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Summer Service announcement
The shared goal of the organizers is that the Summer Services would be a safe event for everyone. Safety is built through the actions of each participant, and special attention is needed to ensure the safety of children and young people.
Each person is valuable and warmly welcome to Summer Services.
– In respecting others, it is good to remember the Bible’s Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31), reminds Janne Syri, chairperson of the Maintenance Department.
The familiar exhortation to respect governing authorities means, among other things, that the arrangements at Summer Services comply with the laws and regulations in force in Finland. The task of the safety organization is to strive to ensure a safe services experience for all guests.
It is important to remind especially young people that all forms of violence, stealing, discrimination, and other bullying are prohibited at Summer Services. Summer Services is a substance free event. In the central field area, smoking is permitted only in designated areas. This is good to remember also in the evening after the sermons have ended.
Children and young people are the responsibility of adults
The large number of children and young people attending Summer Services is a sight that strengthens faith and also speaks to those outside our community. Most young people bring only joy through their actions, but in such a large group there is also some serious disruptive behavior. This has occurred especially at night.
Summer Services organizers emphasize that every minor at the event is under the responsibility of an adult. The younger the child, the greater the adult’s responsibility. The guardian of a minor is responsible for the young person’s actions around the clock and knows where the young person is and with whom. Young people should stay together with their parents or another adult.
Field workers/adults who move around the services area in the evening and at night have observed that not all young people have any set curfew. Children may not move around the services field alone at night. As a rule, this kind of situation may be grounds for filing a child welfare notification. Children and young people may unintentionally be exposed to vandalism, violence, or substance use, phenomena that unfortunately cannot be completely ruled out even at Summer Services. A harassment contact person has been appointed for Summer Services and may be contacted if someone experiences harassment during services.
Adults are responsible for ensuring that children and young people go to bed and complete their evening routines on time. The children’s washing area in the central field area closes at 10 p.m., and the washing areas in the accommodation areas close at 11 p.m. Boundaries set by adults are an expression of love and care.
New emergency access routes help ensure safe passage
In recent years, it has been observed that moving around the central field area has become more difficult for services guests. New and visible for 2026 are the emergency access routes in the central field area, which are intended to make movement easier for everyone.
– Benches may not be set up on the emergency access routes, and people should not stop there to chat. It is also important to ensure that emergency medical services, rescue services, and cleaning services can move smoothly in the central field area and throughout the entire services area, says Jukka Muhola, chairperson of the Arrangements Department.
Please come to Summer Services only when healthy
Summer Services has traditionally been one of the highlights of the year in believing families. However, anyone who is ill should stay home.
– By doing this, we help ensure the safety of all services guests. In field conditions, contagious illnesses, such as influenza and stomach illnesses, spread easily, says Päivi Peltokorpi, chairperson of the Health Care Committee.
A general practitioner level first aid station will operate at Summer Services from Thursday at 12 noon until Monday at 4 p.m. The organizers hope that services guests will primarily seek care at the first aid station and not go directly to Seinäjoki’s joint emergency services. This will help everyone better anticipate the workload of the emergency services.
Kiireellisissä tilanteissa soitetaan aina suoraan 112.
Everyone plays a part in fire safety
In rescue services, it is customary to say that the best accident or fire is one that never happened. Especially in fires, the first minutes are the most significant when it comes to containing the fire, since a small fire is generally easier to control than a large one. There are more than 200 organization fire extinguishers generally available on the Summer Services field. In addition, numerous motorhomes and RVs have their own extinguishers.
– From the perspective of general safety, it is important that whenever someone notices an accident, they begin rescue measures according to their possibilities and abilities. However, unnecessary and reckless risks should not be taken, says Esa Kaikkonen, chairperson of the Safety Committee.
Units made up of rescue and emergency medical care professionals are on duty in the services area throughout the entire event, and based on experience from previous years, their capacity can be increased efficiently.
Ball games and electric scooters are prohibited
At Summer Services, the practice found to work well in Loppi will continue, meaning that ball games are prohibited in the services area. In a large crowd and in tight spaces, ball games pose a safety risk. If an accident occurs, this is unfortunate for all parties involved.
Summer Services is a short event held in field conditions. It is good to consider at home what is needed at Summer Services. Instead of balls and electric scooters, it is worth packing along a good spirit for attending services.
Dogs should stay at home or a care place should be arranged
Health care staff also remind services guests that dogs should not be brought to the Summer Services area. This prohibition does not apply to guide dogs. A caretaker or place of care for dogs should be arranged well in advance before leaving for the trip to Summer Services.