Reading Festival – Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s tips for keeping safe

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is urging festivalgoers to be aware of some important safety advice before attending Reading Festival this bank holiday weekend.

Gail Muirhead, West Hub Prevention Manager, says: “At festivals, we want you to enjoy yourself safely. Please take care and do your part to prevent fire ruining the festivities. Dispose of your cigarettes and litter properly, do not use portable barbecues, and stay alert around the open water of the River Thames.

“For further safety advice, please check the organiser’s safety regulations before you visit or ask stewards at the festival for guidance. In an emergency, always call 999.”

As Reading Festival is close to the River Thames, RBFRS is encouraging festivalgoers to familiarise themselves with the Float to Live advice. If you find yourself in trouble in the water, try not to panic and thrash about. Lean back and extend out your arms and legs to float.

Float until you can control your breathing and swim to safety or call for help. If you find someone else in trouble in the water, never enter the water to try to rescue them yourself. Call 999 immediately and ask for the fire and rescue service.

“At festivals, we want you to enjoy yourself safely. Please take care and do your part to prevent fire ruining the festivities”

Gail Muirhead, West Hub Prevention Manager

Organizers of Reading festival have also set up Assistance, Information and Response (AIR) Hubs across the campsites at Reading Festival to provide assistance in case of emergencies. Festivalgoers should familiarise themselves with their nearest AIR Hubs upon arrival.

To keep yourself and other safe at the festival:

• Do not leave glass bottles lying around the camping area – sunlight shining through glass can start a fire. 
• Do ensure that your cigarette is fully extinguished and do not throw cigarette ends on the ground. A lit cigarette could spark a fire when it meets grass. 
• If you see a fire in the festival site, report it immediately by calling 999.

• Do not use Barbecues, disposable and non-disposable, on the festival site or campsites.

• Always site tents and caravans at least six metres apart and away from parked cars;
• Don’t smoke or use candles inside tents;
• Never bring any type of barbecue (i.e. disposable or reusable) into your tent or caravan. Even when the flames aren’t visible, they can still give off carbon monoxide (CO) fumes for some time, which can be deadly;
• Keep flammable liquids (e.g. petrol and gas cylinders) outside in a secure location and away from children. 

• Avoid bridge and ledge jumping at all times, often referred to as ‘tombstoning’, as this can cause potentially fatal cold water shock, even on the warmest day.
• Do not be tempted to swim in open water. You have no idea what is beneath the surface and unseen currents or reeds could pull you under.
• If you find yourself in trouble in the water, float to live. Do not panic, float on your back until the effects of cold water shock pass. When the cold water shock has passed, you can then swim to the edge or call for help.
• If someone else falls into the water, call 999 straight away and ask to speak to the Fire and Rescue Service.

• If you have been drinking, stay away from the water to avoid falling in. Alcohol makes swimming very difficult and cold-water shock can kill.