Summer is filled with festivals! Here’s how you can have the best time while staying safe, looking after yourself and your friends.
When you’re surrounded by crowds and brilliant music, it’s easy to forget about everything else. Spending a little bit of time thinking about your safety before you arrive means you can focus entirely on having fun without any stressful surprises.
The buddy system
Festivals are huge, loud, and usually very crowded. It’s easy to lose your friends in a matter of seconds, and mobile phone signal can be really patchy when thousands of people are trying to use their phones at the same time.
Using a buddy system is a great, easy way to make sure nobody gets left behind. Pair up with a friend, so you always have someone looking out for you. If you need to go to the toilet or get a drink, go together so no one ends up wandering around the site alone.
It’s also a good idea to pick a static landmark as a meeting point as soon as you arrive. Choose something memorable that won’t move, like a specific food stall or a colourful flag. If your phone dies or you get separated, you all know exactly where to meet up.
Suncream and water
Spending all day dancing and walking between stages takes a lot of energy. If the weather is warm, the sun can catch you out quickly, even if it feels a bit cloudy or breezy.
Putting on a high-factor SPF sun cream before you head out is a smart move, and you’ll want to keep a small bottle in your bag to top it up throughout the day. Getting sunburnt or suffering from heat stroke can ruin your entire festival experience!
Staying hydrated is just as important. Most festivals have free water taps around the site, so bringing a reusable water bottle means you can keep topped up with fresh water without spending a fortune on drinks. If you’re choosing to drink alcohol, try to alternate your drinks with a cup of water to keep your body balanced and healthy.
Solid meals and a clean camp
It can be tempting to live on chips and snacks for three days straight, but your body needs proper fuel to keep you going. Skipping meals can make you feel dizzy, tired, and unwell. Try to eat at least one proper meal a day to keep your energy levels steady.
If you are camping, your tent is your home for the duration of the festival. Keep your valuables like your phone, money, and keys at the very bottom of your sleeping bag while you sleep, rather than leaving them near the tent door.
When you’re cooking your own food at a campsite, make sure any meat is cooked all the way through. It’s also wise to keep a bottle of hand sanitiser in your pocket. Using it before you eat and after using the festival toilets is a simple way to avoid an upset stomach.
Alcohol and drugs
The safest option is always to avoid taking unknown or illegal substances. However, if you or your friends do choose to drink or take anything, having reliable information helps keep you safe.
It’s important to remember that carrying illegal substances for yourself, or holding onto them for a friend, is illegal and can lead to confiscation, being kicked off site, or police action. Carrying larger amounts, or sharing with friends (even without selling for money), can be viewed legally as intent to supply, which carries far more severe consequences.
Never leave a friend alone, especially if they seem confused, unusually quiet, or unwell. Look out for each other, especially at night or when walking between stages.
Keep an eye out for these warning signs in yourself or a friend:
- Confusion, slurred speech, or unresponsiveness
- Severe overheating, hot/dry skin, or uncontrollable sweating
- Seizures, muscle stiffness, or sudden collapse
- Continuous vomiting or trouble breathing
Every festival has a dedicated medical team on site. They’re there to help you without any judgement. Their focus is your health – not getting anyone into trouble with police or security. If you or a friend needs medical support, speak to security or go to the medical tent straight away. Telling medics honestly what someone took or drank lets them give the right care quickly.
Trust your instincts and seek help
Most people at festivals are just there to have a good time, but it’s always important to stay aware of what is happening around you. Keep a close eye on your drinks so they don’t get spiked, and never accept a drink from a stranger.
If a situation or a person ever makes you feel uncomfortable, trust your gut and move away straight away. You don’t have to stay in a place that doesn’t feel right just to be polite.
As well as medical teams, some festivals have dedicated welfare tents and support spaces. These areas are run by volunteers and trained support staff, like youth workers. They’re safe, quiet zones where you can go if you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, exhausted, or just need somewhere calm to sit down and chat.
If you’re heading to a festival this summer and want to talk through how to prepare, or if you feel anxious about going, Meic is always here for you. Our advisers offer free, confidential advice every single day.
