• If you become unwell, particularly with diarrhoea and sickness, before the festival don't go as you could spread your illness to other people.
• Make sure you use condoms with any new partners to protect yourself against any sexually transmitted infections. In 2010 there were over 200,000 cases of chlamydia, genital warts, syphilis, gonorrhoea and herpes in the 15-24 year old age group in England.
• If you have to take medication for an existing condition make sure you take it with you as well as enough to last the duration of the festival.
• Make yourself aware of where the health services are at the festival.
• If you start to feel unwell while you are there seek help either from first aiders who will be present at all festivals or the other medical staff that are available at larger festivals.
• Make sure you drink enough water and that this has been obtained from an authorised source – either potable water taps which are signposted or bottled water where the cap is sealed.
• If it is hot and sunny wear a hat and use plenty of sunscreen to prevent sunburn and heatstroke.
• Avoid using streams and rivers for bathing or cooling off as the water quality may not be suitable.
• Don't forget to wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet, before eating and prior to preparing food. It is preferable to use soap and water but if that is not available then sanitising hand gel is a good substitute – bring your own and carry it around with you.
• Take great care when using camping stoves or open fires.
• If you are going to a festival outside the UK make sure you are up to date with your jabs and don't forget to get your travel insurance policy before you go.
• Measles continues to spread, mostly in children and adults under 19 years of age and the vast majority of these are unvaccinated.  Measles cases have been associated with small clusters in universities, schools or families. If you are going to a festival in the UK make sure your MMR up to date before you go.

Tattoos and Piercings

It is vital that anyone considering a piercing or tattoo, including at festivals, ensures that they go to a reputable or registered piercer or tattooist to reduce the possibility of having problems. Much of the advice is common sense – don't try to do it yourself, make sure that you know enough about the procedure as well as the skills and experience of the piercer or tattooist and make sure that they are using sterile instruments and that the environment they are working in is clean and hygienic.

When piercers or tattooists do not use sterile equipment, there is a real risk of passing infection from one person to another, including very serious infections such as hepatitis B and C and HIV. Even though such infections have not been reported in the UK through such transmission routes, it is very important that your body piercing or tattoo is done by a trained person, in a registered and reputable saloon.

Your piercer or tattooist should tell you how to look after the piercing or tattoo afterwards and this is important to reduce the likelihood of infections. Serious problems are rare but if you experience anything unusual you should seek medical advice immediately.

First Aid and Medical Assistance at festivals

There will always be some form of first aid presence at festivals – there will be a tent on site so if you need assistance ask the festival staff where this can be located.  There may also be first aiders patrolling the festival and they will be wearing high-vis clothing so you can identify them.

Larger festivals will have more sophisticated medical facilities available and can generally deal with most issues without having to send people to hospital.

Most advice that the festival organisers themselves give is not to overdo it -  eat regular meals, try to alternate soft drinks with your alcoholic drinks, take some time out to relax and watch out for your friends too and this is very sensible advice to follow.

At larger festivals, such as Glastonbury, there will be several first aid or medical tents. These medical tents can offer a wide range of services including:

• Treatment of minor illnesses and injuries
• Emergency Department
• X-ray facility
• Doctor & Nurse Consultations
• Physiotherapy
• Podiatry
• Emergency Dental Services
• Psychiatric and Substance Misuse Service
• Dispensing Pharmacy – some offer free condoms

What other advice is available?

The HPA commission National Travel Health Network and Centre (Nathnac) to provide travel health advice and additional information on looking after you health at festivals can be found on their website [external link]: http://www.nathnac.org/travel/factsheets/Festivals.htm