Tips for staying safe and healthy at all of your festivals this season
Summer festival season is starting up, and as it gets back into full swing it is important to take the necessary steps to stay safe and healthy during all the excitement.
1. Sunburns aren’t sexy
No matter what kind of festival you’re at this summer, protection from the sun is bound to be critical. Even when there is gentle cloud cover you are still exposed to UV radiation. The first tip is to protect yourself from the sun by always wearing sunscreen. You can likely bring in a small bottle to the festival to reapply during the festivities. For further protection, wear a hat. This will also help to shield you from sun and heat illnesses such as sunstroke. When you can, look for shaded areas. Most festivals will have tents around to provide shade, make sure you know where these are. Getting out of the sun and into the shade for a break will help to protect you from burns and illness.
[pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]I know we all want to look good, but that can still be achieved in shoes with good arch and ankle support.[/pullquote]2. Ban the blisters
We’ve all been there, having a blast listening to some good music until suddenly it hits you, the blisters. The best way to avoid blisters is to wear comfortable shoes. I know we all want to look good, but that can still be achieved in shoes with good arch and ankle support. If you’re dancing to music or just walking around the festival, your feet are likely going to start to sweat. This can cause your socks and shoes to rub against each other and create painful blisters. A slightly strange sounding, but extremely effective tip is to rub Vaseline on your socks before putting your shoes on. This will allow your socks to slide easily in your shoes and stop the friction from forming blisters.
3. Awareness on arrival
When you arrive at your festival, one of the first things you should do is ensure that you know where the medical tent is. This will be important if you or someone around you—be it friend or crowd member—gets sick or injured. If you do end up in an uncomfortable situation, the medical tent is also a good place to go and seek safety and comfort. In the event of sickness or injury, it is also helpful to have a first aid kit on your person. This kit can be small, easy to carry around and even decorative to go with your outfit. Your first aid kit is a good place to keep a mini bottle of sunscreen, bandages, and a small snack for emergency food. Be aware about what your body is telling you, enjoy yourself, but stay hydrated by drinking water and acknowledge what your body needs.
[pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]…one of the first things you should do is ensure that you know where the medical tent is.[/pullquote]4. Say no to noise
If you’re at a music festival, bring ear plugs. The noise levels may feel exhilarating at first, but the intensity of the sounds will start to erode your hearing over time. Ear plugs are also key if you’re camping at the festival, as they can help you get a good night’s sleep when everyone else is still up talking or partying.
5. Make it old school
Finally, at festivals, it can be challenging to stay in close proximity to your friends. Large crowds can separate people easily, which can cause people to feel uncomfortable. Cellphones are great for keeping in contact but they can easily get lost, stolen or broken in the chaos. Having walkie-talkies to communicate between your group is a simple, cost-effective way to stay in touch. And, if they get lost or stolen your personal information is still safe. Additionally, if your communication device does get lost, establishing a meeting point like the medical tent prior to the festival is also key. This way you know that if you and your friends do get separated, after a certain amount of time you can always find them again at your pre-established meeting point.
There are many festivals coming up this summer in the Guelph area, so stay safe and have fun!