Both presidential candidates visited Georgia over the weekend to make their final appeals to voters. (Photos by Ross Williams and Stanley Dunlap/Georgia recorders)
With Election Day just hours away, large crowds at campaign events have become a point of political interest. In some cases, these large gatherings have led to medical emergencies among attendees.
During the 2024 presidential race, both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have grappled with attendees fainting at their rallies, which underscores the challenges of managing large crowds eager to see the candidates in person make their case to voters before the election.
Trump, a Palm Beach resident, has drawn national attention not only for close calls with death but also for several attendees fainting at his rallies. Similarly, Harris has encountered fainting episodes among attendees at her events.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, staffing and security — especially medical support — are crucial when planning large events.
The federal agency’s National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends in a report that organizers establish clear roles, designate treatment areas, and provide both basic and advanced life support.
It’s recommended to have one physician for every 5,000 to 50,000 attendees, one nurse for every 2,600 to 15,000 attendees, and one EMT for every 2,600 to 65,000 attendees, according to the report.
That means significant medical staffing is necessary at both Harris and Trump rallies, where crowds have filled stadiums and other venues.
People often pass out while waiting in long lines or in crowds. Although the cause isn’t always clear, these incidents frequently result from excessive heat, according to medical experts.
The former president takes great pride in his campaign rallies, accusing the news media of intentionally refusing to show the large crowds he claims to draw.
During their only debate, Harris trolled Trump by suggesting people leave his rallies “early out of exhaustion and boredom.”
In Trump fashion, he quickly retorted, “People don’t leave my rallies,” adding, “People don’t go to her rallies,” and alleged the Harris campaign is “paying” people to attend her events.
The Phoenix reached out to both campaigns for comment on safety protocols at their rallies. While Trump’s campaign did not respond, a Harris campaign staffer said precautions include having emergency responders on-site.
Two rallygoers fall out
During a Saturday rally in Atlanta, which was broadcast live, Harris’ speech was briefly interrupted when a person experienced a medical emergency. “We need medical here,” Harris said. “See, this is what we do; we look out for each other. That’s how we roll. And that’s what leadership looks like.”
Minutes later, another attendee required medical attention. “It’s hot out here, Atlanta,” Harris noted.
Heat is a significant factor in these fainting incidents, said Dr. Jason Mansour, medical director for the emergency department at Broward Health Medical Center.
“I’m just gonna talk about large gatherings in general,” Mansour said during a phone call with the Florida Phoenix. “People don’t go into it properly prepared.”
Extreme heat at Trump’s rally in Glendale, Arizona, in August led to the hospitalization of dozens of attendees. More than 100 people were treated by emergency crews for heat-related illnesses while waiting outside Desert Diamond Arena for the rally, according to multiple news sources.
To help prevent heat illness, attendees at large events should stay hydrated, Mansour advised, as sweating is the body’s primary cooling mechanism.
“The most reliable way that we get rid of heat out of our body is by sweating,” he explained. “But in order for that process to work, you need to be hydrated enough to make enough sweat and there has to be the ability to dissipate heat from the outside environment.”
He added: “And when you’re packed in really tight to other people, whether it’s a concert or a rally or whatever it is, the air can’t come in there to dissipate the heat from your wet skin to the environment.”
Stark differences
Trump and Harris events have arguably shown contrasting responses to medical emergencies. Harris’ more serious, health-focused approach is juxtaposed with Trump’s more casual handling of similar situations.
During a recent Pennsylvania town hall, after two attendees fainted, Trump turned the moment into an impromptu concert, asking his team to play “Ave Maria” while emergency staff assisted a man. “Nice and loud, turn it up louder, we want a little action here,” Trump said.
After the second interruption, Trump quipped, “Would anybody else like to faint? Please raise your hand.” Questions from likely voters at the event were cut short.
By contrast, Harris’s team distributed water and ice packs to overheated attendees at an October rally in Houston, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. During a rally in Michigan, Harris halted her speech to direct medical personnel to an attendee in need, according to Newsweek.
Ensuring safety at large gatherings
Mansour explained that large cooling fans are the “most effective way” to prevent heat-related illnesses at large gatherings, such as rallies. “Every event is gonna be different and the planning of that event will be different and the organizing,” he said.
Mansour said emergency protocols are usually implemented for large gatherings in general. “From the medical side, in terms of emergency planning, we call that an EAP — an emergency action plan,” he said.
“How to deal with medical emergencies is part of the EAP, and heat is one of many medical emergencies that we plan for now in certain gatherings where we expect at least the environment is such that there’s a high likelihood of somebody overheating. We have certain preparations in place for something like that.”
Common situations where people experience overheating, he said, include “military basic training” and “football practice or any outdoor practice where the outside environment is really hot and people are exerting themselves.”
As for treatment, ice baths are “the most rapid way to drop body temperature,” according to Mansour. “That’s not always feasible,” he continued, “when we talk about large gatherings such as concerts and rallies and in those situations where we don’t have enough space.”
However, emergency service responders are usually stationed at large gatherings, including political rallies, to provide emergency care. This practice ensures that immediate medical assistance is available to attendees.
For instance, the Houston Fire Department said it had “EMS units at Shell Energy Stadium for the political rally” for Harris in late October where some attendees passed out while waiting in line.
“Some people have experienced heat-related issues while waiting in line, including a handful of people needing transport,” the department said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Scorching Florida heat
Meanwhile, heat is a major concern in the Sunshine State. In fact, Florida has the highest number of heat-related illnesses in the U.S., with 31,011 emergency room visits and hospitalizations between 2018 and 2022, according to a report from the Florida Policy Institute.
The Maitland Fire Rescue Department offers tips “to protect yourself from heat-related illnesses,” according to a Facebook post.
The most important prevention method, the department noted, is to recognize common symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, headache, cold and pale skin, as well as weakness and fainting.
Other tips from the department include wearing lightweight, light-colored clothing, avoiding heavy or hot meals, and drinking plenty of fluids regardless of feeling thirsty.
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