How to Ensure Everyone Stays Healthy at your next Family Festival

Joanna Armah-Kinson Author

Jun 08, 2024 |

Get essential tips for a healthy family festival experience, from preparing for unpredictable weather to packing a well-equipped first aid kit.

How to Ensure Everyone Stays Healthy at your Next Family Festival

Family festivals are a time of freedom, joy and memory making. 

99 times out of a 100 they go off swimmingly, so I don’t want to worry you. But….

Things can go wrong. Whether it’s too much sun, too much rain, too much walking or too much alcohol (hopefully just the parents for that one) there’s every chance someone will feel bad during the weekend. Yes, most festivals have a welfare tent. But you might be a long way from it when something happens. Or there could be a big queue – not what you need when you’ve got a hurt, ill or upset child.

So, it’s always worth being prepared. But how do you do that?

Read on to find out how I ensure we all stay healthy.

Dealing with the Great British Weather

First of all let’s talk about that most British of subjects, the weather.

Whether it’s way too hot, way too cold or way too wet, too much of any weather can cause health issues.

If it’s too hot its important to protect skin and stay hydrated. Cover everyone if sunscreen often. Drink plenty of water. Watch for headaches, tiredness and nausea. These are often signs that you’ve had too much sun and quite possibly, not enough water.

If it’s cold and wet you need to stay warm and dry. Which isn’t always easy when it’s muddy. Be particularly careful if your feet are wet - in particular if they tingle, itch or worse start to feel numb, then it’s important to get them dry as soon as you can

Make sure your prepared for any conditions with:

• > Hats
• > Sunscreen
• > Aloe Vera/burn gel
• > Refillable water bottle
• > Plenty of pairs of warm dry socks

Get Ready to Walk. A lot. 

One of the worst things you can do is get new shoes for the festival and not break them in before you go.

Big festivals involve thousands of steps a day and if you’re not used to it you can really suffer.

So, be sure to stock up on plenty of plasters. Blister plasters are expensive but well worth it.

Gone a little bit too far with the partying?

Nothing wrong with having a good time at a family festival, but unlike one when your single, you have to cope with kids who wake up full of beans at the crack of dawn!

So, ensure you have your refillable water bottle topped up and pack some rehydration sachets. They’ll be much appreciated when your kids force you to go and join in with the early morning exercise classes.

Take some healthy snacks with you so you have some protein and other nutrients on hand in case of, erm "low energy". These is always a good tip anyway to help ensure your kids have something reasonably healthy to eat during the weekend. 

Oh and don’t forget the ear defenders for the kids, so you can actually party whilst they nap. You might need them when the music starts the next day too!

Sleeping on an Airbed isn’t as much Fun these Days

I’ve got to be honest, I don’t feel as good after a night at a festival these days as I did when I was in my 20’s! Perimenopause aches and pains have hit me hard anyway and tiny little airbeds do not cut the mustard any more. And I do love my sleep!

So, for festivals where we can park next to the camp, I go all out. We have a high airbed, a memory foam mattress topper (not only comfy but good at stopping the cold from the ground) and a four seasons sleeping bag.

But for those where we have to carry our camping stuff on site, I normally leave some of it at home. And so then I pack painkillers and heat packs.

I’ve even been known to pack a hot water bottle for a shoulder season festival!

Also, be sure to stretch well when you can, and if standing is an issue carry a lightweight camping chair with you so you’ve got somewhere to sit when needed.

And if like me you get achy joints anyway, use a backpack on both shoulders to distribute the weight evenly.

I don’t like getting older sometimes!

An Upset Stomach will Ruin your Fun

Whether its your own cooking over a camp stove, something you bought with you or just the impact of too much sun, having an upset stomach can ruin your festival weekend.

I mean no one wants to spend more time in festival toilets than they have to do they?

Plan for all eventualities by taking tablets for both diarrhoea and constipation.

It’s not the most glamourous part of planning for a festival but it’s an important one. Many kids hate festival toilets anyway so the last thing you and they need to be dealing with is an stomach bug.

Plus, as mentioned before, don’t forget to take some rehydration sachets and healthy snacks with you so you.

Don’t Forget the Standard Festival First Aid Kit

Yes there will be a welfare tent, but having a small first aid kit with you makes dealing with small injuries quick and easy.

You buy ready made kits or put your own together. Make sure you include: 

• > Plasters
• > Antiseptic spray / gel
• > Bandages
• > Microporous tape
• > Sterile gloves
• > Safety pins
• > Tweezer
• > Tissues
• > Insect repellent
• > Antihistamines

Prepare, Protect, and You’ll be Able to Enjoy Every Moment of Your Family Festival Adventure

At the end of the day, with a bit of common sense and preparation it’s pretty easy to keep everyone healthy at a family festival.

From dealing with the unpredictable British weather to handling unexpected mishaps, packing the right stuff and having a well-equipped first aid kit can make all the difference.

Stock up on essentials like sunscreen, refillable water bottles, blister plasters, and rehydration sachets and you'll be ready to tackle any challenge that comes your way. 

A little planning goes a long way in keeping your loved ones healthy and happy throughout the festival.

So, pack your bags with care, stay hydrated, stay aware of how everyone is doing and you’ll be able to enjoy every moment of the festival without worrying about any bumps along the way.

Here's to a fantastic family festival filled with joy, laughter, and unforgettable moments!

Need more Help with your Packing?

The Flawless Family Festival Packing Guide has a comprehensive Family Festival Packing Checklist covering every item you could possibly consider taking and an essential Family Festival Packing Cheat Sheet which will help you focus on what's most important.

The whole guide is designed to walk you through the packing process and take the overwhelm out of packing, replacing it with confidence and excitement.

It also gives you two simple questions we've discovered over our years of festival-going. Together, these questions are a game-changer, and they're exclusive to the guide.

To take the first step towards packing like a pro, so you can create unforgettable festival memories with your family,

All you need to do is click here.

Get ready for a festival experience that's flawless, stress-free and memorable for all of the right reasons. Here's to the amazing adventures that await!

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Categories: : Family Festivals