Staying Healthy at Summer Festivals

Summer is here, and for a lot of people, that means weekend long music festivals, where we can have fun in the sun, see some of our musical heroes, mingle with fellow music lovers and have interesting new experiences. There’s no denying that music festivals can be great fun, but if you’re going to one this year, you really should do what you can to stay safe and stay healthy while you’re having a ball. Here are some tips to help you do just that:

Which concert will you be attending this summer?

Avoid Alcohol Consumption
If you’re heading off to a festival, chances are that alcohol will be available. If that’s the case, you need to make sure that you and your friends party safe and that means watching how much alcohol you drink AND more importantly watching your drinks to ensure that you don’t get spiked.

Stay Hydrated
You’re going to be out in the sun for hours at a time watching your favorite bands perform, and you’re (probably) going to be drinking. That’s a bad combination in terms of your dehydration risk, so make sure that you always have a bottle of water on hand to keep your hydration levels up.

Wear Sun Protection
You might be more concerned about packing the perfect pair of summer shoes or the prettiest flower crown, but don’t forget to fill your festival bag with sun protection essentials like sunscreen, sunglasses and a floppy hat to keep you cool and protected from the sun’s rays.

Pack Ear Protection
While you’re packing, you should seriously consider also bringing along some earplugs/muffs, especially if you’re bringing your kids to the festival. If you contact Hearing Professionals, they will tell you that close proximity to loud speakers and live bands can and will damage your hearing, especially if you’re a regular festival goer/fan of live music, so find a pair of earplugs that allow you to enjoy the show comfortably if you want to protect your hearing.

Pack Your Medication
If you require any medication at all, even if it’s something like an asthma inhaler that you rarely need, do not leave it at home. Being in a festival setting without your medication could be quite dangerous for you. Sure, there are first aid facilities around, but getting to them quickly won’t always be easy, and they’re unlikely to have a fully stocked pharmacy on hand! It’ll be much better for all involved if you have what you need with you.

Avoid Unsafe Sex
Festivals and romance go hand in hand for a lot of people. If you’re one of them, please think about it before you do it. The last thing you want to bring back from your festival experience is an STI or worse. If you need to know more about safe sex, contact the American Sexual Health Association or similar sexual health organization for all of the information you need to stay safe not only at festivals, but all the time.

The bottom line: Have fun at the festival, let your hair down, but keep your health in mind, stay prepared and you’ll have the time of your life.