Safety at festivals

Large events attract many visitors. Everyone goes there with the idea of celebrating and the last thing you want to think about is that something could happen. So we often don't think about simple things like escape routes, first aid locations, or enough drinking water in warm weather. Everything is well organized and meets the safety requirements, right?

However, without too much extra effort, you can prepare yourself in case something happens and panic breaks out. And you will not only help yourself but also the emergency services. A little forward thinking: Tink Foarút!

Panic in a crowd

If something happens during an event, everyone often wants to leave the site or building as quickly as possible. There is then a chance that panic will arise. Panic in a crowd can lead to unpleasant and difficult situations. People can be crushed, trampled and suffocated. The cause is often something unexpected: a fire, a fight, a sudden change in the weather.

What can you do in advance?

Pay attention to the signage, escape routes, and first aid stations at the event grounds, for example. If it's warm, make sure you have enough drinking water and sunscreen. You can often find an overview map of the grounds and practical tips on the websites of most events. Or listen to Omrop Fryslân (92.2 FM). The broadcaster often airs news about an event.

What safety measures are in place?

Anyone organizing an event must have a permit. The municipality that issues the permit sets requirements for it. Measures must be taken for fire safety, emergency exits, first aid facilities, and accessibility of the site for emergency services such as fire department, police, and ambulances. During many events, emergency services are on site or near the event, so they can quickly intervene if something happens. All these measures, combined with your preparation, can ensure that excessive panic is avoided in the event of a calamity.

Want to know more?

Would you like to know more about what you can do during emergencies? Please visit www.crisis.nl. Here you can also see which risks occur in your neighborhood. It is important to be well prepared. Therefore, always think ahead. Tink Foarút!