National Ambulance Service’s Preparation for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022^TM

Background

The Internationale Federation of Football Association (FIFA) World Cup (WC) is a global sporting event attracting millions of international spectators. The successful management of pre-hospital medical emergencies during such tournament is important to ensure the safety and well-being of attendees.

Methods

A comprehensive assessment of the preparedness of ambulance services in WC host countries is important. It should involve a combination of surveys, interviews, and analysis of existing emergency response protocols and resources. Key areas of focus included ambulance fleet capacity, medical equipment and supplies, staff training, coordination with other emergency services, crowd management strategies, and readiness to respond to mass casualty incidents.

Results

Qatar’s national Ambulance Service has taken into consideration the hosting of the WC since it was announced in 2010 as it was accompanied by a gradual and significant population growth.Thanks to governmental financial support and a visionary leadership, it greatly expanded in size, scope of service, and adopted modern technology, equipment, and practices (See Table 1). This has been accompanied by the development of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and relevant training programmes that contribute to developing ambulance personnel to effectively handle a wide range of medical emergencies. Additionally, there has been increased collaboration between all emergency services to ensure a seamless response during the WC. Crowd management strategies were tested through exercises and implemented to reduce medical incidents in crowded areas around stadiums and fan zones.

Conclusion

The critical role played by an ambulance service in responding to and managing emergencies at a mass gathering sporting event requires significant preparation and investments that can result in substantial improvements in the host countries’ prehospital care system. Many of the developments proved useful in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Hosting the 2022 WC has resulted in long term benefits for the pre-hospital emergency medical services in Qatar.