How to get help if there's an emergency in Bashville
There is no phone reception in Bashville, so if you need emergency assistance from Medical – Fire – Police – Security:
- Use CB CHANNEL 5 on your car or handheld CB radio
- Call ‘Event Control’ ANYTIME 24/7
- Make sure you know your location. Use the Interactive Festival Map on the Bash App to determine your exact latitude and longitude. You can also use street signs and the number on your nearest toilet block.
- Follow instructions from Event Control.
- CB5 is for EMERGENCY USE ONLY. Please help us keep CB5 open by using another channel for day-to-day communication.
Background on our emergency services
Over the years, as the Bash has grown from a small gathering to a pop-up community the size of a country town, our emergency services team has grown with it. Today we are proud to have a large team of medical professionals, firefighters and security staff on site to help keep you and your family safe throughout the Bash.
Medical
Our medical response is provided by the Queensland Ambulance Service. They send a team of doctors and paramedics, who operate out of a sealed, air-conditioned medical tent in the middle of Bashville. Here, they have access to ambulances and a state-of-the-art Operational Support Unit, with high-tech communications to coordinate a major response if required.
As a division of Queensland Health, the medical team is also well-integrated with other services such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Primary Health Centre in Birdsville, so they can manage serious medical matters in such a remote area at the highest standard.
Security
The experienced and friendly security team is supported by a big team from Queensland Police, brought in from Birdsville and surrounding towns and cities.
The Bash has an exemplary record of good patron behaviour – the crowd is only there to have fun and be respectful of each other. As a result, most of our involvement with Police is to help with lost children, the occasional lost adult (!) and encouraging safe driving to get there and back.
Their presence on the road helps remind drivers to do the right thing – during July, the roads leading to the Bash are some of the highest-policed Highway Patrol areas in the State! It’s definitely no place for speeding, DUI or silly behaviour.
Firefighting
We have a stand-by team of qualified firefighters (current and past) drawn from QLD and NSW professional and volunteer services. We undergo team training together with our firefighting truck before the Bash gets going.
The team works out of a dedicated fire truck; it’s actually one of our larger transport trucks that’s repurposed with 3000 litres of water, a dedicated fire pump and other firefighting equipment. You’ll spot this truck sitting near the Event Control Tent, always at the ready to head into the campground if there’s a fire. We also have a nearby dam as a backup water supply and a couple of other tanker trucks in the campground that can be used to fight fires or bring more water.
VETERINARY SERVICES
Our animal-loving friends at the Big Red Bash are in for a treat this year! Vets Beyond Borders is coming on board for the first time ever! These amazing vets will offer regular consultations and emergency care straight from their mobile clinic. They’ll carry necessary medications and perform minor procedures as needed, so we can rest easy knowing that our furry friends are in good hands.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Prices and opening hours to be confirmed.
- Located in the Bashville Plaza. See the Festival Map for location details.
Treatments that will be available on-site:
- Consultations – general for initial assessment
- Wound treatment & management
- Minor stitch-ups under sedation/local anaesthetic
- Eye and ear conditions
- Lameness assessments
- Pain relief
- Infections
- Behaviour/anxiety issues eg. Noise phobias
- Intravenous fluids
- Skin conditions
Treatments that will be referred elsewhere:
- Radiology
- Ultrasound
- General anaesthetics
- Surgery (apart from minor stitch-ups)
- Blood testing
