Guides · Events · 4 min read
Securing a Christmas market: event medical services, fire safety and typical incidents
Mulled wine, cold, crowds, open flames: how operators plan event medical services for their Christmas market – with a checklist for multi-week markets.
In short: Christmas markets run for weeks, often until late in the evening. What matters are reliable shifts, a heated station and coordination between event medical services and fire safety.
What event medical services expect at Christmas markets
- Circulation problems caused by alcohol and cold
- Falls on wet or slippery ground
- Scalds from hot drinks, burns from fire bowls
- Hypothermia, especially among older people and children
- Allergic reactions to nuts and spices
Checklist for operators
- Estimate the number of people present at the same time – separately for weekdays and Advent weekends.
- Plan for a station – heated, lit, signposted, with access.
- A shift plan for the whole run – fixed teams get to know the site.
- Clarify fire safety – fire bowls, gas cylinders, patio heaters, escape routes between the stalls.
- Pass on licence conditions – the district office and fire brigade set the framework.
Enquire early
Advent is peak season. Operators who enquire by the end of September are most likely to get the crew they want.
How a Christmas market is assessed
In Berlin, too, what counts is the number of people present at the same time. A market with 1,200 people at peak time gives a score of 1; as a district or street festival it has a multiplier of 1. Heavy alcohol consumption and fire risk from open flames can each add a surcharge – then it comes to 3 points: four crew members, one of them a Rettungssanitäter (paramedic), and a first aid post. In Brandenburg, the Maurer scheme uses a factor of 0.4 for Christmas markets.
A weekday is not an Advent Saturday
Over four to six weeks, visitor numbers fluctuate widely. A tiered duty roster makes sense:
- Monday to Thursday: basic crew, often only from late afternoon
- Friday and Saturday: full crew until closing, plus a mobile team
- Special days: plan the opening, concerts, St Nicholas Day and shopping Sundays separately
That way you do not pay for an Advent Saturday crew on quiet Tuesdays. Make sure the quote shows the hours per opening day and states any Sunday and public holiday surcharges openly.
Fire safety between the stalls
- Operate liquefied gas systems only with a valid inspection; position cylinders securely and away from visitor routes
- A fire extinguisher at every stall with gas, fat or open flames – a Class F (cooking oil) extinguisher for deep fryers
- Keep escape routes and fire brigade access routes clear, including during deliveries
- Fire bowls and patio heaters kept at a distance from decorations, tarpaulins and fir greenery
Missing equipment can be hired: find out more under Fire extinguisher hire. If the authority requires a fire watch, we plan it together with the event medical services.
The station in winter
A first aid post at a Christmas market above all has to be warm. People who are chilled or intoxicated need a sheltered place to warm up, blankets and hot drinks. Plan for electricity for heating and a location that the ambulance can also reach.
Frequently asked questions
Does every Christmas market need event medical services?
In Berlin they are generally required from 500 people present at the same time. Smaller markets often manage without a licence condition; cover at weekends still makes sense.
Can the same medics come for the whole run?
Wherever possible we use fixed teams. They know the site, the stallholders and the routes – and that makes a difference on every call-out.
What do event medical services cost for several weeks?
That depends on opening hours and crew size. You receive a quote with the hours per day and a fixed total price.
Matching service: City festivals & Christmas markets from Pandemedics – quote within 2 hours on working days.
Keep reading
Calculating event medical services in Berlin: how the Berlin Fire Brigade scheme works
How many medics does an event in Berlin need? The Berlin Fire Brigade assessment scheme explained step by step – with an example and calculator.
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Checklist: planning event medical services for your event in 8 steps
From approval to incident report: this checklist shows organisers in Berlin and Brandenburg how to plan event medical services properly.
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From how many visitors do you need event medical services in Berlin?
From 500 people present at the same time, the Berlin Fire Brigade generally requires event medical services. The thresholds of 500, 1,000 and 3,000 at a glance.
Read more →Your event deserves cover you can rely on.
Tell us briefly what you are planning – on working days you will have a binding quote within 2 hours.