Stay on the Fun Side of the Medical Tent this Festival Season
As a veteran of more than 20 music festivals, Los Angeles law student Christian Langston has seen a little bit of everything.
Introduction to Festival Health Risks
Musically, he’s seen indie rock bands and electronic dance music extravaganzas. He’s witnessed unbelievable spectacles such as a giant flame-spouting metal octopus in Las Vegas – and that time EDM act Ookay brought out smooth-jazz saxman Kenny G for a solo.
He’s also been around a range of health crises. He’s had friends who needed medical help for cuts, scrapes or because they didn’t drink enough water and needed an IV. And he’s seen medical workers weave their way through crowds to help people dealing with dehydration or drug issues.
Doctors who work such events have seen it all, too. “Every event is unique in and of itself,” said Dr. Matt Friedman, emergency medical services fellowship program director at Maimonides Medical Center and an assistant professor of emergency medicine at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, both in Brooklyn.
He’s worked at venues ranging from New York City’s Yankee Stadium, where he’s lead house physician, to the Gorge Amphitheater in remote central Washington.
The DoLab at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Friday, April 12, 2024 (Carolyn Burt, SCNG)
Common Health Issues at Festivals
With heavy metal or country crowds, he’s seen “a fair amount of blunt trauma, either from the mosh pit or from fights.” For EDM crowds, the most common emergency has been drug toxicity. And when he’s worked the massive Burning Man festival, which draws tens of thousands of people to the Nevada desert, he’s dealt with eye problems from blowing dust, as well as injuries from accidents.
“People are frequently intoxicated, and people frequently are engaged in high-risk activities like climbing,” which is “not a great combination,” said Friedman, who also is national medical director of CrowdRx, which provides medical services at large events.
Staying Hydrated
“Not drinking enough water may be the most likely reason someone will end up in a medical tent,” said Dr. Katie FitzGibbon, an emergency medicine physician at UPMC in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
The combination of outdoor heat and excessive alcohol leaves a lot of people feeling miserable, said FitzGibbon, lead author of a 2017 study on medical care at EDM festivals. “If you could make sure you’re hydrating for a couple of days before you go, and not just chugging water the day that you’re there, that probably would be a good idea.”
Mau P and Diplo perform at the Quasar stage at the 2024 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 21, 2024 in Indio, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Coachella)
Knowing the Weather
Heat isn’t the only temperature concern, Leung said. At desert venues or at a place like the Gorge Amphitheater or Burning Man, where she was one of the medical directors for the field hospital last year, it can be scalding during the day but freezing at night, she said.
“Many people wear very little clothing at these festivals,” said Leung. “They don’t realize it gets cold,” and medical workers hand out foil-like emergency blankets to warm them up. A friend, she said, jokingly likens the people in such gear to “baked potatoes.”
Keeping Shoes Sensible
“Your choice of attire and footwear is really important,” Langston has learned. Attire can be a part of the fun at a festival, he said, but people can be more concerned about looking good than being practical. He’s had friends in “crazy” strap outfits who’ve fallen on a Friday, then suffered for the rest of the festival weekend.
So, wear sturdy shoes that can stand up to all the walking and dancing you’ll be doing, Leung said. “You want to make sure that you’re not going to be wearing something that you can easily trip in or sprain your ankle in, like a pair of high heels or platforms.”
Bringing Essential Medications
People sometimes forget important medications, said Friedman, who with Leung was a co-author of a 2021 National Association of Emergency Medicine Services Physicians position statement on mass gathering medical care.
“If you, for example, have a history of anaphylaxis, bring your EpiPen,” he said. “If you have a history of diabetes, make sure you have your insulin with you. If you have a history of asthma, make sure you have an extra asthma pump with you, just in case.”
Avoiding Overindulgence
Ever since some of the grandparents of today’s festival fans were warned about the “brown acid” at Woodstock, recreational drugs have been part of the concert scene. Leung said that “whether or not we want to acknowledge that as a constant presence at festivals, it’s going to be available.”
Unfortunately, FitzGibbon said, many people at these festivals are younger, “and common sense is not always as readily present as we wish it would be.”
Having a Plan and Sticking Together
When you arrive at a festival, scout out the medical tent and know where the exits are, FitzGibbon suggested.
It’s a great idea to go with friends who can keep an eye on one another, she said.
And stay in a group, Friedman said. Make sure you have extra batteries for your phone, and arrange for a place to meet in case of a problem.
Asking for Help
Don’t be afraid to make use of the medical tent, Leung said. That includes for mental health.
“Festivals are very unique in that it’s unlike any other environment that you’ll ever be in, with the crowds and the music and the lights,” she said. Medical staffers see “a fair number” of people dealing with anxiety who “just need a place to relax for a few minutes to a few hours before they can collect themselves and go back out.”
Having Fun
Festivals can be healthy in several ways. Researchers who recorded the physical activity of 22 attendees at the massive Glastonbury Festival in England found that they covered, on average, 7 miles a day over six days.
Festivals also can build healthy social connections, Friedman said. “You see the best of humanity at these events. The amount of people willing to help out strangers is really overwhelming.”
Marc Rebillet performs at the DoLaB at the 2024 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 21, 2024 in Indio, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Coachella)
Conclusion
For Langston, music festivals “are ultimately about joy.” But pace yourself, he said.
“Multiday festivals are a marathon. They’re not a sprint.” If you go too hard on Friday, by Sunday you’ll be out of energy. “And I think that’s where sometimes people can get hurt.” You don’t realize the strain from all the dancing and walking “until you go to bed and wake up the next day and your legs are on fire.”
FAQs
Q: What is the most common reason people end up in a medical tent at festivals?
A: Not drinking enough water is the most likely reason someone will end up in a medical tent.
Q: How can I stay safe at a festival?
A: Stay hydrated, know the weather, wear sensible shoes, bring essential medications, avoid overindulgence, have a plan and stick together, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Q: Can festivals be healthy?
A: Yes, festivals can be healthy in several ways, including physical activity and building social connections.
Q: What should I do if I or someone I know is experiencing a medical emergency at a festival?
A: Don’t hesitate to seek medical help, and if it’s a life-threatening emergency, call 911 and start CPR if necessary.