Festivals of all kinds have found their way onto the calendar this summer. Whether they’re meant for craft beer drinkers or live music lovers, officials are recommending safety precautions.
Although summer festivals can be a fun way to listen to live music, buy from local artists and eat good food, they present the opportunity for dangerous situations.
It's crucial for festival attendees to protect themselves from the sun, said to Red Cross Michigan Regional Communications Director, Meghan Lehman.
“We recommend that anyone doing any sort of outdoor activity in the summer pay really close attention to being hydrated to protect themselves from the excessive heat," she said. "It can lead to sunburn, heat cramps and heat exhaustion, and that can be a serious medical situation."
Wearing loose fitting and light-colored clothing is another way to prevent heat related danger.
A precaution that's often forgotten is generator safety. If someone is attending a festival and camping over night, they often bring a tent. Bringing a generator inside can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, which recently caused several fatalities at the Faster Horses Music Festival.
Lehman also recommended paying attention to fire safety guidelines.
"So if you're having a fire, whether it's for your grilling something, you know, some of these are kind of common sense, but when you're in a tight situation with a lot of people, you may not think about it," she said. "So don't ever place a grill under a tree, or right up next to a tent. Those things can be highly flammable."
Red Cross tents are typically found at festivals to offer medical assistance. If someone thinks they need help, Lehman said it's important to get it right away.
“It's important to know what you can handle on your own, and when you should seek out some professional assistance either from paramedics on scene or the medical staff that's there," she said. "Really, the rule should be if you think you might need some help, then seek it out. Better safe than sorry.”
Following these recommendations, and others, could prevent life-threatening instances and create a fun, safe festival environment, said Lehman.