Inside the Music Festival Medical Tent

5 min read

SO YOU PAID your $600 for the headliners at an event like Gov Ball, Bonnaroo, Coachella, and ended up seeing…the inside of the medical tent. Kind of classic, which is why there are such things as “event medical specialists.” And they’ve seen it all, from garden-variety cuts and blisters to people turning blue. (As in, the color.) These medical pros are there to help, but they’d really rather not see you to begin with. Here’s the spectrum—from “whoa, dude” to stuff that’s probably obvious—of what they deal with and what you should know now.

They’re Seeing More Smurfs and Rag Dolls

“POPPERS” ARE EVERYWHERE—there was a 151 percent spike in use among NYC nightclub attendees alone from 2017 to 2024—but info about how these drugs are (ab)used isn’t getting passed around with them. Their quick rush comes from inhaling the alkyl nitrite they contain, but med pros see people who overuse or drink them turn into what they call “Smurfs.” Your red blood cells can’t deliver oxygen to your body, and you actually turn blue.

The moment you swallow them, “you’ve started the clock on yourself and need to get to an emergency room that has the antidote,” says Jack Raia, a New York City–based paramedic who specializes in festival medicine. Issues can begin within an hour, and you need an IV of methylene blue, ASAP. With swift treatment, recovery starts within a few hours, with hospital stays typically lasting 24 hours.

Seeking a high from GHB (a.k.a. the “date-rape drug”) can also take you down. The window between euphoria and the med tent is incredibly narrow. Signs that someone needs help include lack of muscle control, depressed heart and respiratory rates, sedation, and unconsciousness. Act fast: Even if the person is still breathing, it can quickly escalate into an emergency.

Sorry, But You’re Probably Still Not Great with Alcohol

SUBSTANCES ARE EVERYWHERE, but alcohol continues to be one of the most common medical issues at festivals. Event medicine specialists see case after case of overconsumption of alcohol—vomiting, seizures, confusion, irregular breathing, low body temperature—and the injuries that come with it. Part of it, they say, is potent new-gen drinks like BuzzBallz (ABV 15%) and Beatbox (ABV 11 %) that go down like beer. “There’s a huge issue where people come in just incredibly intoxicated and vomiting because they’ve had one or two,” says University of Florida emergency medicine specialist Alison Leung, MD.

“Obviously, drinking all day, especially in the hot sun, isn’t a great idea,” says MH nutrition advisor Abby Langer, RD. “But if that’s what you’re choosing to do, at least go with lower-ABV options.” As in spritzers or beers with around 5% ABV. Zebra striping—having one alcoholic drink, then one zero-proof—helps prevent med tent visits too.

The Heat Doesn’t Care…

DON’T OVERLOOK THE obvious. Between the sun and the heat, any festival can get bad quickly. Add the body heat of crowds and that can mean fainting, dehydration, and even heatstroke. Tents have ice baths so people with heat exhaustion or heatstroke can get their body temperature down before they are sent to an ER for treatment (heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke, which can be fatal). Prevent it by drinking lots of fluids to keep your body’s natural cooling mechanism (sweat) going. That’s especially important if you take a GLP-1, which may suppress your desire to drink. When you’re sweating a lot, throw some electrolytes into that water; these help maintain your body’s proper fluid balance. And prevent overheating: Find shade and/or BYO with a hat and wear light, loose-fitting clothing.

…And the Sun Doesn’t, Either

DON’T UNDERESTIMATE SUN damage. At Coachella, says internal medicine doctor Krista Burris, MD, “we’ve had a lot of people getting second- and third-degree burns from the sun.” That doesn’t just mess with your skin. “If you get a bad sunburn on day one, it’s going to knock you out of commission more than you think over the next couple of days,” Raia says. You know what to do here: Wear sunscreen. You’re running out of excuses for why not to. Sunscreen sticks help you avoid goopy hands and TSA confiscation; there are products without a white cast; and some come in recycled plastic.

You Don’t Need Antibiotics for Festival Flu

WHETHER YOU CALL it Wook Flu, Festival Flu, or Coachella Cough, this respiratory infection is brought on by irritation from days of screaming; inhaling dirt, pollen, and secondhand smoke; a lack of sleep and proper nutrition; and dehydration, according to the American Lung Association. The coughing, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, fever, and body aches that start a few days in can linger for about 10 days. Having a rescue inhaler is a must for people with asthma, Dr. Leung says. And wearing a bandana or buff helps keep airways clean on the dusty dance floor. If flu-like symptoms hit, test to see if it’s the real thing (then you can opt for flu meds). Otherwise, rest, drink fluids, and treat your symptoms. For sneezing and nasal symptoms, OTC meds can work. Sounds obvious, but follow the directions. Even OTCs can cause issues like insomnia or kidney or liver problems if you take more than is recommended.

Generally, It’s Not Going to Cost You

MEDICAL TENT CARE is usually covered by the cost of the ticket. But if you need to be taken to a hospital, that cost is on you.

Festival Must-Haves

• PORTABLE CHARGER: Dead phone = no help, no friends, no way home.

• THE RIGHT DIGITS: List your friends’ numbers in your phone under emergency contacts so medical workers can reach them (or you) if needed.

• YOUR MEDS: If you need it, bring it, and have a list of all your current meds and allergies on your phone.

• FORTITUDE: If you end up in the med tent, you’ve got to tell the staff what you’ve been doing. If it’s substances, they need to know what you took, how much, and how long ago so they can get you the right treatment, right away.

• FENTANYL TEST STRIPS: Use them; just know they can’t detect all harmful substances.

• NARCAN: You might not need it. Someone next to you might.