Autumn is here and it’s the season for fairs, such as the Statutes in Burton upon Trent; and the larger Nottingham Goose Fair, from October 3 to 7. A night out at the Goose Fair is a great experience that has been enjoyed by families for generations, writes Steve Drake, Security Training Manager at Magpie Security Ltd in Nottingham.
The ambiance, the smell of the hot dogs and the thrill of the rides can make for an unforgettable experience. But how can you be sure you, your family, friends including loved ones stay safe? A trip to the fair in general is a very safe activity remembered for years to come. Statistically your actually more likely to be injured travelling to the fair than at it.
On the subject of travelling take a moment to plan and know your travel routes, many new road works in and around Nottingham will only get your trip off to a bad start if you’re not familiar with alternative routes. When travelling by car, car parking is essential and choosing the right car park ensures peace of mind. Please note that the Forest Tram Stop will be open throughout the event, but customers will have to use some of the other park and ride facilities. There is still plenty of free parking for tram customers at other sites across the city, including Wilkinson Street, Phoenix Park, Moor Bridge and Hucknall and thousands of spaces are also available at the new park and ride facilities at Toton Lane and Clifton South. I would strongly advise using the city’s public transport.
Stay safe
Make it good practise to know the location of Emergency Exits and First Aid points in case of the unlikely event of any illness or incident. Maintain your awareness, keep your eyes up, and off the smart phone, as large crowds are an absolute pick-pocketers paradise as well distraction robberies.
Keep your keys separate from your bag and easy to access, not only does this mean you can get inside quickly, if you’re your bag is stolen you can still get home. Do not take short cuts in poorly lit areas, parks or alleyways, trust your intuition? If it does not feel right move away fast, seek help if required.
Only use licensed taxis and pre-book them if you can. At least then they are looking for you.
Finally, listen to your intuition and follow your instincts to safety. Don’t be afraid to be impolite, and never stay in an uncomfortable situation. Take only what you need? Leave any valuables that you do not need at home so that you don’t have to carry them with you, this includes all your jewellery. Make sure your car has nothing visible and all valuables are locked in the car boot.
Know where the exits are. Exits are well-signed. It’s important to know where the closest one is in case you have to evacuate. Have a meeting point. Agree ahead of time where to meet if you get separated from your friends and family.
Make sure your child knows where to go. Arrange a meeting point with your child and write your phone number on their arm if they are too young to memorise it. Tell children to look for a safe stranger. (A person in uniform (Police, Steward, Security or a woman with young children).
Listen to all announcements and instructions. All big event organisers have to have an emergency plan in place prior to obtaining a permit for an event, and will initiate emergency plans if necessary.
Don’t panic. If you are directed to evacuate, do so in a calm manner. This is by no way a definitive list but it is good starting point, I will leave it up to you to work out the how to have fun bit.
