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The dangers of attending music festivals

09 Saturday Feb 2013

Posted by Yoga Panther in 'This Festival Feeling' articles

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alcohol, drugs, festivals, Music, safety

10423632_10152166258552321_7914337512130933906_nGoing to a festival can be one of the best experiences you’ll ever have – banging live music, the company of great friends, all in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

However this laid back attitude can lend itself to an array of problems, from having one drink too many, to experimentation with drugs. Crime is a big issue with violence and thefts galore. You also put yourself at risk if you don’t drink enough water and neglect your ear plugs.

Last year (2012) there seemed to be countless reports of trouble at festivals – including a stabbing at Shakedown, a murder at V festival and the terrible coach crash which killed 3 passengers on their way home from Bestival. Whether you’re festival savvy or thinking about going to one for the first time, knowing about the dangers can help you stay safe when festivalling.

Alcohol

It’s universally acknowledged that drinking goes hand in hand with festivals. It’s okay to have a few drinks, as long as you’re careful. Don’t drink alcohol on an empty stomach or mix it with drugs. Accidents are more likely to happen if you’re drunk and seeking medical attention can be difficult if you’re in a packed crowd of people. If you want to remember the bands you see and avoid the stinking hangover, stay sober.

Drugs

It was recently revealed in the Guardian that police seized more than £100,000 worth of drugs last year, with Glastonbury, Isle of Wight and Bestival in the top three. With so much around, it is possible that you might be offered drugs, or worse, offered a drink that has been spiked. Be careful who you stick around and don’t accept any kind of substance from a stranger.

Legal highs

At Rockness festival this year a teenager died after taking Benzo Fury, a ‘legal high’. The teen was not a habitual drug user but it seemed that being in an environment where substances like this were readily available lead to this tragedy. People may think that illegal highs are safe as they aren’t classified as drugs but they can be extremely dangerous. It’s not always clear what’s in them as their contents can change regularly. In the same way as drugs, stay clear of them.

Crime

Figures showed that almost £225,000 worth of possessions were stolen at festivals in 2011, with one in seven festival goers being victims of theft. According to the police, the most common thefts were from unattended tents and pickpocketing was also widespread. Make sure you take all your valuables with you when you leave your tent and be on the watch when you’re on the festival site. Even better, avoid taking expensive gadgets that could be targeted by thieves.

Noise

Spend too long listening to loud music and it could affect your ears permanently in the form of tinnitus and hearing loss. According to NHS Choices, festival music can reach over 110 decibels. In a survey of 2,711 festival goers in 2008, 84% said they had dullness of hearing and ringing in the ears after listening to loud music. Be on the safe side and wear ear plugs, it could save your hearing.

Water

Most festivals these days provide drinking water for festival goers – although trying to find a tap when you’re not quite on the straight and narrow isn’t always an easy quest. Festivals usually allow you to take a (plastic) bottle into the arena but this isn’t always the case and more often than not you have to buy the ridiculously expensive bottles at the bar. However it is so important to keep yourself hydrated when you’re dancing around all day, especially if you’re drinking alcohol. Arrange a water break between bands to get some fluids.

Festivals are awesome and the crime the percentage of people that run into trouble is very, very small – but it does happen. Most importantly, stick with your friends and look out for each other. If you suspect something is wrong, seek medical attention immediately. Have fun and stay safe!

Published in This Festival Feeling

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Your guide to stress-free festivaling

16 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by Yoga Panther in 'Reasons to be Beautiful' articles, 'This Festival Feeling' articles, Lifestyle, Travel

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festivals, safety, tips

If you’re like me and you can’t live without a daily shower, then the idea of camping for several days without facilities can seem quite daunting. I recently went to Pukkelpop festival in Belgium – my first ever camping festival. Now, I’m not really the roughing it type so this was quite a challenge for me, but I survived! Whether you’re a keen festival-goer or you’re thinking about going for the first time, following these simple steps will help you make the most of your festival experience.

  1. Be prepared

Before you go, make a check list of everything you will need. When I was at Pukkelpop, my friends and I agreed it would be so much easier if there was a brand of toiletries that you specifically need at festivals like ‘the festival wipes’, and ‘the festival anti-bacterial gel’ – absolute life-savers by the way! If there are showers to use, it’s definitely worth the wait (one day I queued for over an hour), if not, dry shampoo will become your best friend. Also at the top of your list should be: toilet roll. Festivals say they provide it but if it runs out, it’s a must. And of course tickets, ID, money and if you’re travelling abroad, passport. If it’s a camping festival, don’t forget your rucksack, tent, roll mat and sleeping bag.

  1. Be ready for all weather

Make sure you check the forecast before you leave to get a feel for the weather. Even if it says it’s going to be swelteringly hot and sunny, don’t believe them. Do pack your sun cream and sun glasses, but it doesn’t hurt to put in your rain mac/cagoule/poncho, whatever it is that will shield you from a surprise downpour. Wellies are a must. I took mine all the way to Belgium from the UK, just in case. It ended up being extremely hot, but you never know – Pukkelpop had a freak storm the year before. Don’t get caught out!

  1. Be realistic

So you’ve packed your new pair of shorts, your Raybans and your digital camera. Think again! Don’t take anything you would hate to see get ruined. I bought a pair of sun glasses for £1 and they served me well. If you want to take some snaps to remember the event, take a cheap camera, or a disposable one is even better. You don’t need loads of clothes – I found this out the hard way as my rucksack was ridiculously heavy. Take one outfit per day, a hoodie in case it gets cold at night, a pair of trainers and maybe a spare t-shirt.

  1. Set up camp

If it’s a camping festival, I’m afraid you’re going to have to sleep in on the ground. I don’t think I got much sleep at my festival – but then I did sleep on top of mole hills! Make sure you get to the campsite early to get first pick of the camping spots. Top tip: be close to the entrance and showers, but far from the portaloos – after a couple of days of hot weather they start to pong! I also found that pitching your tent near a landmark will help you find it again when faced with a sea of other tents. According to research from one of the Policy Expert panel insurers, around 12% of people have lost valuables or been victims of crime at festivals. Three quarters of items stolen are from the humble tent, so whenever you leave the campsite, take your valuables with you – you can’t lock a tent!

  1. Keep hydrated

Making sure you drink lots of fluids while you’re at a festival can be hard work – the price of water can be ridiculous, the queues can be long and you have to weave it into your packed schedule. However it is of upmost importance that you keep yourself hydrated, especially at a festival where you can be drinking alcohol, constantly dancing around and, if you’re lucky, in hot weather. Make sure you find time to buy water, or, if there are free drinking water facilities, make use of them.

  1. Stay safe

Say no to drugs. If you’re going to have alcohol, take it slow. You want to be able to remember the bands you’ve seen and you don’t want have a stinking hangover the next day. Be careful what you drink and don’t accept alcohol from a stranger as you never know what could be in it. Personally I stay completely sober when I go to festivals – much cheaper and safer! Don’t get lost either. Try and stick with your friends, but if you do decide to split up, keep in contact via phone and arrange a place and time to meet in advance. According to NHS Choices, festival music can reach over 110 decibels so invest in some ear plugs, it could save your hearing! The music will be so loud that you’ll still hear the majority of it through the plugs.

At the end of the day you’ll have to accept that you won’t be in the most luxurious of conditions and that you will have to get up close and personal in packed crowds of sweaty festivalgoers. I found that when I was at my sweatiest and dirtiest I had the most fun – raving in a tent to a Major Lazer gig in 30 degree heat! Put aside your reservations and make the most of the experience – you’ll be enjoying amazing live music in an incredible atmosphere with thousands of like-minded people. Have fun!

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Sam Graham Yoga Teacher

I'm Sam Graham – a yoga teacher and content editor with a love of Japanese culture.

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