Will the Calgary Stampede put more pressure on a strained healthcare system?

Ambulance wait times, trauma season, and now Stampede – how you can help alleviate stress on our already strained emergency rooms.

The city is getting ready for the return of the Calgary Stampede but with that comes wild behaviour putting many more people into the Emergency Room than normal.

“We see a lot more patients over the Stampede period,” said Eddy Lang, Department Head, Emergency Medicine for the Calgary zone.

“Especially in the evening, especially alcohol-related, and with lots of cuts and broken bones and injuries that require emergency attention,” said Lang.

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A study that detailed just how impactful the Stampede can be on emergency rooms, looking at the years from 2013-2015. It showed upticks in visits at night, visits by men, and people with trauma or substance use-related complaints and minor treatments. And the instances were common near the event grounds.

Lang says the main reason for the uptick is all the alcohol consumed morning to night throughout those 10 days.

“Because not only do you have an influx of people who are coming into the city who are in party mode. But alcohol often fuels poor decision making and gets people in trouble, so during Stampede we see a lot more emergency room visits related to alcohol,” said Lang.

That’s why he strongly suggests enjoying the Stampede to the fullest but while drinking in moderation. Especially in combination with that summer heat. Alberta Health Services is advising people to be aware of the heat during Stampede and to drink lots of water to stay hydrated if you’re out all day on the grounds.

Right now, there is severe pressure on paramedics and ambulances. The good news though, Lang says many people during Stampede, are treated with minor injuries, so the pressure is not substantial on the hospitals or ambulances themselves.

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“Very few of these patients require hospitalization, so it’s not really an added strain on in-hospital. And the number of patients coming by ambulance is not really that significant,” said Lang.

“Not all of these patients come by ambulance – in fact, many come by their own power or are brought by their friends,” said Lang.

There is concern that after one missed Stampede, and one scaled-down Stampede this year’s could be a wild one. So safe Stampeding is strongly advised. But for help, The Calgary Stampede has medical sites set up, or for more serious injuries, you can call 911.