LAS VEGAS -- We're just two days away from a massive music festival that's set to bring 80,000 people to Las Vegas. But that's not all the Electric Daisy Carnival will bring to town when it starts on Friday.
Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins is anticipating an economic boost that could be $150 million. This comes after a report from the Los Angeles-based Beacon Economics Group that shows the event boosted L.A.'s economic output by $42 million last year.
The report credits that number to the hundreds of jobs the festival created and the tax revenue it brought in for state and local governments.
The EDC is considered a huge overnight dance party. Some concern has been raised after reports of drug overdoses and deaths at previous carnivals around the country.
Organizers are expecting 80,000 people a day at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Wednesday afternoon, Insomniac, who organizes the event, sent out a statement saying they will continue their zero tolerance policy at this year's event. Anyone in possession of drugs will be turned over to police.
Of course, that doesn't mean somebody won't try, and that's why local medical personnel say they have to be ready.
"This is what we do in Las Vegas. This is what the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department does with NASCAR and New Year's Eve and with all of the different events we have downtown and on the Strip. This is what we as a city do and we do it well and I think we are going to do this well," said Dr. Dale Carrison, the EDC's on-site medical director.
Dr. Carrison says police, fire, paramedics and area hospitals have been running table top exercises over the past few months to prepare. They go through different scenarios so they know how to respond just in case.
Dr. Carrison says he doesn't think there won't be drug use at the event, but says as in any event, it's a minority of people. He says the Speedway will be equipped with medical tents, doctors, nurses and other equipment to help anybody who needs it.
In fact, in his words, he believes they've overdone it.
Las Vegas local Mike Prevatt has been to several of these events. He says the negative publicity surrounding this carnival isn't true. He calls the events structured, organized and fun.
"I think they hear that one person gets hurt or one person dies and all of the sudden these places are death dens. They are places where everyone high and flying like a kite, and I've been to enough of these things to know that's not the case," he said.
Heat exposure is also a safety concern. The carnival is being held at night, so that will help. They have also set up misting tents, 96 water stations where you can fill up your water bottles and they plan to wet the asphalt to keep things cool.
Overall, Dr. Carrison says his goal is to provide medical assistance where needed and get the visitors back out into the carnival so they can continue having a good time. He says he's not worried because these special events are nothing new to Las Vegas.
