BFB: Safety tips for a fire-free carnival season
The Fire Prevention Advisory Board (BFB) warns of fire hazards during the upcoming carnival season. Masked balls, parades and parties attract large numbers of people, but highly flammable materials in costumes and decorations can pose considerable risks. To prevent fires and ensure a safe carnival, the BFB provides practical recommendations.
Minimize risks: What carnival revellers should look out for
Carnival costumes made of synthetic fabrics such as tulle and nylon quickly catch fire and can melt in high heat, causing serious skin injuries. The BFB therefore recommends:
- Use flame-retardant materials for costumes and decorations.
- impregnate fabrics with commercially available fire retardants.
- Be particularly careful with smoking products and in the vicinity of open fires.
Organizers must comply with these regulations
The organizers of masked balls and other events must comply with Swiss fire safety regulations. According to these regulations, the safety of people must not be compromised at any time. The following points must be observed:
- Decorations must not lead to an increase in danger. Only flame-retardant decorations may be used or the decoration material must be pretreated with a fire retardant. The BFB recommends not using open fires in the form of lanterns, torches or fireplaces as decoration.
- Escape route signs must be visible at all times.
- Escape and rescue routes such as stairs, corridors or exits must not be blocked by objects.
- Suitable extinguishing agents such as fire extinguishers or fire blankets must be kept ready for emergencies.
In the event of a fire, the following sequence must always be observed: first raise the alarm
(fire department 118), then start rescuing people and animals and only at the end try to extinguish the fire.
More safety information can be found on the BFB under bfb-cipi.ch/fasnacht
