Health and Medical Preparedness and Response to the 2024 Republican National Convention.
Prehospital Emergency Care · 2026-03-25 · Observational study
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Every four years, the Republican National Convention (RNC) is hosted, selecting the party's nominee for president. In 2024, this event brought 50,000 people to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This required significant preparation and planning between local, state and federal leaders to ensure the safety of the attendees while minimizing impact on health care delivery to the community. The planning and outcomes of this National Security Special Event are described. METHODS: We used an observational study design of EMS patient care records documented by Milwaukee County EMS agency from July 15th, 2024 to July 18th, 2024. Descriptive analysis was performed based on event leadership recollection, correspondence and meeting notes in preparation for and during the event. Preparedness plans, staffing documents, prehospital treatment guidelines and patient care data from the event were gathered and utilized to describe event operations with attention to successes and areas for improvement. RESULTS: Substantial collaboration and preparation led to a safe and successful event. Local and regional health resources provided emergency medical services, medical aid stations, and other health related planning and implementation. There were no mass casualty incidents, mass arrests, public health emergencies, or staffing crises. The event served as an opportunity to review and exercise local disaster preparedness plans. A combination of low patient presentation rates and advanced prehospital care on scene at the event minimized the impact on local health systems. CONCLUSIONS: Multi-disciplinary collaboration was essential for this event, which required substantial financial, operational and personnel resources. As experts in their communities, local health care leaders must work collaboratively with federal assets in the planning and event implementation. A lack of funding for health care resources meant in kind contributions were required, with many individuals volunteering their time. In the future, dedicated funding for health and medical preparedness may strengthen a community's response to such a large event.
Abstract © the authors or publisher, via PubMed. Reuse and removal
Tags
Interagency collaboration · Mass gatherings & events
Related articles
- Emergency Medical Services response to wildfires from a public health perspective: A systematic review. (Burns, 2025)
- Mass Gathering Medical Care: Resource Document for the National Association of EMS Physicians Position Statement. (Prehosp Emerg Care, 2015)
- Community Code Blue: The Sydney Jewish Community's Medical Preparations and Response to the Bondi Beach Terror Attack of December 2025. (Med J Aust, 2026)
- Three Years of Medical Response at the Milan Pride: Brief Report. (Disaster Med Public Health Prep, 2026)
- Integrating emergency medical services and hospital surge capacity for mass-gathering preparedness: a structured narrative review. (Front Med (Lausanne), 2026)
- Emergency medical preparedness and response for mass gatherings: Papua New Guinea emergency medical team's experience during Pope Francis's 2024 visit. (Western Pac Surveill Response J, 2026)