Crisis Management Office hands over Safety Plan for Carnival 2024

For the first time, Aruba has a Safety Plan for Carnival. CMO, in collaboration with SMAC, developed the safety plan with the participation of all carnival groups. The plan includes agreements on various safety aspects for all carnival participants. Each group leader had individual consultations with the CMO and signed the agreements to ensure the safety of participants and everyone involved in the carnival.

They made agreements regarding the volume of the music bands during the carnival parades. For children's parades, the maximum volume is 90dB, and children must be 7 meters away from the speaker while wearing earplugs. The government and CMO believe children need protection against permanent hearing damage and health issues. For large parades, where participants volunteer and are responsible for their actions, the maximum volume is 120 dB.

CMO conducts checks during each parade based on the agreements in the Safety Plan and can report that, so far, all bands have adhered to the maximum sound level. During children's parades, 95% of the children wore earplugs.

Prime Minister Wever-Croes congratulated CMO, KPA, SMAC, DTI, and participating groups and thanked them for their cooperation with this plan, intended to be used for all public events with more than 2000 people for the next three years, after which it will be adapted and finalized.

In addition, the CMO also sets up a "hospital on the field" along the parade route to assist all carnival participants and relieve some of the pressure on the emergency services of the Horacio Oduber Hospital.

In the final weeks of the carnival, the government and CMO urge all bands and groups to adhere to the agreements made and prioritize the well-being of our carnival participants.