A report has revealed that more than 70 people needed medical assistance during President Trump’s May 1 visit to The Villages.
The medical tally is part of a report to be presented this week to the Village Center Community Development District Board of Supervisors.
The temperatures that day topped out in the 90s for the president’s visit to The Villages High School at Middleton. Despite the heat and scorching sun, crowds lined up at dawn for the afternoon rally. There were even some people who camped out the night before, hoping to secure a spot inside the gymnasium.
There was precious little shade at the venue, where people waited for many hours on the sidewalk and the asphalt.
A report from The Villages Public Safety Department estimates that more than 15,000 were there that day. And the heat took its toll, with more than 70 people requiring medical help. Four of them were transported to local hospitals.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, who serves as administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, was in the VIP section during the rally, when he spotted a woman in a red MAGA hat, apparently suffering from a medical episode. Dr. Oz, well known for his years as a doctor hosting a syndicated television program, leapt into action and helped escort the woman out of the gymnasium.
The Villages Public Safety Department had numerous responsibilities during the event, including:
• Support for the U.S. Secret Service in preparation for and during the president’s visit.
• Hours of planning, coordination, and interagency collaboration ensured the event operated smoothly and without incident.
• Coverage for the presidential motorcade and ancillary locations
• Medical support for thousands of event attendees
The event took place less than a week after gunshots prematurely ended The White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington D.C. When he stood at the podium on stage at The Villages High School, Trump said he felt “safe” in The Villages.