Festival season is upon us, and with it comes new fashion styles and trends, new favorite songs and artists, and the chance to have an amazing time with new and old friends. If you love music, there’s nothing more exciting and exhilarating then attending a festival. A live music show takes listening to music to a whole new and different level. You’re immersed into a euphoric experience with sounds and sights and high energy.
The 1969 Woodstock Festival is widely considered a turning point in popular music history. Woodstock popularized the live music festival concept for all genres of music, changing the way music is experienced, produced and released. Woodstock’s legacy continues on today. Huge music fests such as Bonnaroo, Coachella, Lollapalooza, SXSW, CMA Music Festival, Austin City Limits, Summerfest and Burning Man are staples in today’s music festival industry. Each festival offers a unique experience, and the creators of these events spend massive amounts of time planning and coming up with ideas that will differentiate them from all the rest.
If you’ve been hurt or injured at a festival, call Schulze Law.
There are currently more than 800 music festivals in the U.S. alone. According to Billboard online, in the U.S. alone, 32 million people go to at least one music festival every year and 14.7 of those million fall into the “millennial” generation. On average people are traveling 903 miles to attend their festival of choice which is almost equivalent to the drive from New York to Orlando, Florida.
Your favorite bands aren’t the only things that make headlines when summer music festival season is in full swing. Unfortunately the dangers involving drug use, sexual harassment and health and safety threats do exist. In the extreme, there have even been shootings and deaths.
The good news is you can make the most of your music festival experience by enjoying them safely and taking necessary precautions.
Music event producers typically review festival safety and security. They look at things like car and pedestrian traffic to potential drug and alcohol use. The planning starts well in advance and involves local law enforcement, event producers and emergency management agencies.
But regardless of all the planning, many issues at music festivals still a challenge for music festival producers and local officials as well as attendees. This is why it’s important for you to plan ahead and consider your safety.
If you’re attending a music concert or festival, check out these important tips from HealthDirect.gov to stay safe and healthy while still having a blast.
- Party safe
You can make the most of your music festival experience by partying safely. Keep tabs on how much alcohol you’re drinking and avoid binge drinking. Remember to eat meals and drink plenty of water.
While illicit drugs may seem fun, they are also dangerous as you don’t know what’s in them or how they’ll affect you. Don’t mix alcohol and other drugs – you can’t know how they will react with each other and if they will make you sick. If you or someone else had a bad reaction to drugs, you won’t get in trouble for telling a medical professional what they’ve taken.
- Stay cool and hydrated
Partying and watching your favorite bands play under the blazing sun can be very hard on the body Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of water, especially if you’re drinking alcohol.
Stay cool by wearing a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses, and hanging out in shaded areas when you can.
- Chill out
Heatstroke can happen easily, especially when you’re under the hot sun. Drinking alcohol and taking drugs can also lead to heatstroke because they make it hard for your body to cool itself down.
Cool down by drinking lots of water and take some time out. See if there are some chill out spaces where you can have a break for a while.
- Practice safe sex
If you hook up with someone, practice safe sex. The best way to look after your sexual health is to use condoms and take them with you, so you’re prepared.
If you have sex, remember that everyone involved needs to definitely agree. Saying ‘maybe’ or ‘I think so’ is not good enough.
You shouldn’t feel pressured into doing something you don’t want to.
- Bring your medication
Take any medicine you need with you. Festivals will have first aid facilities, but usually won’t have a medical service. If you’re going to drink, check your meds for how they may react with alcohol.
- Learn your way around
When you first get to the festival, check out what’s where (and not just which bands are playing and when). Festivals can be confusing places, so it’s important to know where the toilets, first aid, food stalls, bar, camping and chill-out zones are. Most festivals provide a map, or you could just walk around and explore!
- Protect your hearing
While thumping drum beats, blaring guitar riffs and screeching vocals are part of the festival experience, they also hammer your hearing. Loud noise and music festivals go hand in hand, so be prepared and protect your ears with earplugs.
And if you can’t cope with the loud noise, move away from the speakers for a while.
- Have a buddy system
Consider using a ‘buddy system’, where you look out for a friend and they look out for you. Organize a time and meeting place with your buddy in case you get lost or want to go off to see different things.
Don’t always rely on your phone, as your battery may die or the network may become overloaded.
- Watch your drinks
Drink spiking is when a person deliberately adds alcohol or another drug like GHB or Rohypnol to your drink without you knowing. This can make you drunk or feel ‘out of it’ unexpectedly.
Don’t share with or accept drinks from people you don’t know or trust. Better still, buy and pour your own drinks.
- Be aware of your surroundings
Additional potential causes of deaths and injuries at music festivals include getting hit by cars, getting crushed in crowds, and other accidents you can help prevent through vigilance. Stick with a friend or group so you can look out for one another.
Enjoy the festival season! Just be sure to think ahead about the ways to max out the fun with keeping yourself safe. This will ensure you’re getting the most out of your festival experience – whether you’re a first-time festival fan or a seasoned pro.
Remember, Schulze Law is here for you if you have any questions about festival health and safety!
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/top-10-safety-tips-for-music-festivals
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/
