SO YOU PAID<\/strong> your $600 for the headliners at an event like Gov Ball, Bonnaroo, Coachella, and ended up seeing\u2026the inside of the medical tent. Kind of classic, which is why there are such things as \u201cevent medical specialists.\u201d And they\u2019ve 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\u2019d really rather not see you to begin with. Here\u2019s the spectrum\u2014from \u201cwhoa, dude\u201d to stuff that\u2019s probably obvious\u2014of what they deal with and what you should know now.<\/p>\n \u201cPOPPERS\u201d ARE EVERYWHERE<\/strong>\u2014there was a 151 percent spike in use<\/a> among NYC nightclub attendees alone from 2017 to 2024\u2014but info about how these drugs are (ab)used isn\u2019t 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 \u201cSmurfs.\u201d Your red blood cells can\u2019t deliver oxygen to your body, and you actually turn blue.<\/p>\n The moment you swallow them, \u201cyou\u2019ve started the clock on yourself and need to get to an emergency room that has the antidote,\u201d says Jack Raia<\/a>, a New York City\u2013based 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.<\/p>\n Seeking a high from GHB (a.k.a. the \u201cdate-rape drug\u201d) 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.<\/p>\n SUBSTANCES ARE EVERYWHERE<\/strong>, 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\u2014vomiting, seizures, confusion, irregular breathing, low body temperature\u2014and 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. \u201cThere\u2019s a huge issue where people come in just incredibly intoxicated and vomiting because they\u2019ve had one or two,\u201d says University of Florida emergency medicine specialist Alison Leung, MD.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, drinking all day, especially in the hot sun, isn\u2019t a great idea,\u201d says MH nutrition advisor Abby Langer, RD. \u201cBut if that\u2019s what you\u2019re choosing to do, at least go with lower-ABV options.\u201d As in spritzers or beers with around 5% ABV. Zebra striping\u2014having one alcoholic drink, then one zero-proof<\/a>\u2014helps prevent med tent visits too.<\/p>\n DON\u2019T OVERLOOK THE<\/strong> 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\u2019s natural cooling mechanism (sweat) going. That\u2019s especially important if you take a GLP-1, which may suppress your desire to drink. When you\u2019re sweating a lot, throw some electrolytes<\/a> into that water; these help maintain your body\u2019s proper fluid balance. And prevent overheating: Find shade and\/or BYO with a hat and wear light, loose-fitting clothing.<\/p>\n DON\u2019T UNDERESTIMATE SUN<\/strong> damage. At Coachella, says internal medicine doctor Krista Burris, MD, \u201cwe\u2019ve had a lot of people getting second- and third-degree burns from the sun.\u201d That doesn\u2019t just mess with your skin. \u201cIf you get a bad sunburn on day one, it\u2019s going to knock you out of commission more than you think over the next couple of days,\u201d Raia says. You know what to do here: Wear sunscreen<\/a>. You\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n WHETHER YOU CALL<\/strong> 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<\/a>. 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\u2019s the real thing (then you can opt for flu meds). Otherwise, rest, drink fluids, and treat your symptoms<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n MEDICAL TENT CARE<\/strong> is usually covered by the cost of the ticket. But if you need to be taken to a hospital, that cost is on you.<\/p>\n \u2022 PORTABLE CHARGER:<\/strong> Dead phone = no help, no friends, no way home.<\/p>\n \u2022 THE RIGHT DIGITS:<\/strong> List your friends\u2019 numbers in your phone under emergency contacts so medical workers can reach them (or you) if needed.<\/p>\n \u2022 YOUR MEDS:<\/strong> If you need it, bring it, and have a list of all your current meds and allergies on your phone.<\/p>\n \u2022 FORTITUDE:<\/strong> If you end up in the med tent, you\u2019ve got to tell the staff what you\u2019ve been doing. If it\u2019s substances, they need to know what you took, how much, and how long ago so they can get you the right treatment, right away.<\/p>\n![\"Business](\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/763f62d3-90f4-4c44-9287-fbceb8c638e2.jpg?crop=0.551xw:1xh;0.2xw,0xh&resize=1120:*\" "\\"Business")
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5 min read<\/span><\/p>\nThey\u2019re Seeing More Smurfs and Rag Dolls<\/h2>\n
Sorry, But You\u2019re Probably Still Not Great with Alcohol<\/h2>\n
The Heat Doesn\u2019t Care\u2026<\/h2>\n
\u2026And the Sun Doesn\u2019t, Either<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nYou Don\u2019t Need Antibiotics for Festival Flu<\/h2>\n
Generally, It\u2019s Not Going to Cost You<\/h2>\n
\nFestival Must-Haves<\/h2>\n