As the chill of fall hits the air, players line up, sport their school colors, and wait for the whistle that starts the game. 80,000 spectators surround them in the stands. For most people, this scene is one that inspires enthusiasm, but emergency managers and public safety professionals recognize the amount of effort that goes into making a university sporting event safe.
At many universities, the largest events are athletic-related, drawing in crowds of students and fans alike. As a result, athletic departments, emergency management, and public safety professionals always engage to ensure these events are a success. With multiple areas to manage—stadium sections, the field, ticket booths, parking, tailgating—it’s crucial that those in charge of the event have the resources necessary to communicate and collaborate effectively with each other.
Fortunately, with Veoci’s athletic solution, emergency managers and public safety officials have a single platform that allows them to prepare, communicate, coordinate, manage resources and assets, set up and execute planning, game day logistics, game day operations, and incident response, all while incorporating actionable emergency plans.
Transforming Game Day
Before the game even takes place, your team prepares by reviewing the after action reports and data analytics dashboard in Veoci entered at the last game. This prepares your staff with what they can expect, and gives them a clear view of how they should react to the various types of incidents they may encounter.
Finally, it’s game day and eager fans arrive by foot or in cars, looking for parking and setting up their tailgates. The opposing team arrives, and the band begins setting up. People line up for snacks and beverages and start making their way to their seats. Everything seems to be happening in unison, but you’re ready with your Game Day Plan.
Every member of your team has a detailed itinerary of what the day will hold, so it’s no surprise when the band and the color guard take the field for a pre-game show: pumping up the crowd and launching everyone into a state of heightened excitement.
The crowd is primed and ready for the game to start. At first kickoff, a roar fills the stadium and people are on their feet. A report comes into the Command Post of a medical emergency in Zone C. A nearby usher reports the incident through Veoci, and the response is immediate. With Veoci you know exactly who is stationed in Zone C, you activate the closest medical team and they keep you abreast of the incident in real-time. Thankfully this situation didn’t need to be escalated to call for additional responders, but if it had, there’s piece of mind that Veoci would have allowed for it.
Responding Seamlessly
Once the medical incident is stabilized, the medical crew immediately logs an incident report from their phones, which can later be used for after action reporting and future planning and mitigation efforts.
The game continues, and your team is winning. The crowd is jubilant and everything seems to be going well, until you get a Veoci notification: There is a report of multiple injuries at one of the tailgate areas.
With the aid of Veoci GIS mapping, you can quickly pull up that location and dispatch the appropriate people to provide the necessary care. You can also check live traffic to make sure the patients can be transported out quickly. You can maintain your post while receiving live updates on the incident status, and you can communicate with all team members involved in a single virtual location.
The game has ended, and most students and spectators had a safe experience. People file out of the stands and head back to their lots, which are being closely monitored. You have peace of mind knowing that staff members are stationed at strategic points and you can reach any or all of them with the touch of a button.
While athletic events at universities are meant to be times of excitement and fun, there are many things that can go wrong. And with these large crowds, it is crucial that public safety officials and emergency managers are prepared and have the resources necessary to communicate effectively and keep all game attendees, employees, and participants safe.
A Fun and Safe Environment
It was another successful event with Veoci’s Game Day Plan, which ensures that the game will be kept as safe as possible, and recognizes that safety belongs to everyone: the fans, ushers, concession workers, facilities workers, etc. You also have a log of data that can be used to inform your next large event.
The Veoci Athletics Solution ensures that all components of a safe event—from data analytics to emergency planning and game day logistics to game day operations and incident response—are available to the necessary people and that game day can be as much about fun as it is about safety.
