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CULTURAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM University of Barcelona
CULTURAL PRODUCTION Security in massive events
I think there are a couple of things we should have in mind:
first, zero risk does not exist.
Second, nowadays the requirements regarding security have nothing to do with some years ago,
society has changed and wants more security.
Especially during Fallas, we know that some areas will be crowded at peak time and certain events,
so one of our security measures is guaranteeing the evacuation routes.
Even the security area in La Mascleta has 2m barriers and civil protection volunteers every 5m,
so if in a certain moment there was an avalanche, volunteers could minimize it without major incidents.
Sometimes accidents happen not because of a real cause but because the response time is not appropriate,
and then, automatically, an incident becomes an emergency.
In a self-protection plan there is always a crisis committee, an operational coordination center.
When a major incident happens, the crisis committee is activated.
For each event we stipulate evacuation routes and accesses for the sanitary or emergency vehicles.
Together with other services, we write an edict which is published before Fallas,
in which we establish some specific regulations for the events:
how to organise the street and protect the facades to avoid damages,
which streets will be evacuation routes, where ambulances will be located...
everything has to be perfectly organised.
Regarding public transportation,
timetables are changed and reinforced at the arrival and departure times to evacuate people faster.
In the case of the firework castle in Alameda, next to a subway station,
during the event, the subway service is stopped on that station,
when the event ends, we contact with civil protection technicians to activate it again.
An emergency plan with a legislative basis is created,
the local police of Paterna offers an awesome help and collaboration,
we establish sanitary posts, preventive security measures, security perimeters,
diverse information about the access to the show, information in case of accident,
written information about the security regulations all participants must follow during the event, etc.
The fireman service of civil protection is who plans any kind of emergency,
we have to write the municipal territorial plan and an specific protocol for Fallas.
According to our experience, if each year an event has a larger influx of people, we provide more means.
If there are 100,000 people, it is essential to have a self-protection plan for all those people.
Recently, in Catalunya, a new security regulation regarding shows and recreational activities was released.
A new regulation and a new law of self-protection.
Plans are not bibles, are always revisable. If possible, they should be changed every year.