Another “human-caused” event that can be a risk that should be considered is the collapse of bleachers. These structures exist everywhere from the high school gymnasium to many a county fair or other concert venue that has permanent bleachers or temporary ones that are erected for one-time events.
The PGA Golf Championship was being held in King County and our office, King County Emergency Management, was brought in “a bit late” to the planning for the event. We did do a tabletop exercise that had different scenarios including severe weather, heart attacks, and a mass casualty event from a bleacher collapse. There was a heart attack that happened and a fire official told me that the planning and exercise we did helped save that victim’s life.
With COVID-19 restrictions ending and outdoor events returning for the summer, there will be more “bleacher” events. Plan accordingly, as this story shows: “Israeli emergency services responding to a synagogue bleacher collapse described as a ‘mass casualty event’.”
