Who we are

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Who we are *

Emergency responders and an ambulance at the scene of an emergency with sunset in the background.

We are bassheads, psychedelic artists, healthcare worker ravers, emo kids, and misfits, coming together to build an event medical service that feels different from the ones that came before us.

Co-run by queer, marginalized harm reductionists and healthcare professionals, we bring both clinical experience and cultural understanding to the spaces we serve.

Many of us have been part of this community for decades; the dancefloor is our home as much as it is our workplace. We believe medical care at events should feel approachable, grounded, and human, something that honors the culture while protecting it.

WHAT WE OFFER

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WHAT WE OFFER *

Nighttime scene at a festival with emergency medical responders preparing supplies at a table, with a crowd of festival-goers in the background. 
Culture Medical Services provides on-site Basic Life Support (BLS), first aid, and harm-reduction coverage for festivals, concerts, and community gatherings. Our team blends licensed healthcare providers and experienced care volunteers who understand the unique needs of festival and unique environments.

We handle everything from heat exhaustion and dehydration to minor injuries, psychological distress, and substance-related emergencies, with professionalism, discretion, and care.
Our setup can include:
  • Medical Tents & Response Teams for on-site emergencies
  • Harm Reduction & Crisis Support for grounding and emotional safety
  • Theme Camp Participation with workshops & trainings during the event (i.e. narcan and CPR trainings)
  • Integration with Event Ops & Security for seamless coordination
  • Post-Event Debriefs to help organizers improve safety and wellbeing
We show up clear-minded, prepared, and in rhythm with the culture, because good medicine doesn’t have to feel out of place on the dancefloor.

Our ethical pledge

At Culture Event Medical Services (CEMS), we hold ourselves to a higher standard of readiness, integrity, and respect, for the scene, for the people, and for the medicine we practice. We are part of the culture we protect, and we show up clear-minded, skilled, and grounded.

  • We treat every shift, every set, every call like someone’s life depends on it because it might. 

  • We are guardians. While on duty, we remain completely sober, physically, mentally, emotionally. We know that clear presence is the foundation of trust and our clarity saves lives.

  • We are not outsiders policing the dancefloor, we are part of it. We respect the artists, the vibe, and the people who make these spaces sacred. Our role is to hold the line between freedom and safety, to protect and reduce harm.

  • We work as a team, never solo. If one medic’s tired, another steps in. If someone’s shaken after a call, we debrief together. We all do our part and contribute our part. We take care of each other so we can take care of everyone else.

  • Because we love this community. Because music heals. Because someone needs to hold the calm in the chaos, and that’s who we are.

for the culture. by the culture.

for the culture. by the culture.

An orange medical emergency or ambulance bag with a white cross symbol on it, in a crowded outdoor setting with blurred people in the background.

We pledge to build and protect systems rooted in collective wisdom, lived experience, and ancestral knowing. This work is not extracted from communities, it emerges from them.


We honor the brilliance that already exists within the margins, and we organize not for communities, but with them. All practices, frameworks, and protocols we uphold are shaped by those who have lived through the fire.


We move with reverence, integrity, and a commitment to reciprocity. This is liberation—for the culture. by the culture.

our Values

💗 Compassion


We meet everyone where they are, with empathy, presence, and zero judgment. Care first, always.

🧠 Harm Reduction


We believe people deserve to party, play, and heal safely. We provide education, support, and non-punitive care rooted in dignity and truth.

⚕️ Professionalism


We bring clinical excellence and cultural awareness. Our team is trained, certified, and ready, with heart and skill in equal measure.

🤝 Consent


Every interaction starts with choice. From medical care to touch, we honor autonomy, communication, and respect in every moment.