TIPS ON STAYING HEALTHY AT THIS YEAR’S SUMMER FESTIVALS FROM BACKSTAGE DOCTOR TO THE STARS

August is upon us and with it, the season of outdoor music festivals has well and truly arrived. With experience as backstage doctor on Rolling Stones and Madonna tours, Doctorcall have rock solid credentials when it comes to tackling the common health problems which may deflate your festival high.

Founder, Dr Charles Levinson says; “Alongside the satisfaction of activating your “festival out-of-office” and buying some Kate Moss-inspired Hunter wellies, there are a few health tips useful to remember before arriving at your selected field this summer.”

Doctorcall is London’s private visiting doctor service. Call 020 7291 6666 to request a doctor and receive a quote in advance of their visit. For further information, please visit: www.doctorcall.co.uk.

Free love

What could be more bohemian than falling in love at a festival? A recent survey by NME found that 22% of the 112,000 crowd at Glastonbury last year had sex during the three day festival -that's 25,000 people! Enjoy yourself but remember to use a condom if you visit cloud nine with a new partner.

Festivals of substance

If someone you are with takes drugs during your time at the festival it does help if they steer clear of mixing it with alcohol or other drugs which increase the risk of overdose. The cumulative effects of separate drugs can result in the effects of an overdose occurring up to six hours after the drugs have been taken. If someone begins to have difficulty breathing or does not wake up in response to stimuli after drug-taking seek immediate medical help. There will be paramedics to hand and you will not be getting your friend into trouble; you may be saving their life.

If music be the food of love

There will be plenty of food at your festival which hasn’t been prepared with much love at all and may result in you spending the rest of your time in the tent. Even if there are classy alternatives to a greasy, “grab a slice”-style trailer remember that whatever the food, it will have been out on display for a number of hours. Limit the risk of poisoning by avoiding shellfish and chicken and making sure meat is thoroughly cooked and is piping hot. If you do fall victim to food poisoning drink plenty of fluid and if you have bad diarrhoea, use re-hydration powders. In the worst case, you could experience vomiting that prevents you keeping down fluids and become dehydrated. You will know because you are likely to feel thirsty with a dry mouth and find that your urine becomes reduced and darkened. With an injection of anti-emetic (anti-vomiting) medicine you should be on the road to recovery within twenty minutes!

Manage the heat

To stay energised and comfortable in baking temperatures make sure you stay hydrated by drinking lots of water and bring a hat for protection during the hottest part of the day. To avoid getting burnt make sure you wear factor 25 sunscreen for your skin. Apply a teaspoon amount in order to protect your face and a golf ball sized measure should be sufficient to cover the rest of your body. Remember to reapply regularly, especially if you are hot and sweaty. It may not seem very “rock ‘n roll” but you will be glad you did it. Even The Rolling Stones avoid getting sunburnt on holiday.

Not so glorious mud

Mud is good for the skin. However, the mud at the festival may not always be of health spa purity. It may be contaminated with excrement in some areas which you obviously should keep off your hands and your mouth. More importantly, it may contain sharp items and broken glass so it is a good idea not to have bare feet or wear open sandals.

Minor Injuries

There are lots of minor injuries at festivals: hands cut on can-openers, dancing sprains and bruises and, unfortunately, injuries sustained in disputes! Take care and if you do have an open cut, ask the paramedics to clean it and put a dressing on it for you. Cuts should be kept clean and dry. Any cut involving broken glass requires an X-ray.

Psychological Problems

These are surprisingly common at festivals. Performers often suffer from stage fright- even the most experienced acts. It is well documented that the worse method chosen by performers to combat this is through self-medication using drugs and alcohol which has the converse effect of making their mental state even more troubled. A lot of festival-goers get into trouble too: many are teenage and vulnerable and couples can find their relationships strained by sharing a tent for a whole weekend. Sometimes the temptation of casual sex can also ruin a relationship. Exhaustion and drugs make people more vulnerable. Make sure you remember where your tent is and hang a banner from it so you can find it. Take care to look after yourself and those with you. If someone is really distressed, they may be better off going home.

Festival First Aid

There will be emergency services available at the festival and it is sensible to locate their position when you arrive. Preparing your own first aid kit is also a good idea. Useful items include a strip thermometer, paracetamol, baby wipes, Savlon dry spray, re-hydration powders, tweezers, antiseptic ointment, cotton wool and a selection of plasters and sterile bandages. It is also a sensible idea to keep any paracetamol and aspirin you bring in their original boxes. Otherwise, they may be mistaken for a different type of drug in the event of you being searched at the entrance.