HRH Prince Harry and Ms. Markle will marry on Saturday, 19 May 2018, in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
With thousands of people expected to travel to Windsor to join the celebration and catch a glimpse of the royal couple, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is urging residents and visitors to be careful when planning celebrations to ensure a safe and happy event for everyone.
Iain Harrison, Group Manager for RBFRS, said: “As a fire and rescue service, we support many big events around the County throughout the year such as Reading Festival, Henley Regatta, Royal Ascot Races and we are delighted to be supporting this event.
“We are working with partners to ensure everybody has a great day. With just over two weeks to go, l would encourage anybody who is planning to celebrate the Royal Wedding to read through our safety advice in advance.”
The wedding is anticipated to attract thousands of people from around the world to Windsor. In advance of the wedding RBFRS is:
- Visiting a number of businesses to support them with their responsibility for fire safety, in particular hotels, bed and breakfasts and licensed premises.
- Working with our partners to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place to support a safe event.
There are also a number of steps that residents, visitors and businesses can take to ensure they enjoy the wedding safely.
On the day, if you’re planning to travel by car:
- Make sure you reduce your speed and give yourself time to react and always wear your seatbelt and make sure your passengers are wearing theirs.
- Never use your mobile phone when driving, pull over somewhere safe before using your device.
- Make sure you’re prepared for your journey and pack plenty of water to keep you hydrated.
- Check local TV, radio, social media and internet for traffic reports before travelling.
If you are going to be staying in a rented or hired accommodation:
- Ensure that there are working smoke alarms in the property.
- Use a proper adaptor when using a non-UK electrical appliance. Never put two-prong plugs into three-prong sockets.
- Keep all exits clear, even communal/ living areas and make sure that you keep fire doors closed.
- Establish where the fire exits and alarms are if you are staying in a large or high-level building.
- Make sure that you know your initial and secondary escape route, as well as where the keys for locks, doors and windows are kept.
If you are going to be having a number of guests staying with you:
- Make sure that you’ve got working smoke alarms on every level of your home.
- Talk through your escape plan, including what to do in the event of a fire with your guests and always keep door and window keys in the same place and make sure that everyone staying knows where they are.
- Ensure that if they have travelled by car, that they have parked in a suitable location.
If you’re going to be celebrating with friends and family:
- Make sure that if you’re having a barbecue, it is well away from sheds, fences, trees and shrubs and only use approved lighter fluid on cold coals. Make sure that you don’t take a barbecue indoors – as even when the flames aren’t visible, it can still give off carbon monoxide fumes, which can be deadly.
- Ensure you light fireworks at a safe distance from spectators and your property and where possible, notify neighbours of your intention to let them off. Remember to only buy fireworks marked BS 7114.
- If you see someone who has fallen in the water, never enter the water to try and save someone, even if you are a strong swimmer, call 999.
- If the weather is warm, don’t be tempted to swim in open water, such as rivers, lakes, canals and quarries to cool off.
If you’re a business that will be making the most of the celebrations:
- Review your fire risk assessment, especially if you are going to provide bed and breakfast accommodation.
- Do not overcrowd the premises.
- Ensure that fire exits are kept clear.
- Ensure that all fire safety provisions, such as fire extinguisher, emergency lighting and fire alarm systems have been tested, serviced and maintained.
- Inform your staff of emergency evacuation procedures and test it out in advance.