Heat hammer at the Frequency Festival: Over 100 emergencies in action!

Heat hammer at the Frequency Festival: Over 100 emergencies in action!

The FM4 Frequency Festival in St. Pölten started on Wednesday with great anticipation. The first visitors entered the festival grounds at 2 p.m., but not without challenges as the temperatures climbed to over 30 degrees Celsius. As a result, over 100 festival guests have already been treated by the Red Cross for minor injuries, insect bites and circulatory problems. Five people also had to be taken to the St. Pölten University Hospital, which underlines the health risks in such extreme conditions. The city police commander Franz Bäuchler emphasized that the days before the concerts were quiet.

The festival attracted numerous visitors, most of whom wore light summer clothing, including bikini tops and shorts. During US musician Bartees Strange's first appearance, the band Scooter's sound check was audible, but not visible to the waiting guests. Despite the heat, many festival visitors sought shade and made use of the drinking water dispensers provided. The Red Cross was active until the start of the festival and looked after a total of 128 guests.

Heat and Health: Important Precautions

Given the extreme temperatures and inevitable exposure at outdoor events, organizers must ensure adequate heat protection. According to wärmeservice.de, you should ensure that you have a healthy diet and sufficient hydration. This represents an essential duty of care that goes beyond the legal obligation. Drinks should be available at all times to avoid dehydration and other health risks, which are particularly increased for children and adolescents.

Another important element is shade structures. Complete shading is rare, but central, visible and barrier-free shade areas should be set up. The opportunity to cool down using natural shade such as trees or awnings is a good measure to guarantee visitors a safer stay.

Recommendations for visitors

Festival visitors were advised to wear sturdy shoes and to go to medical centers or call the emergency number 144 if they have health problems. The recommendation to consume non-alcoholic drinks for fluid intake is also emphasized, as the increased heat development poses health risks. The Sonnenschutz emphasizes the importance that organizers implement professional security systems and regularly check the effectiveness of their protective measures.

It was recommended to use public transport to get there, as shuttle buses are available. More than 40,000 people are expected at the VAZ site every day, and in previous years the Frequency Festival has also attracted large numbers of spectators. For example, the event in 2024 had around 180,000 visitors.

In summary, it can be said that special precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of festival visitors in this heat wave and individual responsibility is required when choosing clothing and hydrating.