A total of 130 first-aid workers from the Belgian Red Cross will be present on-site at the three-day Binche Carnival, from Sunday 19 to 21 February – the day of Mardi Gras. They will guarantee relief for all participants in the festivities, both physically and psychologically, the Red Cross said in a statement.
The first-aid workers will set up an emergency medical post on the premises of the Athénée de Binche on the morning of 19 February and will remain in place until the end of the festivities on Wednesday morning. Seven intervention teams of five people each will be deployed in the crowd.
The first aiders will be present on Monday 20 February from 12:30 to 20:30 with two first aid posts, a treatment post and an ambulance at Binche station.
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The Red Cross teams' presence will increase on the main day of the carnival, from 21 February at 10:00 to 22 February at 04:00.
The set-up will include five ambulances on stand-by, nine intervention teams, the command post and the emergency medical post (PMU) at the Athénée of Binche as well as a care post at the Town Hall.
The Red Cross has also indicated that workers from the Service d’intervention psychosociale urgente (Psychosocial emergency response service – Sisu) will also be present with people admitted to the emergency medical post, to inform and reassure both the victims and their relatives.
Red Cross first aiders will also provide assistance during the Carnival holidays and during the numerous carnivals in the region.
