How ATCEMS reaches any venue during SXSW

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Wednesday, Austin-Travis County EMS gave KXAN access to emergency resources it uses at any given moment to reach any South by Southwest venue.

Medics have field operations blocks away from the Austin Convention Center and in the heart of all the action.

There are motorcycles for medics, should they need quick access through road blocks and foot traffic. There are also golf cart ambulances to bring people to the patient collection point, which is a mini field hospital where medics evaluate the person and decide whether they need to go to the hospital.

“Our patient collection point is underneath a tent. However, we have backup plans for that to be into a hardened structure, so people will be safe, and so will our medics. We have plans if there is a severe thunderstorm to where we can get our medics off the street and be safe as well,” Eric Gordon, ATCEMS Special Events Commander told KXAN.

Medics recommend for people to stay hydrated, have a charged phone and keep in contact with family while attending SXSW.

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