The security and emergency measures were put to the test during this edition of the festivities, with a total of 81 individuals receiving medical attention at the Carnival Hospital. The rainy weather influenced the early departure of many carnival attendees from the traditional gathering points. The simultaneous occurrence of two carnival events – the Grand Parade that marked the beginning of this edition, and the night dances at various stages across the carnival grounds, necessitated increased efforts from the emergency services. Of the individuals treated, 72 were adults and nine were minors, with 39 men and 42 women among them.
Throughout the night, a significant portion of medical assistance was attributed to individuals suffering from alcohol poisoning, accounting for 39% of all cases. The rainy conditions led to numerous falls26 trauma cases from various causes.
Although the overall atmosphere of the night was relatively calm, there was one recorded assault, as well as 17 cases of common illnesses unrelated to the Carnival. Health resources facilitated the transfer of seven individuals to hospital facilities for further diagnostic tests or specialized care.
A dedicated resource for young attendees, managed by the Spanish Red Cross in coordination with the Local Police unit attached to the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office, addressed the needs of eleven minors – seven boys and four girls. Within this group, 54% received treatment for alcohol poisoning, while the remaining cases comprised instances of common illness, trauma, and aggression. The age range of those assisted was between 16 and 17 years.
The Local Police and National Police conducted multiple patrols within the Carnival Quadrilateral and attended to various citizen requests and emergency service requirements. Notably, there was one arrest by the state body, stemming from an assault on a police officer.
At the Violet Point, located in the Carnival Hospital, professionals monitoring the area did not receive any reports of sexual assault, though they remained available to address any related concerns or incidents.
On this first day of festivities, personnel from the Local Police, National Police, the Tenerife Firefighters Consortium, and the volunteer group of Santacrucera Civil Protection, supported by the Güímar group as well as healthcare staff from the Spanish Red Cross, worked in coordination from the Advanced Command Post (PMA) situated at the Carnival Hospital in General Gutiérrez Mellado square in the capital of Tenerife.
12 Attendees in the Grand Parade
Throughout the Carnival Grand Parade, a total of twelve individuals required medical attention, with two being minors. The incidents were predominantly among adults, with six cases related to common illnesses and five involving minor traumas. The security and emergency resources seamlessly transitioned their services to the nightly dances following the conclusion of the Parade.
Updates on the previous night’s operations, including the hashtag #HospitalCarnavalSC, were provided through the municipal Twitter accounts of the Operational Coordination Center of the Municipal Administration (Cecopal) @CECOPALSC, the Capital Local Police @PoliciaLocalSC, and Civil Protection volunteering @ProteCivilSCTF.
