Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is urging festival goers to be aware of the safety advice before attending Reading Festival this bank holiday weekend.
David Newton, Watch Based Station Manager, said: “While you’re at a festival, having fun with friends, your safety has to remain a top priority. During the festival, don’t be tempted to take a barbecue into a tent. It can have tragic consequences, as it gives off carbon monoxide, which is often referred to as the ‘silent killer’, as you can’t see it, smell it or taste it but its effects can be fatal.
“During the festival, if you smoke, please ensure that your cigarette is properly extinguished. It is easy to carelessly discard a cigarette but the effects can be devastating.”
We want to ensure that all festival goers have a great time. There are simple steps that can be taken to make sure you stay safe:
- Never take a barbecue into a tent. It gives off an invisible, odourless, potentially lethal carbon monoxide gas which could kill you. Even when the flames aren’t visible, the barbecue will produce very large amounts of carbon monoxide, which can be deadly
- Don’t use candles in or near a tent – use a torch instead
- Don’t smoke inside a tent. Put it out, right out! Make sure your cigarette is properly extinguished
- Cook outside, a safe distance away from your tent or any other flammable materials
- If you are planning on having a barbecue, use only approved lighter fluids and only ever on cold coals
- If you’re getting a water taxi to Reading Festival, be sure to take your back pack off for the journey. While we hope that it will never happen, if there was an emergency, your back pack will be heavy and could weigh you down
- Make sure you know what the fire arrangements are at the festival. You will be able to find these out on the organiser’s website.
Due to the Festival’s proximity to the River Thames, we are also urging people to remain #WaterAware. One of the main risks of entering the water is cold-water shock, which can have a dramatic effect on your body, such as causing you to breathe in water, make your muscles weaken, and can even cause your heart to go into abnormal rhythms, ultimately resulting in death. If you see someone in the water, call 999 straight away and ask to speak to the fire service and ambulance. Never enter the water to try and save someone, even if you are a strong swimmer.
For more information about staying safe outdoors, including water safety advice, please visit: rbfrs.co.uk/yoursafety.