NJSEA EMS: Medical Unit Patient Contact (MPUC) Data

Across eight FIFA World Cup matches monitored at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the MPUC recorded 867 patient encounters, averaging 108 encounters per match. The most frequently recorded clinical categories were Sick Person (412), Heat/Cold Exposure (116), and Fall Cases (55). Heat/cold exposure also varied substantially between matches, with the highest number recorded during the France vs. Sweden match (51). The Brazil vs. Norway Round of 16 and FIFA Final also recorded elevated heat-related presentations (20 and 18 cases, respectively).

Data source: Patient encounter data are based on medical unit call cards used by New Jersey EMS to document clinical cases and were shared with our team by the EMS team at MetLife Stadium. The call cards organize patient encounters by clinical category as recorded by EMS personnel. The (Sick Person) category includes cases that were difficult for NJSEA EMS staff at MetLife to classify under a more specific clinical category or that fit into several. Categories reflect case-by-case field classifications and should not be interpreted as mutually exclusive. In particular, falls, fainting, traumatic injuries, and other cases may have involved heat as a contributing factor without being recorded or classified as Heat/Cold Exposure. Clinical categories also varied across matches, with some conditions, such as seizures or breathing-related cases, appearing in certain games but not others.

Chart: NCDP Team; Alaty AlmejhedSource: NJSEA EMS; MetLife StadiumGet the dataDownload image