Festival season is almost upon us, a highlight of the British Summer – even if the weather lets us down you can rely on Britain to carry on partying. No doubt many of you will already have plans to attend one of the many events across the UK or further afield. You may have already started planning your outfits (if you still need some help check out HCX’s article on festival fashion) and what bands you’re going to see, but you may not have thought about some of the more practical sides of festival survival. A mix of sleep deprivation, constant dancing, festival food, booze and whatever else you choose to consume can take a heavy toll on your body and your health and if you’re not careful you may risk a trip to the medical tent or worse having to go home early when you just can’t carry on. So here at HCX we have compiled a list of hints, tips and advice that you may not have considered to ensure you have the best festival experience possible without a risk to your health, we’ve even included a handy packing checklist at the end! Lots more information can be found on the NHS website so be sure to have a look as there is lots more advice we couldn’t include here.
Prepare!
As with anything else preparation is key to getting the most out of your long weekend. Make sure to eat well and get plenty of sleep before you go, this means you’ll have the best possible start you can and be looking and feeling your best.
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Beware of the Weather
As we are all aware, Summer in Britain is certainly no guarantee for Sun. Over the years Worthy farm where Glastonbury is held has seen everything from blazing sun and cracked dry earth to torrential rain and oozing mud, and last year Creamfields was cancelled due to flooding. So make sure you’re prepared for whatever the weather may throw at you.
SUN If it is sunny and hot make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and after sun, as well as appropriate clothing, check out HCXs article for our top sun safety tips. When it is hot staying hydrated also becomes even more important so make sure you always have a bottle of water with you and finally be wary of heatstroke, if you feel yourself becoming faint seek shade and have a rest.
COLD Even if the day has been warm remember it can get extremely cold at night so take lots of layers with you, don’t rely on endless shorts and crop tops or you’ll find yourself wishing you’d packed a jumper or two and a pair of leggings.
RAIN Last but not least, the good friend of all Exeter inhabitants, rain. There’s nothing worse than trying to traverse rivers of mud in flip-flops so make sure you have a pair of wellies or something similar. A foldaway poncho is also an essential, they’re cheap, light, take up almost no space and are invaluable if you find yourself caught in the rain. It may seem obvious but make sure your tent is waterproof as well and be sure to keep your possessions away from the sides, you may also want to be wary of where you set up camp – stay away from dips and ditches in the ground where water is likely to gather.
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Know Where Health Services Are
Anything could happen at a festival from illness to injury so make sure you know where the appropriate on-site medical services are so that wherever you are you know where the closest place you can seek help is. Also remember they are there for a reason so don’t feel embarrassed or ashamed to give them a visit, they will be happy to help!
Sex
This one’s pretty obvious: stay safe. If you think there’s any chance that you’ll be getting frisky at your festival make sure to take condoms and any other contraceptive protection you’d usually use. If you are in need of emergency contraception it will be available at the various medical tents around the site, so like we previously mentioned familiarise yourself with where these are.
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Alcohol
Know your limits, the last thing you want is to have to miss your favourite headline act because you’re passed out by 4pm. Also remember to drink lots of water to keep that hangover at bay and ensure you’re fresh as a daisy the next morning. Make sure to keep your drink with you at all times, and don’t accept drinks from people you don’t know as like with anywhere else drink spiking can be a problem at festivals.
Drugs
Again all we can advise is that you’re careful, festivals are pretty crazy experiences as they are, you’re in a new place with large crowds – mixing this with drugs can leave you scared or lost if you’re not careful. Avoid drinking and taking drugs simultaneously as it may cause an unpleasant or dangerous reaction, and remember you’ll have no idea what is actually in the drug you’re buying so be extra cautious and at least make sure your friends are aware of what you’re doing, look out for each other!
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Look After Your Feet
Hours of walking and dancing can wreak havoc on your feet so you have to look after them! Make sure you wear comfortable shoes, now’s not the time to break in those new sandals or you’ll end up with painful blisters. Also remember to keep your feet dry, trench foot can easily occur if your feet remain damp and don’t get to breathe so make sure to remove shoes and socks at night.
Watch What You Eat
If you want to save money and bring your own food make sure you’re able to cook it correctly. Barbecuing can be particularly risky so to avoid food poisoning make absolutely certain any meat is cooked right through and piping hot.
If you’re buying food be careful of who you’re buying from, check sell by dates on packaged foods, and look to buy your food from stalls and kiosks that seem legit, look out for hygiene certification if you’re worried.
And as we’ve already mentioned, water, water, water! Dehydration is very dangerous so keep stocked up, even Method Man of the Wu-Tang Clan knows how important this is:
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What To Bring:
This is by no means a comprehensive list of what to bring to a festival, this is just a short selection of items you may not have thought about to keep you in top condition:
-Vitamins – your diet probably won’t be the healthiest so a pack of vitamins can stop you feeling too run down.
-Hand Sanitizer – an absolute essential to keep with you.
-Sun Cream and After Sun – pretty self-explanatory, you do NOT want to get burnt.
-Baby Wipes – though not as effective as a shower, these should help you feel a bit more fresh than you would otherwise
-Ear Plugs – the damage to your ears that can occur with live music is something that’s gaining a lot more recognition, bring along a pair in case you find yourself a bit too close to the speakers.
-Medication – If you suffer from conditions like asthma or hay fever or have any prescriptions don’t forget to take any medication you might need with you as it’ll be hard to find otherwise.
-Contraception – Festivals are fun, sex is fun, STIs are not, it’s pretty simple.
-Bags for Dirty Clothes – Keeping your wet and dirty clothes separate from everything else will make your life a whole lot easier.
-Phone/Back-Up Phone/Batteries – Many sites will have charging stations but these may be busy and you don’t want to waste your time, but it is important to stay in contact with your group, so make sure you always have a way to communicate.
-Torch – Because there is little that is more embarrassing than stumbling into the wrong tent.
-Emergency Contact Details – It’s good to have these on you so that if something bad does happen people will know who to contact, also note down any medical conditions or allergies.
We hope at least some of this advice will have proven helpful and help you get the most out of your festival experience. With a bit of preperation you can go even harder than you would otherwise and avoid the post-party slump. Happy festival-going!
Image Credits: theatlantic.com, coachella.com, betterraw.com, glastonburyfestivals.com