Zoey Cunningham ‘26, Photo Editor
As the weather warms up, concert season begins rolling in. Over the years, many music festivals have made headlines for their party atmospheres and good variety of music in their lineups. The popularity for events such as Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Summerfest have been on a constant incline since the 2010s. They are a great place for music lovers to experience live music from some of their favorite artists all in one place. However, as more people start traveling to these events, the risks and safety hazards are increasing as well. There is obviously no way to be completely safe at a concert, and you can say the same thing about any largely attended event; however, there are ways to protect your safety and health while still enjoying your time there.
One of the most common hazards at festivals is the heat. The heat is not avoidable with the amount of people in the area and the summer sun shining down all day—especially in the hot areas such as California, Arizona, and Florida—so making sure you are correctly protecting yourself is a must. On the less extreme side of things, sunburn can start after just 15 minutes out in the sun; it is best to bring a small sunscreen with you in your bag and reapply often. Although sunburn is short term, it can lead to harmful long term effects such as skin cancer and skin damage. Many people recommend sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.
Additionally, large exposures to heat can lead to large amounts of loss of salt and electrolytes in your body, meaning it is best to keep yourself hydrated throughout the whole day. A lack of hydration can lead to muscle cramping, which is not comfortable for a concert. Signs of exhaustion to look out for include thirst, clammy skin, dizziness, headaches, or fainting. It is extremely important to be continuously taking care of your body throughout the day; a lack of care could lead to a heat stroke which could ruin your whole trip. A heat stroke can result in altered cognitive states, loss of conscious, or overemotional behavior. Furthermore, a heat stroke is considered a life threatening medical emergency that can lead to a failure of organs like the heart, kidney, and the brain. There have been many incidents at concerts and festivals where people pass out in the crowd as the high heat with the mix of jam-packed attendance is a recipe for disaster. Many people push to be in the front row, in hopes of interacting with their idol, leaving not a lot of room for people to breathe.
In crowds, it is often hard to keep composure. The excitement of the day causes some to go crazy in order to ensure they have the best experience, leaving no thoughts of the feelings for others. Many problems can result from the big crowd such as trampling, stampedes, and injuries from crushing others. These injuries can become very serious; for instance, in 2021, Travis Scott hosted his own music festival called Astroworld. This festival was held in Houston, Texas in early November, becoming quite successful selling over 100,000 tickets, which sold out in just 30 minutes. On the first night, 50,000 people attended the concert, but the crowds were too much to handle and a crowd crush broke out. The night ended with eight people dead and eleven in cardiac arrest. Eventually two others died as well. Overall, over 300 people were treated for injuries leaving the concert as a mass casualty event. Situations like this are what make safety precautions so necessary.
Furthermore, it is extremely important to make sure you are dressing for the correct weather. People often prioritize fashion over practicality for concerts. Weather-related issues such as heat waves, storms, or mud can make or break your concert experience. Making sure you are wearing clothes suitable for the weather is a must. Bringing a jacket if it is too cold is important; you can always take it off inside the venue, but the long lines for entrance, merch, etc. will most likely be outside and are often extremely long.
Concerts are extremely fun events, and it is important to prepare to make the best of your experience. Without the right precautions your night or trip could become a nightmare. It is necessary you keep safety orders in mind when planning for concerts or music festivals in order to keep you and those around you in safe conditions. You do not want to end up in a life changing situation because you did not take a few extra measures for your own safety.
Lyon Life 