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Mortality at Music Festivals: Academic and Grey Literature for Case Finding[1]
Summary
A systematic case-finding review of deaths at music festivals (1999–2014) using both academic and grey literature. Grey literature identified 722 deaths — 594 traumatic (82%) and 128 non-traumatic (18%). Traumatic mechanisms included trampling (479), motor-vehicle incidents (39), structural collapses (28), and terrorism (26); non-traumatic deaths were predominantly overdoses (96 cases, 13% of total). Academic literature documented 368 trauma and 12 overdose deaths, overlapping the grey-literature reports. The authors conclude that deaths are not uncommon at music festivals and establish a methodology for mortality surveillance, while cautioning that mortality rates cannot be calculated without attendance denominators.
Key findings
- 722 festival deaths identified (1999–2014, grey literature): 82% traumatic, 18% non-traumatic.
- Trampling was the leading traumatic mechanism (479); overdose led non-traumatic deaths (96; 75% of non-traumatic).
- Nine MCIs (≥10 deaths each) account for 507 of 722 deaths; excluding them leaves 215 all-cause deaths, ages 14–82 (mean 23.8).
- Reported fatal incidents are rising: 55% of the 156 incidents occurred 2012–2014.
- Academic literature captured only 51% of deaths and just 12 of 96 overdose deaths — substance-related festival mortality is grossly undercounted in journals.
- No denominators available — true mortality rates not derivable.
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