Rx4Good Blog

MASH PIT Simply Rocks

We were eager to chat with Analena Valdes Graham, Co-Founder & CEO of MASH PIT, Inc. MASH PIT is a charitable company that attends concerts and gives immediate, nonjudgmental medical attention to concert goers with a team of highly trained medical/non-medical individuals and volunteers. All of the volunteers in “the PIT” are trained in CPR by MASH PIT.

Rx4good: How did the idea of MASH PIT occur?

MASH PIT: Last summer, my brother approached me with an idea to start a group that would provide free medical assistance to fans at concerts-something different from just a First Aid Station. At the time, he was working with Government Mule’s production group and came across Rock Med at various concerts. Rock Med is a 37-year-old organization that provides nonjudgmental medical care to fans on the West Coast. I researched the organization and found that there was nothing like this on the East Coast, so MASH PIT was born. I have a deep love for music and healthcare and truly believe that combining the two results in a perfect marriage. Furthermore, I wanted an organization that would offer students credit hours and work experience, an avenue for people to do some community work and assist other health and musical charities in efforts to raise monies.

Rx4good: What do you offer on-site?

MASH PIT: We’re completely free to all patrons at concerts. Much like the goodwill peace ambassadors of concerts past, we roam in the crowds, survey, treat and release on site. In the PIT, we have a few areas that cater to different situations. Our Behavioral/Holistic section focuses on treating any substance-related problems. Our main treatment area provides a safe and sanitary environment where one could recuperate from an injury or check their blood sugar if needed. We’ve been known to hand out free water, earplugs, and personal items (i.e. anti-bacterial soap) as well as health and wellness educational flyers and pamphlets. We also assist security personnel in identifying potential hazards that could prove harmful to patrons and the venue itself. We even provide the artists their own MD and RN should they need any medical assistance during their stay. Staffing and care is always provided by MDs, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, critical care nurses, paramedics and EMT-Basics at each event for one price.

Rx4good: One of your taglines on your website is “we fix bad trips” – it could indicate that you’re implying it’s OK to use drugs. Could you let us know what it means?

MASH PIT: We don’t want to ever imply that drug use is OK at any time. We actually have that tagline featured beside an image of a person with a bloody face, possibly resulting from a crowd surfing fall or mosh pit accident. We want the public to know that we offer nonjudgmental care and feel that it’s important to connect to this particular crowd in their language. Let’s be honest – we know that drug use goes on at concerts. We’re not promoting it; we just want the public to know that there is a safe place they can go to if they need medical help. We are all about safety and keeping everyone at the concert to enjoy the music. Things happen and we are there to help. Serious injuries make up the minority of event injuries. Our services are aimed at the majority of small injury, intoxication and preventative treatment needed by the event patrons, making the experience safer and healthier for all involved.

Rx4good: How are you currently utilizing social media?

MASH PIT: Right now, we are serving as the social media voice to help Nashville after the devastating flood and have converted our entire homepage to the cause. After my volunteer experience in New Orleans, I found that it is a necessity to know what efforts are legit when helping out. Therefore, I’ve been researching the legitimacy of ways to donate time or money and then I post them onto Twitter.

Rx4good: What is your greatest need and hope for MASH PIT?

MASH PIT: We currently could use some help with branding and with our efforts on different social media outlets, specifically Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. We understand that word of mouth is extremely powerful. Our greatest hope as an organization is to have multiple regions and to utilize our volunteers in a way that they can gain an incredible on the job experience while providing immediate help at concerts. I would love to one day be able to pay a dedicated staff and think it would be great to act as an agent to create jobs.