With festival season just around the corner we thought we’d
get you in the mood with an easy guide to managing your allergy while enjoying
the music, fun and (hopefully) sun.
Whilst there’s no reason why having a severe allergy should
stop you donning your wellies and rain coat and getting stuck in to festival
season it is important to remember to take care while you’re out there.
Before you go
Festivals often have security measures in place to make sure
nothing dangerous or unusual is bought onto the site. Think of it like going on
holiday, take a note from your GP explaining exactly why you need to carry your
adrenaline auto-injector and what it does, just in case anyone thinks it could
be something much more untoward.
Ensure you have somewhere cool to keep your AAIs just in case
you get warm weather – keeping your pen with you in your tent at night or
pocket during the day may cause
it to overheat, which could reduce the effectiveness
of the adrenaline. You can purchase special bags to keep your AAIs cool at http://www.medpac.co.uk/
Ensure it is in date before you leave. An out-of-date pen
could also be much less effective.
When you get there
Scan the area and keep in mind where the nearest medical
tens are and be aware of them in relation to your location whenever possible.
It may also be worth taking a trip down to your nearest
medical or staff tent to your campsite and introduce yourself, explaining your
condition and medication. This ensures people are aware of your allergy and
know how to treat you, should anything happen.
Medication
Always carry two of your prescribed adrenaline
auto-injectors (Emerade, EpiPen or Jext) at all times.
Try not to leave them in
your tent, carry it around with you at all times. There are many cool
carriers and cases that allow you to clip it on to belt loops, clothing or keep
it safe in bags. It may sound extreme but some type of AAIs need protecting
from extreme temperature. Check with your GP or the brands website to find out
about yours.
Allergy blogger, Leo, just sticks with the old favourite.
“Bring a backpack - it can be a pain carrying adrenaline around with you at a
festival, but I found that the best way that it could be managed was to carry a
backpack, which means you can also carry your antihistamines, food, water,
money and all the other essentials too.”
Keep your friends in
the know
Make sure the people you’re going with known about your
allergy and how serious it can be. This way they’ll know to be careful and can
help you better should anything happen.
Festivals are extremely busy places and getting lost and
separated is a possibility. Preparing for this is all about thinking ahead. The
best thing you can do is to wear a medical alert bracelet or jewellery that
display your allergy and treatment (http://www.medicalert.org.uk/), you can
also carry a card with you in your pocket or wallet that lets even people you
don’t know understand if you need help.
It can also be helpful to write down emergency contacts; one at the
festival with you and one at home, who can help you.
Eating
Finding something to eat at a festival can be tricky if you
have a food allergy but there are things you can do to help prevent an
accidental reaction. You can contact the festival’s organisers beforehand and
see if they can provide you with a list of food suppliers who will be there on
the day, that way you can scope out if there’s something good (and safe) to eat
when you’re there.
Don’t be afraid of asking them what’s in their food – the
new Food Information Regulation means they must know if any of the top 14
allergens are present in their food. If you’re ever in doubt just go find
somewhere else.
Alternatively, you can take your own food. Bear in mind if
you’re camping over the weekend it should be food that won’t go nasty quickly.
Instant noodles, sandwiches, personal safe snacks like crisps and fresh fruit
(depending on what you’re allergic to) are all good foods to take with you.
If there is a town nearby to the festival you can try
heading away from the crowds and popping to fast food stores you know are safe
or to supermarkets where the range may not be quite as restrictive for you.
In case of emergency
If you think you’re having a reaction follow these tips:
Stay calm and stay with friends – do not go off on your own,
stay with people that can help you
Get a friend to look for a member of the festival staff –
stewards or security would be best, but this could also be programme sellers or
bar staff – as they are likely to have a walkie talkie on them to contact the
medical tent or will have good knowledge of the site and how best to get
medical attention.
If you’re feeling dizzy or faint stay where you are and lie
down, try to elevate your legs if possible.
Don’t be afraid to use your adrenaline. Using it, even if
not needed, is unlikely to cause any problems. As adrenaline is a natural
hormone present in your body i.e. from nerves, exertion, or excitement, your
body can process with little risk involved.
Always call 999 and seek medical help after using your injector.
Always call 999 and seek medical help after using your injector.
General festival tips
Pack baby wipes and antibacterial gel – these can help if
you can’t find a sink or shower
Don’t eat or drink anything if you don’t know where it came
from, or what’s in it – this is a good idea no matter where you are
Make plans for where to meet friends if you get separated
and always carry your mobile phone in case of an emergency.
Invest in a backup battery pack if your phone is infamous
for having a short battery life
Although we do not condone the taking of recreational drugs
please bear in mind that drugs (and alcohol) can make you more likely to take
risks and can make a reaction much more severe.
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