That's awesome mate, great help thanks a lot

Heh, I forgot I'd even written the part on drugs and alcohol!  I'm still working in the substance misuse field, so if any further advice/info is needed, feel free to give me a shout.

This is great, full of lots of useful info. Thankyou

Something I'd like to add on the topic of sunburn and skin protection:

Please don't forget to put sun cream on your face. Anything that was exposed to the sun last year I coated in sun cream (I'm quite pale, and burn easily), but I didn't think to cover my face. One side was fine; but the side that was facing the sun got rather burnt - incredibly painful.

It took a month for my skin to actually get back to normal again. One month of sitting in the common room at college with baby wipes trying to rehydrate all my dry, flaky skin = not fun.

Oh, and this was around 4pm too, so don't think you're safe just because it's not the middle of the day. [8D]

ORIGINAL: camp tropicana

anyone got any useful tips for avoiding sun stroke,, i seem to get it every year (on saturday in 08 almost had to leave cos of it)
despite being careful sun hat, sun cream, drinking water, staying in the shade (though shade can be tricky to find at dl) it always gets me. any advice?

 
You cant do much more than sun hat/glasses, drink loads of water and if you can stay in the shade, might be ideal as to not race around everywhere try to sit down somewhere and relax

just a quickie for anyone who doubts just how hot and sunny it can be, check out this pic of me at 2006, especially the redness of the sunburnt legs - this was the year i was an idiot and forgot my suncream - i now actually have small scarring to various parts of my body due to the sun and my stupidity that year [&o]
 
 

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Great advice! thanks for taking the time to educate us on what to do if we or someone else experiences any of those.
(that was not sarcasm by the way)

Nice Thread, some really good advice!

As for sunstroke, plenty of water, keeping the sun off of the top of your head is the most important thing. As you know, sunstroke is where your body's thermometer goes nuts and sends your core temperature all over the place, normally due to getting too hot. So keep in the shade as much as possible, dont run around or mosh, just take it easy. and try to avoid extremes of temperature- if your clothes are wet from sweat when you get back to the tent change out of them and dry off with a towel or small rodent.

As for energy, if you havent tried Dextros... DO IT!! The SAS use them is all im saying.

Great advice!

I got terrrible food poisoning or something last year.... and didn't take immodium til the LAST DAY X( I will take a ****ing sack of it this year!

ORIGINAL: debstar

just a quickie for anyone who doubts just how hot and sunny it can be, check out this pic of me at 2006, especially the redness of the sunburnt legs - this was the year i was an idiot and forgot my suncream - i now actually have small scarring to various parts of my body due to the sun and my stupidity that year [&o]

Hot Stuff!

looks painful

ORIGINAL: Trahern

ORIGINAL: debstar

just a quickie for anyone who doubts just how hot and sunny it can be, check out this pic of me at 2006, especially the redness of the sunburnt legs - this was the year i was an idiot and forgot my suncream - i now actually have small scarring to various parts of my body due to the sun and my stupidity that year [&o]

Hot Stuff!

looks painful

 
believe me it bloody was!!!  could have cooked a fried egg on me!!!! learnt my lesson now tho, cos im so fair skinned i always take factor50 , may sound excessive but i NEVER want to be in that much pain again, my skin scabbed rather than peeled!!!  but if my stupidity stops someone from doing the same, then at least there will be some good come of it!

This might be relevant aswell to those who have asthma. As well as taking tons of inhalers, preventers and relievers you should also take paracetamol. I say this as in 06 the heat and dust aggrivated my asthma so bad I couldn't breathe at all, I was having panic attacks and headaches, I honnestly thought I was dying. I took 3 inhalers and used them all within 2 days, they didn't relieve me at all. After getting into a terrible state after metallica on the saturday my bf at the time offered me a paracetamol for my headache. I never took tablets til this point as I couldn't swallow them but as I managed this one down it helped my breathing instantly. I have no idea why but it was like a miracle cure for me. I was finally able to sleep and had a more enjoyable sunday.
 
Still hate taking tablets but I now appreciate the good they can do.

thanks for the advice guys

And dont forget to put suncream on your ears
 
Any advise on burns? Drunk people and BBQ's bound to happen
 

any burns bigger than a 2 pence peice you should seek medical attention. when ive burnt myself ive just put my hand in cold water, kept it clean and kept an eye on it.  if youre unsure tho (and especially at download) get it checked out by the medical staff.

can I just add a really important thing here...

PLEASE DONT TAKE PAINNKILLERS IF U HAVE ALCOHOL IN YOUR SYSTEM

TIS BAD!

U WILL MAKE URSELF CRAPPY AND ILL!  NO JOKE!  [:'(]

ORIGINAL: Skullcandybaby

can I just add a really important thing here...

PLEASE DONT TAKE PAINNKILLERS IF U HAVE ALCOHOL IN YOUR SYSTEM

TIS BAD!

U WILL MAKE URSELF CRAPPY AND ILL!  NO JOKE!  [:'(]

this is true, well at least paracetamol and ibuprofen. Aspirin is fine, and a good hangover tip is: before you go to bed, have some water with a crushed aspirin dissolved in it ;) works wonders

I have a question pertaining to epilepsy.  I am an epileptic and this year I will be a first time dowloader. It is not likely that I will have a seizure but if I do, are there people on-hand who recognise an epileptic fit (not just someone reacting badly to drugs) and also how to recognise an epilepsy bracelet? My friends obviously will be informed about what to do but obviously I might get separated from them so any info on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

ORIGINAL: Bleedmeister

I have a question pertaining to epilepsy.  I am an epileptic and this year I will be a first time dowloader. It is not likely that I will have a seizure but if I do, are there people on-hand who recognise an epileptic fit (not just someone reacting badly to drugs) and also how to recognise an epilepsy bracelet? My friends obviously will be informed about what to do but obviously I might get separated from them so any info on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

 
i certainly wouldnt recognise an epilepsy bracelet. may regonise a fit but it may be an idea to
 
1- post a pic of said bracelet
 
2 - explain some of the symptoms of an epileptic fit
 
3- what can we do to help apart from the obvious get someone to go for help
 
just to educate us a little bit?

Okay, this is the basic medicalert symbol http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f42/nonepilepticseizures/?action=view&current=emblem.jpg and that coupled with the words "epilepsy sufferer" on a bracelet is the basic alert to epilepsy. There is also the Lavender symbol which is basically a cancer awareness ribbon except that it is lilac. The symbol can be a charm on a bracelet or something like that.

Really, the only difference between epileptic seizures and drugs induced seizures is the bracelet or someone nearby who knows the person and can tell you whether they have epilepsy or not.

Symptoms: Loss of consciousness, shaking of limbs, eyes roll back into head, choking-like noises coming from their throat.

If you see someone who is having a seizure, make sure that they do not hit their head on anything as this can increase the amount of time they are having the seizure and therefore prolong the time that oxygen is not getting to their brain. Also make sure that nothing is obstructing their breathing. If they are thrashing about wildly, then it is a good idea to hold their arms or legs gently so they dont hurt themselves.

IF A SEIZURE LASTS MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES CALL AN AMBULANCE

When they come out of the seizure, their speaking will be slurred and they will most likely drift in and out of consciousness, not know where they are or be panicky. Best thing is to stay calm, give them a glass of water and try to obtain from them if they need any special attention as every epileptic is different with their medication.