma MVAnoyes-Airlifeyes-SCMC1556
886406/15/9717:12.OD - POISON Mushroomsnoyesyes18:40
886536/17/9721:15.Poss. Fx. (l) Claviclenonono22:30
.6/18/9712:20.Sore throat, swollen glandsnonono14:20
884676/28/9717:40.Back Painnonono18:20
886746/19/9718:40.Swollen glandsnonono19:03
886916/21/9709:30.Blister on Arm nonono09:45
769506/22/9719:25.Chest pain nonono20:10
887126/23/9703:50.Asthma Attacknonono05:05
886476/23/9712:00.Swollen glandsnonono12:30
887156/23/9715:50.Painful gumsnonono16:30
887186/23/9716:45.(R) Arm Injurynonono17:30
887196/23/9717:00.Cough, fever, Chillsnonono17:40
887206/23/9717:00.Cough, Congestionnonono17:40
887236/24/9706:00.Rib injurynonono07:50
887336/25/9706:15.Hematemesisnoyesno08:20
887386/25/9713:45.Difficulty Breathingnonono15:00
887406/25/9716:45.Infected (L) Handnonoyes18:45
887416/25/9717:00.Poss. Scratch (L) eyenonono17:50>
886846/25/9711:45.Toothachenonono18:40
887466/26/9708:15.Sore throat, tick bitenonono?
887476/26/9712:45.Dog bitenonono14:00
887506/26/9715:40.Nausea, painful breastsnonono17:45
887586/26/9700:30.Seizuresnonono07:50
887596/26/9704:30.2 1/2 mos. pregnantnonono07:20
887646/26/9709:45.injured (R) wristnono no 13:25
887656/27/9713:40.Cramps, bleedingnonono16:20
887686/27/9715:70.Asthmanonono16:25
887706/27/9717:30 .N/V Crampingno noyes20:10
887716/27/9719:30.Spider bitenonono20:45
887726/27/9722:25.Vaginal bleedingnono.
887746/27/9722:30.Sore throatnonono23:05
887756/28/9705:25.Rig injurynonono06:30
887776/28/9713:05.Abd. pain, diarrheanonono17:25
887786/28/9715:30.Poss. stdnonono18:05
887796/28/9715:45.Sore Gums nonono16:45
887806/28/9717:25.Poss.. OD.yesyesOSP18:50
887826/28/9720:25.UTIyesnono23:50
887856/28/9723:25.Poss. Crank ODnoOSPno02:05
887896/29/9716:10.Laceration (R) cheeknonono16:50
887906/29/9719:53.mushroom injest.yesnono21:25
887826/30/9711:35.UTInonono11:45
887406/30/9718:03.(R) Arm painnonono18:50
888017/1/9700:30.Abd. Pain.nonono01:45
888057/1/9713:30.Bilat. ankle injurynonono16:05
888067/1/9718:30.Ingrown (L) toenailnonono 19:50
888097/2/9701:30.(R) Ankle injurynonono02:35
888087/2/9701:20.Diabetesnonono02:45
888157/2/9714:20.Bike wreckyesno Forest Serviceno17:20
888237/2/9722:58.Mental Healthno?no01:00
888297/3/9712:35.N/Vnonono14:40
888317/3/9715:05.Feveryesnono?
888237/4/9701:25.Evaluationnonono02:00
888367/4/9703:35.Moth in (L) earnonono03:50
888377/4/9704:25.(L) lower leg injurynonono05:30
888497/4/9715:30 .Poss. STD. no nono16:45
888517/4/9716:30.OS injurynonono17:20
888557/4/9718:30.Pregnancy, hallucinat.nonono22:20
888607/4/9721:50.High Blood Sugarsyesno (USFS)no07:05
679117/4/9722:50.STICK POKED LEGnonono21:15
888637/5/9703:45.Hyperglycemianonono09:10
888657/5/9709:10.UTIyesnono10:00
888727/5/9717:35.N/Vnonono19:00
888727/5/9721:35.Abd. painnonono06:00
826137/5/9724:00.Abd. + Back Painnonono10:40
888777/6/9704:20.Vaginal bleedingnoyesyes06:00
888787/6/9709:15.Psych..nonono20:05
888857/7/9710:10.Coughnonono10:40
888967/8/9715:25.Inj. (R) Footnonono18:15
889067/9/971530.Abd. cramps N/V. Diarrheanonono17:55
889037/10/9702:05.MVAnonono04:05
889097/10/9702:05.MVAnonono05:00
....Total 74y -7y-3 before Nm y-3y-3 before Nm y-2

PRINEVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
RAINBOW FAMILY GATHERING IMPACT
TYPE OF CALL
TOTAL
GENERAL MEDICAL 2
CARDIAC RELEATED1
MOTOR VEGICLE ACCIDENT2
OB/GYN2
PSYCHIATRIC1
OVERDOSE4
OTHER TRAUMA3
ASSAULT1
DEATH DUE TO TRAUMA1
KNOWN HIV+2
NO PATIEN/DRY RUN3
TOTAL CALLS22

Personal Journal
My thought for the day!
David Summer
June 13, 1977Orientation
June 14Preliminary Plan of Action
June 15First Fatality and hospital went to disaster status
June 16Law Enforcement "Gathering"
June 17Roles/Responsibilities
June 18First Coordination Council Meeting & Howie T.S.
June 19Medical, Health, Mental Health and Social Services "Gathering"
June 20Team of Tears
June 21Cattle Drive .... Exclusion
June 22Who's Who...Structured all the Key Contacts
June 23Day in Court/"By the Book"
June 24Permit Signed
June 25Got Focused
June 26Finalized Details for Level 2/Sheep/Coyote Hunter
June 27National Guard/Implement Level 2
June 2814' Jesus, Lots of People, Organized
June 29Calm before the Storm
June 30Rainy Day - A Time for Reflection
July 01Affirmation
July 02Fabric wering thin once again
July 0320,000+ Mark, Local paper quiet
July 04Independence Day/Festival
July 05The Guessing Game Starts
July 06The Word is Transition
July 07A View of the Next 30 Days
July 08On Track
July 09The Last Details
July 10 Final Chapter for our Team

NEXT SECTION