Red Cross doubles staff at Limburg Carnaval

The Dutch Red Cross will add 600 assisting staff to its services at the carnaval in Limburg and Noord-Brabant. That's 60 percent more than last year, when 235 volunteers were standing ready.  The Red Cross announced Friday that the increase of the number of volunteers has been caused by a growing interest in the events. More and more people are coming to Statie Festatie in Roermond, for example. A carnaval concert that is visited by about 22,000 people. Some events even last longer than before. The volunteers will man the First Aid posts, and walk around in areas where there will be many people. "On Friday evening for example there will be volunteers present at the start of the carnaval in Eindhoven and Maastricht. In Breda they'll take care of any bumps and bloody noses at the children's parade. The First Aid bike-team will be in place at the big parade, so that they can be present quickly at big accidents", a spokesperson for the Red cross said. The most problems that occur, have to do with excessive alcohol and drug use. Further, it is about glass cuts, bruises and scrapes after fights. The volunteers have received extra training to operate in situations where drink and drugs are at play. The partygoers are warned by the Red Cross to dress warmly, despite the Spring-like weather, because the nights could be cold.