Festival season sees increased patient volume at local hospital

The festival season in the Coachella Valley with the Coachella Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach Festival brings an increased patient volume at local urgent care centers and emergency rooms. Dr. Euthym Kontaxis, medical director at Eisenhower Medical Center, said the volume for the month of April increased by about 10 to 20 percent in past years at his hospital.

He said many of the ailments that the patients from the festivals were treated for included overdose of drugs or alcohol, asthma issues stemming from dust and pollen during windy weather, and dehydration due to the desert heat. Dr. Kontaxis said dehydration was the most prevalent issue he has seen from festival goers. The hospital is staffed with further personnel in the anticipation of the higher patient volume.

Dr. Kontaxis did note the weekend one of Coachella this year did have a promising trend, despite the higher attendance.

“We’ve had less acute problems from Coachella than in the past so it’s been a pretty mild Coachella so far,” he said. “Knock on wood it will be that way this weekend as well.”

He suggested that festival goers stock up on water and seek shade to prevent dehydration, wear proper footwear to protect the feet, and to avoid using drugs. He said this was all in order to prevent situations that could cause the need to go to the hospital.

Matt Migdali, a festival goer for the past six years, said he and his group were prepared with enough water for the weekend.

“We have a lot… probably six cases of water…like 200 waters,” he said.

Lexi Mesko, who went to the past seven Coachella festivals, said she was prepared if an emergency were to arise during the weekend.

“We all look out for each other..like if anything happens…I trust these guys with my life,” she said pointing to her friends. “So we’ll be good to go.”