Mass Gathering
Mass Gathering
A mass gathering (MG) has been defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an occasion, either organized or spontaneous where the “number of people attending is sufficient to strain the planning and response resources of the community, city, or nation hosting the event” (WHO, 2008). These events can be planned or spontaneous, and may be as diverse as social, religious, cultural or sporting events or include the gathering of people as the result of natural disasters or conflict. Mass gatherings present their own unique challenges to public health and other risks.
At the WADEM Congress in May 2023, the Mass Gathering Special Interest Group (MG-SIG) decided to hold a bimonthly webinar series focusing on mass gatherings leading up to the Tokyo Congress in May 2025. The webinars are intended to provide a forum for those interested in mass gatherings to hear from experts in the field, exchange ideas and experiences, and network with others. You can check out the most recent presentation below.
Watch the Recent MG-SIG Presentations and Discussions!
Webinar Date: 20 November 2023
Lessons from the Itaewon Crowd Crush Disaster: One Year Ago – Dr. Soon-Joo Wang
The crowd crush that occurred on 29 October 2022 in the Itaewon area of downtown Seoul, South Korea, was an unexpected type of disaster. At least 159 people were killed, and at least 196 others were injured. The large gathering of young people was related to the transition from the COVID-19 pandemic period to the endemic period when social isolation heightened the desire to participate in voluntary Halloween events. Implications should be drawn for preparing for and responding to crowd crush-type disasters such as what occurred in Itaewon in 2022.
Mass Gathering SIG Leadership
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Development of Mass Gathering Health
The field of mass gathering health is under constant development and in early 2012 the Executive Board (EB) of the World Health Organization requested that the Director-General further develop and disseminate multi-sectoral guidance on planning, management, evaluation and monitoring of all types of mass gatherings. This is being developed with specific emphasis on sustainable preventive measures including health education and preparedness.
The EB decision has reinforced the existing WHO strategy of working closely with Member States that are planning mass gatherings and helping Member States to strengthen functional capacities to better utilize the International Health Regulations (2005) for MGs. This work is to be carried out by the WHO, its collaborating network, and the broader international public health community.
Mission, Purpose, and Goals
Mission: The mission of the Mass Gathering SIG is to foster collaboration among practitioners involved in research, education, management, and practice in prehospital, emergency, public health, and/or mass gathering health care.
Purpose: The purposes of the Mass Gathering SIG are to:
- Define issues for public health and mass gathering health care;
- Exchange scientific and professional information relevant to the practice of mass gathering health; and
- Encourage collaborative efforts enhancing and expanding the field of mass gathering health research research.
Goals: The goals of the Mass Gathering SIG are to:
- Develop a mass gathering declaration of cooperation;
- Network and integrate mass gathering work into WADEM activities and programs;
- Foster the professional growth of the members of the Mass Gathering Section;
- Train and educate researchers on the science of mass gathering health.
