SURVIVAL TIPS FOR MUSIC FESTIVALS

Going to gigs and music festivals can be heaps of fun. It’s awesome to be in a crowd of thousands, hanging out with your friends, meeting new ones, seeing your favourite bands and discovering bands you haven’t seen before. You want to have the best time ever and so here are a few tips:-

Look good and be prepared for the weather!

Shoes – high heels may be sexy and your favourite thongs may be comfy but they are not very practical. Remember everyone gets pretty amped and there is lots of jumping up and down. It can really hurt if someone jumps on your little toe. Also even though most venues are glass free, the reality is sometimes the odd glass will get in, along with other bits and pieces that can cause damage to your feet.

Winter events, such as ‘Splendour in the Grass’ often mean tramping around in the mud. Time to pull out the gum boots – there are some really cute ones around or you can go with your regular sturdy black gumbies (maybe paint them to make them look a bit more funky). Raincoats may seem a bit daggy but so is being damp with your teeth shattering. A fold up poncho doesn’t take up much room in your backpack and can be really handy in a down pour.

Summer - Wear something light and that covers your shoulders and neck. Sunburn is nasty and can make you feel sick and crappy. Take sunscreen and try to remember to reapply it during the day and find a fun hat to wear.

Some events are near water and the mozzie factor can be unexpected. If you are camping or will be there in the late afternoon and evening, then remember the repellant – you’ll be glad you did. There is nothing worse than one of those little nasties buzzing around your ringing ears when you crawl into your tent at 3 am.

Comfort Zone List

1. Band-aids
2. Earplugs (mainly when you are camping)
3. Maybe headache tablets
4. Condoms
5. Sombrero and sunscreen
6. Poncho (or raincoat)
7. Water (sealed bottle as security will be checking for alcohol), light snacks
8. Good shoes
9. Mobile on a clip or a lanyard that you can tie onto your clothes, credit and fully charged.
10. Good friends who look after each other

Staying Safe

Festivals are a time to let loose and have a great time. It may be a time when you and your friends decide to get really trashed or just have a couple of drinks. Whatever your decision it is important to stay safe.

• Make a meeting point with your friends at the start of the event before everyone starts partying and it all gets too hard to organise.

• Find out where first-aid is and if there is a chill-out space (before you get started). If there is a chill-out space you might make that your meeting spot.

• Put aside some money in a safe spot in your wallet to get home or better still buy a return train or bus ticket (make sure that is in a safe spot too). Have a backup plan to get home if you lose your friends, miss your ride home and get all disorientated.

• Have breaks every now and then – recharge – drink some water, eat some food, chat to people in the crowd. Avoid really sugary drinks as they will dehydrate you – water or sports drinks are best.

• Don’t accept drinks from strangers – remember that drink spiking can happen to both guys and girls. Drugs such as GBH (liquid ecstasy or fantasy) have no smell or taste and so are hard to detect. Be aware that alcohol is also the most common drug used in drink spiking.

• If you decide to use drugs remember that drugs will effect everyone differently and there is no way to completely avoid the risks of taking drugs so the best thing you can do is pace yourself – don’t make it a competition – a festival is not a safe place to see who can take or drink the most. Know and monitor what you are taking. It’s easy to get swept up in the moment. Remember mixing drugs will change and can increase the effect. Go easy on drug cocktails – they increase the risks and the chances of you getting really messy. KNOW WHAT TO DO IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

• Avoid buying drugs from strangers – you really don’t know what you are getting and some dealers see festivals as a way to make a lot of money and are not concerned with how it might affect people more about how much they can sell.

• Be aware that even herbal drugs can affect some people badly and have been known to cause anxiety, nausea and cause people to spin out.

• Carry condoms and let your friends know before you go off with someone you have just met.

If Something Goes Wrong!

Always look after your friends and do not muck around if you think they are in trouble.

If something seems wrong like difficulty breathing, racing heart, trouble swallowing, bad (especially blistered) sun-burn, freaking out, can’t walk or losing consciousness - take them to see first-aid and be honest with the first aiders about what they have taken. They are not there to judge you rather make sure that you get the right treatment. If they can’t walk or you can’t move them DO NOT LEAVE THEM ALONE. Get another friend or someone from the crowd to see security who can radio directly to first aid.

If they are just overwhelmed or anxious don’t give them a hard time, get them to a quiet place, out of the crowd. Give them lots of reassurance that you will stay with them and that it will pass. Get them to breathe nice and slowly and give them some time. Check that they are not dehydrated or hypoglycemic (low blood sugar from not enough food). If they don’t start feeling better or you are concerned get them to first aid.

Feeling Spinny

You don’t necessarily have to take drugs or drink a lot to get overwhelmed at these big music events. Lack of sleep, food, getting dehydrated and being in big squashy crowds can do it you. Tell one of your friends you’re feeling a bit weird and ask them to stay with you. If you are on your own, find somewhere quiet and out of the crowd to have a rest. Remember to check your breathing, sometimes with all the excitement we can forget to breathe properly and that combined with being in hot, sweaty and squeezy places can make us feel shaky and panicky. A lot of festivals have a chill out space or tent which is a good chance to get out of the sun and have a breather.

MOST IMPORTANTLY HAVE FUN AND LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER!