Music Festival Health and Safety Tips

Music festivals are a great way to unwind and have fun. You can enjoy time with your friends, listen to your favorite bands, and even meet some new, like-minded people. But, most music festivals happen for a few days. If you’re staying on-site, it’s important to make your health and safety a priority. 

While these festivals are fun, they can also be dangerous if you’re not properly prepared. With multiple festivals showing up in the news in recent years due to injuries and risks, it’s important to take care of yourself so you can enjoy your time without worrying. 

So, what can you do to stay safe and healthy the next time you head to a popular music festival?

Plan and Prepare

While planning ahead for a music festival might not sound very “rock and roll,” it’s crucial if you really want to enjoy yourself. Put in the work now and plan for your needs, and you’ll be less concerned and overwhelmed by the time you’re actually at the festival. It’s a win-win situation. 

There are plenty of things to do to prepare yourself for a festival. Start by looking at the weather. The forecast can change quickly, but you should be able to get a fairly good idea of what you’ll need to pack based on what’s expected. Always carry the essentials with you, especially for summer festivals, including: 

• Sunscreen
• Light, loose clothing
• Sunglasses
• A hat
• Plenty of water

Keeping your skin protected and staying hydrated are two of the best things you can do. The last thing you want is to experience a horrible sunburn on the second day of the festival because you didn’t apply sunscreen on the first. Protect your skin from the sun’s UV rays as much as possible, and make sure to drink plenty of water. On hot days when you’re in the midst of hundreds of people, it’s easy to get dehydrated quickly. That can increase your risk of passing out or getting injured. 

Your preparations should also include any personal needs that are important to your well-being. If you have any pre-existing conditions, for example, take them into account. Bring necessary medications with you, make a plan for how/when you’re going to rest, and make sure whoever you’re going with knows how to help you if needed. 

Be On Guard

We’d like to think that everyone who goes to a music festival is just there to have a good time.  For the most part, that’s true. But, no crowd is immune to having a few “bad apples” in the bunch. 

So, while you should still be able to enjoy yourself, make sure you’re always paying attention to the people around you. Crowds can get pretty tight at certain festivals, making you susceptible to things like theft or even violence. If the festival you’re attending has drink/food tents, make sure to pay attention to what you’re consuming. 

Buy your own drinks, don’t share with others, and keep tabs on them to make sure no one tries to spike them with anything that could cause harm or danger. Unfortunately, it’s a more common practice than most people realize. 

It’s a good idea to have a “buddy system” in place when you attend a festival so you’re never completely separated from your friends and people you trust. It’s a great way to look out for each other while still being able to have fun. 

Be Prepared for Emergencies

Some of the most common music festival injuries include:

• Heat-related issues
• Dehydration
• Broken bones
• Stab wounds
• Drinking/drug-related problems

Everything from concussions to passing out is also fairly common, and extremely dangerous if they aren’t taken care of immediately. So, it’s extremely important to know how to get help as quickly as possible.  

No one wants to think about dealing with an emergency at a festival, but if the last few years have shown us anything, it’s that it can absolutely happen. 

Familiarize yourself with emergency medical tents/facilities immediately when you arrive at a festival. Educate yourself on how to get the attention of medical professionals there, so they can come to you or a friend if you’re in need. In some cases, your crowd surfing escapades may end up leading you to an urgent care facility, where they can take care of that broken bone. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have fun at a festival. But, keep in mind that accidents happen and emergencies can occur. Being prepared will make it easier to get the help you need right away. 

By knowing how to stay safe and healthy at a music festival, you’ll be able to enjoy yourself more. Keep these tips in mind to protect your well-being, as well as the health and safety of your friends. A few small changes to the way you do things can make a big difference in your festival-going experience.