Glastonbury Festival

Health Protection Advice

Here are some simple tips which will help you stay safe and health and let you enjoy Glastonbury Festival.

Before you arrive

Festival Medical Services (FMS) provide medical services on the Glastonbury Festival site, but you can help yourself and others by being prepared before you arrive.

Bring some over-the-counter remedies for headache, tooth ache, minor cuts, burns or bruises and sunburn. Ask your local pharmacist for advice.

Remember to bring any regular medications you might need. FMS can look after your medication if it needs to be kept in the fridge. If you do forget anything tell FMS. They can usually obtain further supplies.

On site health facilities

Most problems can be dealt with on site and very few people have to go off to hospital for treatment. Festival Medical Services provides a comprehensive medical and first aid service at the festival.

Hospitals

The closest hospital (3 miles away) is Shepton Mallet Hospital which has a Minor Injury Unit but not a full Accident and Emergency Department. This means that it can deal with minor wounds, fractures and ailments but NOT major injuries or life-threatening conditions.

NHS Direct can offer telephone advice on many common ailments and advise if you need to see a doctor. Telephone 0845 46 47 any time of the day or night.

How to get help in an emergency

If you need medical or first aid attention, make your way, if you can, to one of the two Festival Medical Centres or the Greenfield First Aid Centre.

In an emergency, approach a festival steward, security person, or a police officer, who will be able to summon assistance.

Only dial 999 from a mobile phone as a last resort – this may not be the most effective means of getting help on the festival site.

Don’t try to make your way off site to hospital – this may result in very long and possibly dangerous delays in getting treatment.

Staying safe and well

You can reduce the risk of injury and ill health by following this simple advice:

Alcohol – Drink in moderation. Hangover headaches usually respond if you drink plenty of water and take a paracetamol.

Burns – Camping gas accidents are the most common cause of serious burns. Never change these canister in or near a tent and make sure the canister is threaded properly before lighting. Beware of wax flares and candles. Every year these cause nasty eye injuries.

Crowds - Can be dangerous places for small children. Body surfing may look like fun, but would you like to be dropped and trampled? Don’t put yourself at unnecessary risk.

Drugs - Drugs use can be dangerous. Don’t mix drugs and alcohol. Do you know what to do in an emergency?. Click here for more information.. The Festival Medical Service does not prescribe or dispense methadone or Controlled Drugs.

Hayfever - If you normally suffer in the summer months remember to bring enough nasal spray, eye drops or antihistamine tablets to last through the Festival.

Hearing damage – If you spend too long in front of the loudspeakers you could damage your hearing. Colourful earplugs, to protect your ears, are available from the Royal National Institute for the Deaf stall next to the Pyramid.

Practice Safe Sex - If you have sex without a condom you risk catching diseases such as Gonorrhoea, Syphilis or Chlamydia or getting pregnant. Emergency Contraception and sexual health advice is available from the on-site Festival Medical Service.

Stomach bugs - Reduce your risk of picking up or spreading the germs that cause sickness and diarrhoea by washing you hands before you eat and after you go to the loo. If cooking take care. Make sure food is cooked properly, especially meat / hamburgers. Wash your hands if you have been handling rubbish.

Upset or depressed – If you are having emotional problems and want to talk to someone The Samaritans will have tents on the festival site – identifiable by their large orange banners

Water – drink plenty of it! In hot weather or when you are very active you can dehydrate quickly. Safe drinking water is available from standpipes around the festival site and many of the stalls will be selling bottled water.

Weather - Be prepared for almost any weather. Bring sun protection, warm clothes and wet weather gear – and a spare pair of shoes!

Need more health information?

Mendip Primary Care Trust – Glastonbury Festival Health Advice

Alcohol
Wrecked.co.uk Somerset Turning Point: Tel: 01823 288174

Community
Men’s Advice Line (Domestic violence) 020 8644 9914
Victim Support: 0845 303 0900
Women’s Ante Natal Helpline: 0345 023468

Drugs
www.trashed.co.uk
National Drugs Helpline: 0800 776600
Somerset Turning Point: 01823 288174

Food / Food Safety
www.foodlink.org.uk
Eating Disorders Helpline: 01603 619090

Sexual Health
www.ruthinking.co.uk
Somerset Contraceptive and Sexual Health Service: 01823 331121
Somerset Lesbian and Gay Helpline: 01823 327078

Smoking
www.givingupsmoking.co.uk
NHS Smoking Helpline: 0800 1690 169
Somerset Smoking Advice Service: 01823 323808

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