Celebrate safety this parade season!

Guest post by Julie Jelen, Senior Loss Control Consultant at LMCIT

We are in the peak of parade and festival season, and parades can present unique safety challenges in our communities. Local safety managers should prioritize:

• Develop a written safety and emergency response plan
• Creating parade route maps
• Establishing speed limits or regulations for parade vehicles
• Maintaining a list of performers or participants
• Developing a plan for effective assembly, disassembly and cleaning

Here are key elements to include in your parade safety plans:

Assess regulations and requirements

One of the first and most important precautions is to assess local parade laws and ordinances. Make these requirements available to citizens in a centralized location. An online or physical “one-stop shop” for city and county ordinances, permit applications, key contact information, volunteer or participant policies, parking, and safety.

Compile key contact information

It is important to compile a master list of key people involved in the event. These contacts should include, but not be limited to:

Develop contingency plans and emergency plans

This may be the most important element of your safety plan. It is essential to inform event attendees, organizers, and local safety teams about protocols for unexpected emergencies, including evacuation procedures and medical responses. It is good practice to have a contingency plan in place in case of adverse weather conditions or other potential disruptions. All parade organizers, attendees, drivers, and appropriate public safety agencies involved in ensuring the smooth running of the event should be briefed on the safety plan.

Provide clear Route Maps

Route maps and emergency diversion plans should clearly outline street closures for emergency services and members of the public. Parade organizers must carefully plan the parade route, especially around hospitals, schools, and prisons. Additionally, performance areas along the parade route should be clearly marked and communicated to participants well in advance of the event.

Consider physical barriers and/or safety

Designated viewing areas improve pedestrian traffic and help maintain order in emergency situations. Safety managers must assess whether fencing is necessary for spectators standing along the streets and establish provisions for hand signs or posters as needed.

Identify participants

Parade organizers should identify all participants and performers well in advance, as well as the types of vehicles, bikes/bicycles, large balloons or animals that will be part of each display. City officials should also assess whether chaperones are necessary for participants under a certain age. In addition, officials should consider alcohol regulations before and during the parade, restrictions on items such as firearms and weapons, noise control measures and guidelines for distributing items such as candy from floats to spectators.

Be careful around animals

If animals are involved, officials should determine the species, number, and health status of each animal participating. Precautions should be taken when lining up the parade to ensure the welfare of the animals and to prevent them from being frightened by other participants or loud noises that could pose a threat to public safety. In addition, parade organizers should plan for proper disposal of animal waste.

Confirm Driver and vehicle inspection and insurance

Local law enforcement must verify that float drivers have the necessary training and licenses to operate vehicles during the event. Standard practice is to establish speed and height limits for vehicles appropriate to the event, taking into account local infrastructure and any potential physical obstacles along the parade route. Insurance coverage for both vehicles and drivers should be confirmed, and city officials should assess whether additional insurance is required for the parade.

Assembly, disassembly and cleaning plan

Parade participants should be informed of designated loading, unloading, and parking areas for their vehicles. Residents and businesses near these areas or along the parade route should be given advance notice. It is essential for public health that trash and debris be promptly cleaned up in accordance with a specified procedure, and that professional services handle the removal of hired sanitation units used during the event.

Additional resources:

National Association of Counties (NACo)

International City/County Management Association (ICMA)

Model Parade Regulation