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EMS Deploys Mini-Hospitals During NFL Draft
2 May
Summary
- Mobile units offer hospital-level care during large public events.
- Paramedics equipped with advanced, compact AEDs for crowd response.
- Swift multi-agency response saved a man who fell into the Allegheny River.

During the recent NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Emergency Medical Services operated "mini hospitals" to provide lifesaving care. These mobile units, about one-third the size of a mobile home, were equipped with beds and advanced medical equipment, staffed by nurses and doctors.
District Chief Fred Caprio described the operation as the largest event he had personally experienced, with over 100 paramedics on duty. The primary challenge was managing dense crowds, which led to the deployment of rapid responder foot patrols with compact AEDs.
Paramedics successfully treated children with cuts from broken glass and responded to a person who fell into the Allegheny River. Swift action by SWAT officers and river rescue crews ensured the individual was saved and treated for hypothermia, highlighting a strong inter-agency team effort.