Festival Medical Services supports events of all sizes, from first aid teams to full medical centres with ambulance support.
We raise funds for charities and thank our supporters. Learn more about our charitable work and donate or sponsor today.
We offer exciting opportunities for health and non-health professionals across many disciplines to volunteer and make a difference.
We’re a registered training centre accredited to deliver First Response Emergency Care. Learn more below about our available courses.
Read our Trustees Annual Report here.
• Established at Glastonbury Festival in 1979, FMS is now one of the UK’s most experienced and respected event medical providers.
• 1,500 volunteer clinicians and support staff deliver high-quality on-site care, reducing pressure on local NHS services.
• We partner with Ambulance Services and NHS hospitals to prevent local service overload and ensure the best patient outcomes.
• All clinical volunteers are accredited NHS professionals, with enhanced DBS checks for all patient-facing staff.
and nurse practitioners – including ED, ITU and GP nurses
HCPC registered many with advanced or specialist skills
Ambulance Teams – EMT’s ECA’s
On-Site Ambulances – (4WD stretcher capable vehicles)
Off site Ambulances – transfers
First Response Emergency Care (FREC) L3 & L4 qualified responders
x-ray and ultrasound at larger events
including psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses and substance abuse specialists
• By its 40th anniversary, FMS donated over £1 million in grants to support disadvantaged people.
• FMS supports charities that improve lives globally, focusing on medical causes.
• FMS partnered with World Extreme Medicine to provide trauma supplies for Ukraine, contributing £30,000 with £137,000 in external donations. Over £2m in medical supplies has been delivered to Ukraine.
Find out more about the important work we do and the charities that we support around the world.
We have also started collecting recipes from the charities and local people that you can also read about.
Festival Medical Services offers great opportunities for health professionals and non-health professionals from a wide range of disciplines.
Clinical Teams include: (click individual teams for more information)
.The cover required at festivals varies from a couple of doctors along with a nurse and paramedic to a full medical centre service. We provide medical cover al many levels at some of the UK’s most prestigious events, from a small county show to the largest and most popular event of its kind. The larger events are supported by radiology and ultrasound services and on-call advice by a variety of specialist colleagues.
Our primary mission is to avoid the local health service being overloaded when a large event is running, although the skills of doctors mean that some procedures can be performed on-site. Doctors are not expected to either work outside their competence nor expect to offer a hospital service, and many come back each year to enjoy a unique working environment.
We are seeking volunteers who would like to join our team and we are currently recruiting the following:
We are happy to receive emails to ask if qualifications and specialities are appropriate or for an informal chat. For more information please contact our team leader: alan.lomax@festival-medical.org or you can apply on-line below.
Many thanks for your interest in volunteering with Festival Medical Services. Our nursing team consists of hundreds of enthusiastic and professional nursing volunteers who share a passion for nursing and a love of festivals!
As you can imagine we have a large number of volunteers (being one of the largest teams in the charity) and receive multiple requests to join FMS and our crew, especially around Glastonbury ticket sales and festival time!
Our recruitment criteria changes depending on the skill balance of the team. At present we are only recruiting registered nurses who are currently working in Emergency Departments with at least two years’ experience and competence working in Resus, Majors, Triage and Minors. We would also consider accepting dual qualified adult and children’s nurses who meet the above same criteria. We will only accept UK residents, absolutely no exceptions.
Furthermore, we would consider applications from Emergency/Advanced Nurse Practitioners that are minor injury/illness trained and nurses with considerable experience working in relief organisations, defence services, or event healthcare.
Please read the volunteer agreement before applying
Minimum requirements to join the nursing team:
If all of this applies to you, please CLICK below to apply
Please note we cannot accept applications from midwife volunteers. Mental health nurses should apply to the relevant team and not the nursing team.
Being accepted as a volunteer does not guarantee you a place at any of the events, we provide services at.
Our pre-hospital team consists of hundreds of enthusiastic and professional volunteers who are a credit to our organisation, regularly getting plaudits from the patients we treat.
As part of the pre-hospital team, you can be deployed in a range of environments at some of the largest festivals in the UK. You can often be the first clinical team to get to the patient, so being level-headed and able to make decisions in some unique situations is essential.
Some of the roles in the pre-hospital team are;
There also may be opportunities in our in-house training and leadership teams.
Please read the FAQ’s below and then click the apply online button.
For all applications, you will require proof of qualification, a photo (passport style) and a credit/debit card to pay the £25 non-refundable membership and application fee. Please read the volunteer agreement before applying. UK Residents only, absolutely no exceptions.
The MHT provides 24-hour cover for acute mental health difficulties that present at the FMS medical centre at two major music events each year, Glastonbury Festival and Reading Rock Festival.
MHT applicants will need to have experience of acute mental health practice within an in-patient acute psychiatric setting and/or significant community experience. We are considering volunteers who are registered nurses in mental health and other allied health or social care professionals working in the mental health field. Experience of substance misuse, child & adolescent mental health and general nursing is desirable.
The role involves managing and supporting festival patients who are acutely ill or have enduring mental health issues and/or alcohol or drug intoxication. The MHT may accompany patients to an off-site NHS mental health unit. A good understanding of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults practice is expected. All festival patients are triaged by our FMS A&E health colleagues and the FMS psychiatric medical team works alongside the MHT.
We expect our volunteers to be reliable and professional when they are rostered to work and to familiarise themselves with the Festival Medical Services policies before they arrive at festivals. You should enjoy working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, in an environment that can be challenging but is also very enjoyable.
Treatment is usually for acute, or acute-on-chronic injuries and conditions and may include advice, ice therapy, manual techniques, taping and strapping to protect and support the damaged tissues and the provision of elbow crutches if necessary. The most common conditions treated by the team are ankle injuries.
Patients are mainly ticket holders but may also be any of the on-site workers such as security guards, performers etc
Physiotherapy has been a part of FMS since 1995. The team has a diversity of expertise and skills and works closely with the rest of the FMS health professionals, especially the Podiatrists, in the general medical tent.
Minimum requirements to join the physio team:
We provide a podiatry service mainly at Reading and Glastonbury festivals. If you would be keen to volunteer in an acute and sometimes challenging environment we would be happy to hear from you.
Applicants must have a Podiatry degree or equivalent with local anaesthetic certificate, be a member of the society of chiropodists and podiatrists and have a minimum of 5 years post graduate experience. Podiatrists can expect to see a wide range of presenting problems at festivals and should be confident in areas of wound care, musculoskeletal assessment and strapping techniques.
Podiatrists will work closely with other professionals within the medical tent particularly the physiotherapists.
Want to join us? Minimum requirements
FMS has the option for the support of on-site pharmacists at some of the larger festivals we cover. This has significantly reduced the burden on local services and, over the years, has proved to be a clinically essential addition to the overall service.
We consider applications from suitably qualified and experienced staff. These are the requirements for becoming an FMS Pharmacist:
Applicants must also:
FMS has the option for the support of a mobile imaging unit at some of the larger festival we cover. This dramatically reduced the burden on local NHS services and has over the years, proved to be clinically essential addition to the overall service.
We consider applications from suitably qualified and experiences staff: These are the requirements for becoming a FMS Radiographer:
Diploma of the College of Radiographers DCR(R) or BSC in Radiography.
Minimum two years work experience, post qualification.
Enhanced DBS clearance (provided free by FMS for volunteers)
Must have worked in an accident and emergency setting (not CT) within the last year.
Be disciplined and able to manage workload.
Be able to work alone in challenging conditions.
Be able to work as part of a team to ensure effective communication and delivery of care
The Clinical Logistics team is a small but committed group of volunteers, who prepare the medical equipment for events. The team volunteers at all events we attend at also works at the FMS HQ in Evercreech, in Somerset.
The team attend larger events and provide twenty-four hour cover, issuing equipment and consumables and maintaining services for the responder teams. In a similar way to our fleet team much of the time spent volunteering is outside or away from the event.
This small, but vital team provides an essential service to our clinical volunteers by providing the right kit at the right time. This essential work ensures FMS is able to deliver high quality care all the time, every time.
Membership:
The FMS Responder team receives a large number of applications each year, a number that increases year on year. The First Responder Team aims to respond to applicants in 4 weeks. Recruitment continues throughout the year although during the event season (May – September) it may take longer than 4 weeks to hear about your application.
The Clinical Logistics team is a small but committed group of volunteers, who prepare the medical equipment for events. The team volunteers at all events we attend at also works at the FMS HQ in Evercreech, in Somerset.
The team attend larger events and provide twenty-four hour cover, issuing equipment and consumables and maintaining services for the responder teams. In a similar way to our fleet team much of the time spent volunteering is outside or away from the event.
This small, but vital team provides an essential service to our clinical volunteers by providing the right kit at the right time. This essential work ensures FMS is able to deliver high quality care all the time, every time.
Membership:
The FMS Responder team receives a large number of applications each year, a number that increases year on year. The First Responder Team aims to respond to applicants in 4 weeks. Recruitment continues throughout the year although during the event season (May – September) it may take longer than 4 weeks to hear about your application.
If you can;
….. we want to hear from you.
Check out the Volunteer Hanbook here
FMS is an accredited training centre offering FREC® Level 3 and 4 responder courses from £385 (plus textbook), taught by senior health professionals.
To book or to register your interest for one of our fully accredited training courses, or to find out for more information, please get in touch with Kerry our volunteer training administrator by email here: training@festival-medical.org
Need First Aid staff for your workplace? Use our on-line FAW workplace calculator to calculate what you need to provide in your workplace.
*Please note: The health advice on this page is general guidance only. For specific or ongoing health concerns, consult your GP or a healthcare professional.
If you’d like to support us, please consider making a small donation below.
Events try to make themselves accessible and welcoming to people with health problems and disabilities. With a bit of thought and planning, many potential difficulties can be overcome. Here are a few things to consider:
Bring with you enough of your medication to last till you get home
Check the advice on our Prescribed Medicines page
Bear in mind that festival sites can be difficult to get around at the best of times and pretty well impossible in bad weather if your mobility is poor
Many events have a Disabilities Coordinator, who will be able to advise you on any special provisions made
If you have a complicated medical history, it will be really helpful if you bring a summary with you (your doctor’s surgery may let you have a print-out)
Let us know if you have to carry out any special procedures to keep well – we may be able to provide facilities and assistance
We do not believe a festival site is a suitable place for childbirth, or indeed for very young babies
FMS does not provide midwifery services and will advise getting you to the nearest hospital if you go into labour
If you have recently undergone surgery, ask your GP or hospital for advice about any special precautions to take and whether it is a good idea to go
Bring supplies of dressings with you. We can change these for you but may not have the particular ones you need
Festival sites are not sterile! Bear this in mind if your condition makes you particularly prone to infection
FMS cannot provide special toilet or washing facilities.
At a British festival, it’s best to come prepared for any type of weather. Most people come prepared for wet weather, with wellies and anoraks, but may forget that sometimes the sun comes out! And even when it’s cloudy, it is still possible for your skin to be exposed to harmful UV rays, which can cause skin cancers.
So our advice is to pack good quality sunglasses, loose fitting cotton clothing and a sunhat with a wide brim to allow plenty of shade, and to remember to bring sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 50 for adults – SPF 50 is better! Children’s skin is much more sensitive than adults’ and they need the extra protection of SPF 50 or more. Carry your sunscreen with you around the festival site to top it up, and make sure it’s used on any areas of skin that are exposed, from your ears down to your toes!
Sunscreen sold in the UK has a star rating: higher rated products offer more UVA protection, so the higher the better – five is the highest. Larger festivals such as Glastonbury and Reading will have an on-site pharmacy selling sunscreen and after-sun lotion.
It may not be easy on festival sites, but try to find some shade between 11 am and 3 pm, when the sun is at its’ fiercest. Encourage your friends to do the same, particularly if they are a little the worse for wear and are tempted to lie out in the field to sleep it off. Try to make sure they are lying in a well-shaded area.
Longer term if you are concerned about changes to any moles or freckles that you notice, always seek medical advice. While people with fair skin, blonde or red hair are at higher risk of sun-damage, everyone with any colour skin is at risk of developing skin cancer. For more information about the harm that the sun can cause please go to:
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/skin-cancer/about-skin-cancer
Warm weather, long days out on the festival site and an increase in physical activity (walking and dancing) can result in dehydration. To reduce this risk and enjoy the festival follow our hydration tips:
Know the signs of dehydration – headache, nausea, dizziness, dark yellow or brown urine
Quench your thirst with water or juice before drinking alcohol and between alcoholic drinks
Be aware of the water points around the festival site and use a refillable bottle – keep it topped up
Regular sips of water are better than one large volume
Keep water in your tent so you can drink it before going to sleep and when you wake up
Packing for a festival can be a nightmare but these are the essentials not to forget!
Top tips for staying on your feet this festival season.
Never wear brand new wellies and always make sure your wellies/shoes fit. Walking boots are ideal as they are usually breathable, waterproof and protective and can help prevent ankle sprains if you slip or fall. Blisters and damage to nails are usually caused by poorly fitting footwear. Two pairs of thin socks are better than one thick pair and can help prevent blisters.
Take more than one pair of shoes and socks and wipe your feet and between your toes every day – a biodegradable wet wipe may help.
If your feet get wet, dry them as soon as possible and put on clean, dry socks and shoes. Wet skin is very prone to damage and can lead to athletes foot, infection or trench foot. If the skin on your feet becomes very red, sore and cracked you may need some treatment.
If you get a blister try not to pop it, festivals are dirty places and you could get an infection if you open the blister and bugs get in. If the blister is very painful go to the medical tent for treatment. If you have an open blister, keep it clean and put a plaster on it and change the shoes which caused it. If it becomes sore and red again go to the medical tent to get it checked.
Never walk about barefoot at a festival in case you tread on something sharp or damage your feet. If you do get something in your foot wash your hands and remove it if possible, clean the wound and put some antiseptic and a plaster on it. if it is sore or you think there is still something in your foot, go to the medical tent for assistance.
If you get a problem with one of your toenails be careful not to get mud into it. If the nail is still firmly attached you can put a plaster on it to keep it from tearing, if it’s loose and there is bleeding or a wound go to the medical tent for treatment.
Take a nail file, plasters, cotton wool pads, antiseptic spray and hand gel (sanitiser) as part of your first aid kit to treat any minor problems.
The most obvious, yet still the most important piece of advice about your prescribed medication – whether you take it regularly or just might need it – is to bring it!
Larger events will have a prescribing service and an on-site pharmacy, so if you do forget something important, don’t try to manage without it. Obviously the pharmacy won’t stock everything, but will do its best to get you fixed up as quickly as possible.
You are likely to be searched when you arrive at the event, so here are some tips to make things easier for you and gate security:
If your medicine needs to be stored in a fridge, the medical centre or the pharmacy can usually help.
Please be aware, FMS does not prescribe, dispense or store methadone under any circumstances.
Many festivals have a Prescribed Medicines Policy – look for this on the event website.
Possibly the last thing on your mind is whether your immunisations are up to date. But you are going to be in close proximity to thousands of people, especially if you are planning on spending any time in a mosh pit or dance tent. There are vaccines available for measles and the most common types of meningitis, two serious infections which we know have been transmitted at festivals.
If you are have not had at least two doses of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine you are not protected against measles, so seek advice from your GP before setting off for the festival.
For protection against four different types (A, C, W and Y) of meningococcal infection, it is important to have one dose of MenACWY before you reach 19 years of age. This immunization was introduced in the UK in 2015, replacing the meningitis C vaccine and most teenagers were offered to catch up injections if they were not in the right age groups at the time it was introduced. Again if you have not had it, please seek advice from your GP surgery.
If you are unlucky enough to catch an infectious disease while at a festival, the signs and symptoms may not appear until you are back home. Again it is very important to seek prompt medical advice if you feel unwell and particularly if you develop any kind of a rash!
Most UK festivals take place in fields or on farmland. Even Reading which is walking distance from the heart of the city takes place on a farm. And where there is farmland and animals, there are also likely to be ticks.
If you find a tick attached to your skin while you are at a festival, your best option is to go to one of the medical centres which are stocked with special instruments which remove the whole tick, including the head. If you try to remove it yourself using old fashioned methods such as a lit cigarette, there is every chance you will leave the head of the tick in your skin, which may then become infected.
Most tick bites are harmless, but each year between 2,000 and 3,000 people in the UK go on to develop a condition called Lyme Disease after being bitten by a tick. The longer the tick stays attached to your skin, the more likely you are to develop Lyme Disease if the tick is carrying the infection.
Symptoms don’t appear until between 3 days to a month after being bitten and may include a circular rash where the bite occurred, feeling a bit ‘flu-ey’ with joint pains, chills and tiredness. Untreated infections can become much more serious, so if you get symptoms like these after a bite, it is important to see your doctor and mention the tick. They can prescribe a course of antibiotics, and again it is important to complete the whole course; don’t stop taking them when you start feeling better!
For more information please see:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Lyme-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx
or
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/463701/LymeDisease_SignsAndSymptoms.pdf
From a mixture of medical knowledge, festival experience and some people’s lessons learned the hard way, here’s our advice:
The obvious one. It’s safer not to take drugs.Festivals are an unfamiliar and crowded environment and you’re probably miles away from home You don’t know what’s in the drugs or how much, how they might affect you or how they will mix with anything else you’ve taken or drunk. There’s a lot of potential for a seriously bad time. And remember – long-term effects are often completely unknown.
If you do decide to take something though, the emphasis must be on harm reduction…
Be prepared before you start. Eat to give your body fuel and line your stomach. Have some water (and maybe some paracetamol) back at the tent for the morning after and take a water bottle out to refill through the day.
Pace yourself! Don’t be the one who takes all their drugs on the first night and must go home or to hospital.
Take a small amount (e.g. half a pill, a small dab) first then wait a couple of hours before deciding whether to take more. Super strong? Just as well you didn’t take more to start with! Not doing anything? Don’t just keep piling on extra – it might all hit you at the same time and cause some real trouble. Beware the bottom of the bag – where the active drug may have collected.
Don’t mix drugs (including with alcohol). Mixing drugs makes you much more likely to end up in a bad state, from potentially fatal interactions to just reducing the effect of each other and wasting your money. Besides, you know what’s worse than a come-down? A come-down plus a hangover!
Look after yourself. Staying hydrated at a festival can be tougher than at home but that makes it even more important. Aim to drink a pint of water an hour – but not all in one go.
Look after each other.Keep an eye out for your mates and tell each other what you’ve taken just in case. Don’t take drugs alone. If someone doesn’t want to take something, don’t try and persuade them! If someone isn’t having a good time (or is having too much of a good time), make sure they’re alright. It might be frustrating but it’s better than things getting scary.
“Legal highs” are all now illegal and “legal” doesn’t mean safe or mild. Cheap doesn’t mean weak, pure doesn’t mean safe. What it says on the packet isn’t necessarily what is in the packet.Some of them used to be legal, some never were. Some don’t work, some are even more dangerous than the “traditional” illegal drugs. Mostly we don’t really know what’s in them and what effect they are likely to have.
Not all drugs are created equal.Some drugs like Ketamine and LSD can make you lose track of what’s happening around you. Maybe not the best option for this environment.
If things aren’t going well, help is available.If you’re having a bad time with drugs, try to remember that this feeling will pass and won’t last forever. Tell the people you’re with that you’re not feeling good. If you need a calm, safe and judgement-free place to cool down and recover then the people at the Welfare Tent can help. If you or a friend need medical help, speak to a member of staff or attend the Medical Tent. Tell medical staff what you or your friend have taken. Medical staff aren’t looking to get you into trouble, they just want to give you the best treatment.
There are a few basics to make sure that you keep well at a festival when drinking alcohol. Following our simple advice will help you to have a better time with fewer risks of bad side effects:
The best way to drink safely is to eat first; extra energy is important. The combination of walking a lot at the festival combined with drinking alcohol can lower your blood sugar making you feel faint and increasing the effects of the alcohol.
Drinking at a Festival can often start early and goes on into the night. Avoid drinking too quickly as you won’t feel good. Try having a soft drink in between alcoholic drinks to dilute the alcohol in your body and to increase your fluid intake to avoid dehydration. If there is a chance that you might use drugs with your alcohol, check out our drugs page too.
Dehydration causes feelings of a hangover. Festival walking and being in the sun can also increase the loss of body fluids making dehydration worse. Always have a bottle to fill up with water during the day, and remember to have water in your tent. Drink plenty of water, take a break from drinking alcohol when you need one, and remember to eat.
Look after yourself and each other and stay safe. Never get so drunk that you cannot take care of yourself if you were to get into a difficult situation. Never pressure or persuade anyone into drinking (more) if they do not want to. Do not to share or accept drinks from people who you do not know or trust; buying and pouring your own drinks helps to avoid the risk of drinks being spiked. If anyone starts acting inappropriately to you or your friends, don’t be afraid to tell security.
Help is available at the Welfare Tent providing a calm, safe space for anyone who needs to recover. If you or a friend becomes unwell enough to need medical help, speak to a member of staff or visit the Medical Tent.
Remember you can still have a good time without drinking alcohol or getting drunk.
For more information and advice on alcohol:
www.drinkaware.co.uk
If you have been affected by alachol use and you would like information on detoxification support, you can get more help and guidance here:
Warm weather, long days out on the festival site and an increase in physical activity (walking and dancing) can result in dehydration. To reduce this risk and enjoy the festival follow our hydration tips:
Know the signs of dehydration – headache, nausea, dizziness, dark yellow or brown urine
Quench your thirst with water or juice before drinking alcohol and between alcoholic drinks
Be aware of the water points around the festival site and use a refillable bottle – keep it topped up
Regular sips of water are better than one large volume
Keep water in your tent so you can drink it before going to sleep and when you wake up
The best way of looking after your mouth is to brush your teeth and gums twice a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Don’t forget to pack them though if you do, most festivals also have stalls where you can buy them
Clean your teeth with clean water and it is best just to spit after cleaning rather than rinse as that helps the toothpaste work for longer. If you wear a denture or orthodontic brace gently clean that too and rinse in clean water.
If you are in the middle of a course of dental treatment discuss with your dentist that you will be away. This is particularly important if you are having root canal treatment or crowns and have temporary fillings in place. Store their telephone number on your phone so you can get advice if worried.
If you get toothache visit the on-site pharmacy or medical tent and get their advice about taking pain-killers. Always stay within the recommended dosage. For infections of your gums and mouth rinse with warm salty water or a mouthwash from pharmacy.
If you lose a filling and there is no dentist available, you may be able to buy a home use temporary filling kit to help over the days at the festival.
If you have a swollen mouth or face, particularly if you having difficulty swallowing or breathing visit the medical team as soon as possible.
If you have a mouth injury and have damage to your teeth, gums or cheeks, get that checked by the medical team as soon as possible. If a tooth is knocked out try and keep it, in water or milk, as it may be possible to replant it if you get help promptly.
Useful Links
NHS Choices Dental health http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/dentalhealth/Pages/Dentalhome.aspx
You are risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) if you have unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex. For more information about STIs and prevention, see: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/STIs/Pages/Sexualactivitiesandrisk.aspx
The best way of avoiding STIs (or unwanted pregnancies if you are female ) is not to have sex – but it would be unrealistic to expect this of all festival goers. So we have other (and better) advice than abstinence. The second best way of avoiding STIs and unwanted pregnancy is through using condoms.
Firstly sort out your favoured choice of contraceptive before you leave home and remember to pack it! It’s not a good idea to switch to a new method just before the festival, in case it doesn’t suit you. If you think there is any chance you may have sex with new sexual partners at the festival pack some condoms too. These may be available at various locations such as the pharmacies and general stores on site but it’s a good idea to have a few with you. Sometimes there are also free condoms that can be collected from the Welfare tents.
You can also purchase the ‘morning after’ pill from on site festival pharmacies. This can be taken up to 72 hours after having unprotected sex, but the sooner it is taken, the more effective it is. The health services on site are not part of the NHS so all prescriptions, including the ‘morning after’ pill will incur a charge. An alternative type of emergency contraception is insertion of an intrauterine device or coil, but this will not be an option on the festival site.
Anyone can access the health services provided by Festival Medical Services and be assured that they are completely confidential between you and the doctor or nurse you see. If you do not want your details shared with your local GP they will not be. The only exceptions to this might be if there are concerns that someone is being exploited or abused in some way. Which brings us to the issue of consent: it is really important to make sure that the person you are having sex with has consented, and that this consent has been freely given while they are not drunk or under the influence of drugs. Both alcohol and recreational drugs can affect someone’s judgement or ability to give informed consent to having sex, and if you take advantage of this in any way, you are breaking the law.
Finally it is important to think about HIV and sexual health. Not everyone who has HIV knows they have it, or if they do know, not everyone will tell new sexual partners about it. If you believe you may have had unprotected sex with someone who has HIV, then there is a treatment called PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) which could prevent you developing the infection. This is most effective if the treatment course is started within 24 hours, but it is not normally available on site and you will need to speak to someone in Medical or Welfare who can identify local NHS facilities you could attend.
Below are some further links where you can find useful information:
http://www.fpa.org.uk/
http://www.tht.org.uk/sexual-health
https://www.brook.org.uk/
https://www.gmfa.org.uk/
11 million people in the UK have some form of hearing loss. Many of these are older people, but they may have developed hearing loss through exposure to noise when they were younger, so it is important for people of any age to protect themselves from damage to their hearing. Many more people suffer with tinnitus or ringing in the ears, which can be very disabling.
Hearing loss can be caused by a single short exposure to an intense sound e.g. an explosion, or by more prolonged exposure to loud noise, such as amplified live music. Noise levels of 120 decibels or more for even a couple of minutes could lead to hearing loss and protection is recommended whenever a person’s hearing is exposed to noise levels of 85 decibels or above for any length of time. Heavy city traffic is usually about 85 decibels, while an ambulance siren is about 120 decibels. Live music gigs may generate noise levels of between 100 and 120 decibels.
Distance from the sound source also needs to be taken into account and people should consider wearing hearing protection such as well-fitting ear plugs or mufflers, or moving back from the speakers.
Protecting against hearing loss is particularly important in young children, where there is potential for much more damage to occur to their hearing than in adults. Most of the development relating to the brain and hearing takes place in the first 3½ years of life, with the first year being particularly important.
Children being carried, or in pushchairs don’t have the option of moving away from a source of noise, and they may also be too young to make their parents/carers aware they are being affected. Not all ear muffs provide adequate protection. So the advice for those attending festivals with children is to ensure they are wearing reliable ear protection, that it is being worn correctly and that they are kept well away from the speaker area or front of the stages.
With the number of people attending festivals, its easy to lose yourself in the crowd. Keep your phone charged (or carry a spare power-pack) so you can contact your friends. It’s useful as a torch too! When you do split up, arrange a time and place to meet up again. There are many helpful apps such as What Three Words to help you find each other.
Drinking is a part of festival life but it can impair your judgement especially in a difficult or emergency situation.
Drink responsibly and within you limits. Make sure you are also drinking bottled water to avoid dehydration, and don’t leave your drink unattended (or accept drinks from people you don’t know).
Drugs are found at most festivals and its important to recognise they may not be the same as the ones you may be familiar with. Drugs vary widely in strength and affect people in different ways. Visit the medical area/s or welfare facilities or in some cases, safe paces are also provided, if you are worried about any adverse affects.
Thieves operate at festivals and it is best to leave behind anything you don’t want to lose. If you do bring any valuables, don’t leave them unattended in your tent or on show in your car. Use the available storage or locker facilities. Try to keep your belongings in pockets/bags with zips. Don’t leave any valuables in your tent!
Get your bearings when you first arrive at the festival – if even just to figure out how to get to and from your tent and where the toilets are, and where the nearest water can be found. You can also get to know the people who are camping near you- make a few friends, but also be aware of who should and should not be in your area.
Wherever possible, come in a group and take care of each other. Go around together and take turns at being the one who stays straight and looks out for the others. If you do go off on your own, make sure your friends know where you‘ve gone and who with.
If you run into any problems, ask festival stewards or security for help – that’s why they are there!
Incidents can result from a whole range of things going wrong, such as fire, structural collapse, freak weather or terrorist attack. They very rarely happen at festivals, but it is important to know what to do (and not to do) in the unlikely event that one did. Be alert but not alarmed!
Your safety is your No 1 concern!
Move away from the incident. Don’t hang around to watch what happens. Obey any instructions from security, stewards and the police. Let the emergency services have room to do what they have to do.
See it, Say it, Sort it!
Report anything suspicious or that just doesn’t look right to a member of the festival staff. They will know what to do. Please don’t be tempted to make stuff up for a joke – it’s not so funnyif someone gets hurt as a result.
Run, Hide, Tell!
If there is an obvious threat, such as someone wielding a knife or a firearm, the only thing to do is to get away as fast as you can. If this is impossible, conceal yourself, preferably behind something solid. Report what is happening as soon as you can, but don’t put yourself in harm’s way to do so.
Don’t be a hero!
Even if you have all sorts of life-saving skills, if you blunder into a hazardous area with no kit and not much idea of what you are likely to find, the chances are you will end up being one more casualty who needs help.
Festivals can be overwhelming for adults, noisy, smelly and full of strangers (some in funny clothes). So imagine what it may be like for the little ones. Lots of lovely family memories can be created at festivals but be mindful that children may need lots of reassurance that it’s all fun and OK.
Children’s ears are very sensitive, good quality ear defenders should be used to protect against permanent damage from prolonged exposure to loud music and they should be kept well away from speakers.
Plenty of wet wipes and antibacterial hand gel is essential to prevent tummy upsets. Most festivals are held in fields and on farmland, so there is cow poo and wee mixed into the mud. Plastic sheeting or a shower curtain can protect little ones from crawling too much in the mud. Hand hygiene before eating is top priority. Hand gel and running water for hand washing are usually available at festival toilets.
Always accompany children to the toilet, it can be the busiest place. Most festivals have portaloos but some also have “long drops” which could be a hazard for small unaccompanied children. They may struggle to reach over or find no steps to help them, so helping hands required. It is always advisable to take your own toilet paper as it never runs out at a convenient moment. If there is a Kids Area, little toilets may be available.
First Aid points are available at all festivals, individual websites will be able to advise you. Bring a first aid kit that includes plasters, more wipes and anti bac gel (can’t have too much) and sachets of paracetamol syrup.
Children do not always realise they are thirsty and this increases the risk of dehydration. They should aim to have 6-8 non or low sugary drinks per day. Be prepared to increase this if you are out on a warm festival day. Water points are available on sites for refilling bottles as they empty.
Most festivals are outdoors and once it stops raining, the obvious option is to be outside enjoying the sights and sounds. There is often little shade. Children’s skin is more at risk from sunburn. All the sun safe rules apply, only more so; more sun cream and cover up as much as possible. Warm windy days especially as cool breeze takes the edge off the sensation of burning.
https://www.nct.org.uk/parenting/sun-safety-children
Taking an ambulance filled with equipment and trauma packs to Ukraine for the front line.
