Festival Safety Guide - National Express

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safety
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Summer festival season
is here at last!
You’ve got your mates together, bought your
tent and dusted the mud off your wellies.
Music and sporting events are about relaxing and
having fun but whilst UK festivals have a great safety
record, to get the most out of your experience it’s
important to take precautions to stay safe and happy.
Why not send this guide to
your mates to make sure your
whole group is prepared?

Getting ready
Chances are you’ll remember your tent and wellies but
here’s a few other essential items to pack:
Phone charger
Many festivals now offer mobile
charging facilities so don’t forget to
pack your charger so you can stay in
touch with friends at all times.
Tent lock
It’s easy to fall into the relaxed vibe
of a festival but you should always
be vigilant about keeping your
property safe. Whilst the golden rule
with festivals is don’t take valuables,
a tent lock will help protect anything
you do need to leave behind. They
might only be an old tee-shirt and
dry shampoo but they are yours, and
should stay that way.
Camping mat
Not only is a camping mat more
comfortable to sleep on, it also helps
prevent heat loss which could stop
you coming home with the sniffles.
Sun cream
It’s not tempting fate flinging the
sun cream in your bag. It’s really
important to wear sun cream at
all times, even if it’s not sunny, to
protect your skin and avoid getting
burnt, which is definitely not a
good look.
Hand sanitiser
We’ve all smelt portaloos – imagine
the germs!
Mix of clothes
Yes, there is limited room in your
backpack but make sure you have
at least one warm jumper and a
change of shoes to prevent blisters.
Basic medication
Painkillers, insect spray, plasters and
after-sun will all come in handy, if
only to make you popular amongst
friends!

Travel plans
When it comes to travel plans, preparation is key to make
sure you arrive at the festival, and back home, safe.
• Always book a return ticket –
don’t assume there will be space
for you on the coach/bus/train on
the way home.
• Never be tempted to hitchhike. It
might seem clever but there are
plenty of affordable travel options
out there – it’s not worth it.
• Research the whole of your
journey. Some transport options
such as the train or local bus
service involve a substantial walk
to the festival.
• Make sure you know where you
are going – many festivals are in
remote locations so check out
your route beforehand.
• If walking to or from any part of
the festival be extremely careful
of traffic. Wear bright clothes
and walk facing the direction of
oncoming traffic, not with your
back to it.
• Never drive tired or under the
influence. Remember, if you have
been drinking the day before you
may still be over the limit so give
yourself as much time as you
need.
• If you drive in, always take note
of where you have parked your
car. Thousands of people drive
to festivals which means it may
take some time to leave the car
park, accept this and don’t drive
stressed. Frayed tempers are not
a good end to a festival.
• Coaches take you direct
to the festival gate –
a good option if you
want an
A to B
service.

Once you’re there
• Stick with your friends
• Arrange a meeting point in case you get
separated – most festivals should have a
designated meeting spot or information point
• Drink plenty of water to keep rehydrated
throughout the day
• Know your limits and don’t drink too much.
Punctuate beers with soft drinks to stay hydrated
• Never accept drinks from strangers
• Keep your money safe with a good zipped bag
and if possible, try to carry your money in different
places about your person
Once you’ve left
It’s great fun making a muddy field your home for a
long weekend but don’t forget it is home to wildlife all
year round.
Help keep the creatures safe by clearing up after
yourself. Small animals can get trapped in litter such
as the plastic dividers that separate cans whilst plastic
rubbish such as carrier bags can cause problems
as they don’t disintegrate. Please take your rubbish
home with you.