Paradiso 2014 Was A Massive Success Thanks To Conscious Crew

[divider]WHAT WORKED[/divider]

After last year’s Paradiso and the deaths at other festivals around the country, promoters and concert-attendees have been forced to take a hard look at why and how we were making choices about our festival experiences. We addressed the issue of drugs and dance music events head on, and some promoters went above and beyond with initiatives like USC’s The Message to go along with Conscious Crew dedicated to keeping us safe. The unique benefit to having the Conscious Crew is they are volunteers who know and love raving the same way that we do. Rather than what may seem like an intimidating person in a uniform, Conscious Crew volunteers are kindred spirits in friendly neon t-shirts, there to lend a helping hand.

This year Edwin shared with us that there were over 400 applicants for the Conscious Crew and there were 17 crews of medical professionals each day with 4 ambulances on site to quickly aid those who were truly in need. We can proudly say that thanks to these efforts what were two deaths and 88 hospitalizations related to Paradiso last year became zero deaths and roughly 45 hospitalizations. Thanks to the attentiveness of Conscious Crew, calls for aid were up by 25%, but this is counted as a success as people were reached faster and therefore able to get back on their feet rather than winding up in a hospital.

This happy festival-goer got creative with hydration and we love it! Credit: Tyler Hill Photo

Edwin shared that the majority of incidents were due to dehydration, so USC was on point with the signs throughout the venue reminding us to hydrate. It’s clear that many welcomed the help offered by the Conscious Crew and understood that they were there to keep them safe, not to turn them in or get them in trouble. We can only hope that as the success of the Conscious Crew continues, people will come to know to recognize them as a beacon of safety. We would also like to remind attendees again that Good Samaritan laws in Washington state protect you from legal trouble if you or someone you are seeking help for are under the influence. The most important part is that you all come home safely to join us for the next adventure.

Pages: 1 2 3