Healthcare at Download

Hey i'm a paramedic, but i may be a little drunk at times!! but if you collapse near me i should be able to help a little!!   
Agreed with *red* don't attempt wierd first aid manouvers if you don't know what your doing, it might get you arrested!  
It is a good thread, and should prove helpful.

Don't often post on here but noticed this thread - wondered where is the best place to store my medication + my hubby's? we have to take anti-depressants + anti-convulsants X2 a day and vitally important we don't miss doses (nasty side effects, I could end up having fits even though I'm not epileptic!). I was thinking of getting a locker and keeping them in there, is that the best idea?

Also, how do security react when they come across the meds in a bag search? I will keep all pills in their original packaging with the pharmacy labels on stating who it is prescribed for, but I will have to carry some diazepam around with me for panic/anxiety for worse case scenarios and I'm concerned the security staff may think I'm a druggie or dealer & take it off me! :(

xx

Just wanted to say that I'm a little worried by the amount of posts I've read around the forum with people saying they're going to leave their sun cream and such at home since it looks like it will be raining.

Idiots!

Standing around all day even in cloud and rain can STILL get you burnt. The sun is still very hot and if you look on metcheck along with the weather, the UV rays are still up to 7 or 8 on some days and others around 4 or 5 (that is out of 10 btw, so you can still get very burnt)

PLEEEEAAASE take sun cream along with your wellies!!! Don't be dumb!

Also another thing I just thought of- even if your not a first aider and see someone fall pick them up! If they have fainted the best thing to do is get some people to help you lift them up and get them to the front. There are firstaiders at the front and they will know what to do. It happened a few times last year and as soon as I lifted them up the air hit them and woke them up .
They may not at first appreciate being moved from the front but if they are unconscious it's the best thing you can do.

And if someone generall falls pick them up. I have dyspraxia and fall alot. I fell at download last year and had a few occasions when people trampled all over me. I know it's difficult but look out for others- you never know when it may be you!

Some tips for you;
 
* When hung over, drink one of the fruit smoothies.. honestly, they saved my life last year.  Caffeine is bad, and considering how high temperatures can be, you don't want a bad headache.
 
* Buy a cowboy hat or something and sunglasses, they're legend for the sun.
 
* Use the times where you can't be arsed seeing a band to top up your water supplies.
 
* Before you get too drunk (if you ever get sober) hide some money so you don't spend it, especially if you're one of these idiots who pay for a clump of mud or a kiss or something.
 
* Have a biiiig crap every morning, try using something to enhance its effect.
 
* Take some bin bags.  I know it may seem like you can't be arsed, but it soon becomes too much to bare.  You can pick up sanitary gloves in welfare if you're desperate, but try and take your own because they can be a bit shirty.
 
* It's up to you, but some times it's better buying crates up there, it makes your shopping before hand and journey up there less hassle.
 
* Eat well, it means you can drink a lot more and stay awake more (there's nothing "hardcore" about passing out and being a lightweight at a festival)
 
* Wear a bandana over your mouth when walking to the main arena, it helps you from getting throat infections and it also helps you when you want to sing along to bands when you see them.
 
* For God's sake, don't forget to put sun cream on (and don't let your mate have some, because they'll empty the contents of the bottle all down your back and on your hat, if they're an utter dick.
 
 
Just thought I'd give my two cents. ;)
 
 

i ended up with bad blisters on my heels cause im a nob & wore new trainers so blister plasters are a must in my download pack now just in case

www.myspace.com/afableforthecurious

Im taking old trainers so wont have to worry about blisters hopefully, might take my old wellies if it looks like rain, lots of socks aswell.
 
Cowboy hat or sombrero would be a good idea. Sun-cream too, Ive had sun stoke and it was awfull.

Im having a worry Thing is im rocking a huge scar on my chest (from hart op) and this year I intend to kinda strip off more in the sun now am not fat and am kinda proud of what ive done and accomplished.

So am kinda worried about how the sun and its radiation will affect it with it been baby soft kinda skin and if its a good idea i will use sun cream anyway.

I did see a few girls with low cut tops and them rocking a big scar like my to but cos i really freak out around girls that I dont know i didnt say or ask anything.

so what can people suggest and all that jazz  

please to anyone thinking about leaving sun cream at home DON'T DO IT!! and please take a hat or something..ever last person i was with last year had a burnt nose...even if the hats just on when waiting for the next band!!

RIP mr. paul gray xxxx

I've read this entire topic and have found it to be very helpful. I'm a first aider due to my line of work and the advice on here is great. Some stuff I didn't know myself.

One thing I didn't spot is advice on choking. If you experience a situation where someone may have something lodged in their throat, follow these steps:

1) As with all first aid situations GET SOMEONE TO SEEK HELP. Even if its over when the medical staff arrive, you'll be thankful to see them. Also with first aid, don't put yourself in danger. I doubt such dangers will present themselves at Download or indeed any festival or concert but always make sure of that.

2) Give up to 5 back slaps with the palm of your hand to the centre of the back between the shoulder blades. After each blow, either yourself or someone else check the casualtys mouth to see if the object has become dislodged. If not, carry on to step 2. 

3) Give up to 5 abdominal thrusts. Place a clenched fist between the belly button and the bottom of the breast bone and pull inwards and upwards. Again check the mouth after each one. If these steps do not work, redo the process until medical assistance arrives.

Other random advice I can give through my own experiences at Download:

*If someone looks upset or is crying, there is nothing wrong with asking if they are OK. Look out for others.

* If you see someone clutching their leg or arm and appear in pain, offer them assistance to the medical tent.

*And finally, whilst moshing your heart out in the insane pits, if someone goes down, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO???

Good advice. I had really bad hay fever back in '07 and forgot to take any medication with me :( But luckily the couple pitched next to me in the campsite helped me out. Won't make the same mistake again though!

Great post.

I thought I'd post a link to the symptoms for sun stroke as it can have a rapid onset and the sufferer might not notice until they're well on the way.

Regarding sun screen.  Weather sites, such as Metcheck and  the BBC had the weekend last year as overcast and raining.  This was true right up until I left at 2am on the Thursday morning to head to the camp site.  Lo and behold, the sun was beating down like a MMA in the octagon.  I'd take it, even if the reports say it'll be teeming down.  It's a deffo must pack item.  Also, check you have packed the good old sunglasses and make sure they have UVA/B protection.  A mate of mine didn't and, after squinting in the daylight for a couple of days, ended up with itchy eyes.  A few eye drops helped but it would seem he had mild sun burn to his peepers!

For what it's worth, I noticed folks lying passed out on the grass in the blazing sun, gently cooking.  Lots of people passed by, but no one stopped to check if they were okay.

Top tip - If you see someone snoozing on the grass when on your way to get a beer/burger, and they're still there on the way back, give them a gentle nudge on the foot and see if they're alright.  No need to be their keeper for the weekend, but a quick tap on the leg and asking if they're feeling okay just might help someone's weekend turning from the best time of their lives into a frigging nightmare.

I didn't get a single bit of grief doing this and some were very appreciative as they hadn't realised they'd been asleep in the sun for quite so long.

It's all down to looking after each other.  For those who were rudely awakened by a hairy Scotsman asking if they were fine, it was possibly me

cheers for the info!

Hey

I found NoRinse waterless bathing product on e-festivals, and tried them in my tent, their a god send. Their liquids so you basically put it on, rub into the area ( I bought shampoo and body wash) and towel dry. I take it to every festival now. :-)

http://www.efestivals.co....;highlite=%2Bwaterless

or their website is www.norinse.co.uk

Sick, nice one for all posts dudes, I'm not gonna take any chances with 1: sun burn as last year were murder, and hangovers, touch wood past 3 years I just don't seem to get hangovers at festivals, but i think i'm gonna go with this berocca idea i've seen floatin about, that mixed with hair of dog, best!

www.myspace.com/elaineeasom

Omega500

Im having a worry Thing is im rocking a huge scar on my chest (from hart op) and this year I intend to kinda strip off more in the sun now am not fat and am kinda proud of what ive done and accomplished.

So am kinda worried about how the sun and its radiation will affect it with it been baby soft kinda skin and if its a good idea i will use sun cream anyway.

I did see a few girls with low cut tops and them rocking a big scar like my to but cos i really freak out around girls that I dont know i didnt say or ask anything.

so what can people suggest and all that jazz  

I know this is a late reply but i have visible scars from ops, when i had the the specialist told me to try and cover the scar as much as possible and if i wanted to be in the sun use the highest factor suncream i could find as the sun can make the scar worse in the long run :)

Bleedmeister

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.

Regarding the above message I am a nurse in a Neuro setting the information below has been issued by the Epilepsy Society, people having a fit should not be restrained, due to risk of injury to themselves or persons restraining them.
 
 

What to do during the seizure:

• try to stay calm;

• check the time to see how long the seizure

is going on for (because there may be a

risk of status )

• move objects, such as furniture, away

from the person if they might hurt

themselves. Only move them if they are in

a dangerous place; for example, at the top

their head, or cup their head in your hands,

happen;

is no danger of them swallowing their

tongue during the seizure; and

• try to stop other people from crowding

around.

A*J

Omega500

Im having a worry Thing is im rocking a huge scar on my chest (from hart op) and this year I intend to kinda strip off more in the sun now am not fat and am kinda proud of what ive done and accomplished.

So am kinda worried about how the sun and its radiation will affect it with it been baby soft kinda skin and if its a good idea i will use sun cream anyway.

I did see a few girls with low cut tops and them rocking a big scar like my to but cos i really freak out around girls that I dont know i didnt say or ask anything.

so what can people suggest and all that jazz  

Hi, I have a Heart op scar as well, last year (09) i was wearing low cut tops all wkend, I used factor 50 sunscreen and my scar was fine. I also used vitimin E cream at night. 

a friend of ours is a trainee doc and said when people come into a and e with alcohol poisoning they get some sort of vitamin b intravenously. so he advised us (for the huge amount of alcohol being consumed at download) to take some vitamin b tablets. nt sure how much it'll help but willing to try it to stop any bad effects.

thats some great info.. Id like to add get some factor 50  ((BOYS ESPECIALLY) and put it on your face!!
 all  my mates burnt their faces becuase of no suncream and no hats..!!

stupid really..

some foundation has spf in it!! thats got to be a positive!!

Rxx

RIP mr. paul gray xxxx

I always forget to do my face and end up with a burnt nose!

Please don't forget, it hurts!

Asda are doing offers on portable first aid kits at the moment for £1.

They are pretty basic but they have plasters, bandages, sterile pads/bandages, non-alcohol wipes, medical tape and a sling i think.

Also, twin packs of sanitising gel for £1, and a ton more of handy stuff.

Caravan is one of the flagship bands of “Canterbury” progressive rock, a quirky, intelligent branch of English pop music history which has built a devoted following over the past three decades. The music by Canterbury artists is influenced as much by church hymns as jazz, r&b, and British Invasion pop, lending it a very recognizable, distinctive sound.
Caravan formed in Canterbury, England during the late 1960s. Its origins lie with the local band The Wilde Flowers, formed in 1964 and featuring Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, and Hugh Hopper, future founders of The Soft Machine, and guitarist Richard Sinclair. When drummer and vocalist Wyatt wanted to concentrate on singing, Richard Coughlan joined as percussionist in 1965. Soon after, Ayers’friend Pye Hastings became second guitarist.
After

Caravans For Sale Scotland

IMPORTANT!
 
Taking Paracetamol to hangover (or with alcohol) is very dangerous. It can damage your liver sevearly!
 
That is a thing that is a big suprise to most of the people (including me). Paracetamol can affect with alcohol to make some kind of entsyme to damage your liver and make same amount of damage that you can get with abusing alcohol for years!
Like alcohol, drugs and medication works in different ways for different people, so is with this combination, that you´ll never know how it will affect on you and the bad thing is that you won´t see it in the same day, week or month but in your future.
 
So to make sure, use some kind of different painkillers to your hangover. I heard this from my first aid teacher just like year ago.
 
Just one link, you can google a lot more: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.g..mc/articles/PMC2014937/
 
Take care!
-Beard-

Beard
 
Have you actually read the paper you link to?
 
The summary is that in chronic alcoholics (i.e. regular use above accepted safe levels, with features of dependence on alcohol), there is NO evidence of liver damage due to paracetamol taken at recommended doses.
 
There paper does not support the assertions made by your first aid teacher (many of whom, i'm afraid, repeat anecdote and folklore as fact); indeed, the paper you quote is not directly relevant to the circumstances you refer to (as it was not carried out in otherwise healthy subjects suffering the after-effects of acute alcohol overdose!)
 
In summary - paracetamol at licensed doses is regarded as safe, although many of the features of the hangover are due to dehydration and will be better addressed by getting water on board. Paracetamol taken in excess is of course a different matter, and probably a lot more dangerous than people give credit for.

Another tip I'd recommend is Rehydration treatments. these things saved my life last year. I had awful sunstroke and stayed in the shade until 4pm but after a rehydration treatment and some water all was well. Boots sell these quite cheap, they taste like crap but definately do the job. http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Rehydration-Treatment-Blackcurrant-6-Sachets_335251/

  A brief glimpse into hell but a cold hard stare into reality.

I take sports hydration powder and make some up in the morning then carry it in a hydration back pack. This really help with keeping hydrated and it makes the water taste yummy too. Last year I used Boots own powder and it was just as good. You can get the powder from Boots, Superdrug and supermarkets like asda. The powder can also be used to help with diarrhoea too as it replaces electrolytes and salts and a good hangover cure too as it rehydrates.
 
Hydration pack (look out for sales, mine was £10)
http://www.millets.co.uk/...s/hydration-packs.html
 
Lucozade Powder
http://www.energy4sport.c...zade_Sport_drinks.html
 
x  x x
 
 
 

Dum Spiro, Spero... ...
 
Bloodstock: 2004
Download: 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Hammerfest: 2012
 

One other top tip lads n lasses for **** sake keep an eye out for each other. at the very first Download Festival me and the missus seen three young lads (Obviously away from home for the first time) all extremely pissed. One of them the quietest one had been dared to neck a 750cl bottle of single malt Scotch, which he proceeded to do in a hour or so spell under extreme peer pressure, when he did the inevitable and collapsed completly and utterly **** faced his two dip**** mates were only gonna leave him there lying on his back after that. It took a great deal of persuasion from us and a Aussie lass to make these two pricks take their mate to St Johns. The Aussie threatened to smack one of them as he got all pissy about it. Fact is their mate could well have ended up as a casualty had they not been forced to take him to First aid, they wouldnt have even thought about him the rest of the day, IF theyd stayed awake themselves..not ****in clever, and definitly not big.
 
You go to have a good time, enjoy yourselves, drink by all means but keep together, and if someone is ill take them to get help, no one wants anyone to die. Its not fun, if it happens, and you aint allowed to leave till the police are satisfied either. Happened at a bike show I went to, and we couldnt leave the site for four hours, and the guy just died of a heart attack

Superdrug are currently running a 50% off sun care promotion so now would be a good time to stock up on sun cream! I'm not sure which brands are in the sale as we only picked up the Nivea spray stuff, but still worth a look.

Boots have some travel minis for most healthcare items you would need and pro plus. Boots own brand of things such as rehydration treatments are cheap and effective and I can't recommend their own brand headache cooling pads enough! I used them when I had headaches, sunstroke and I even stuck one to my back when I was really hot lol!

  A brief glimpse into hell but a cold hard stare into reality.

A top tip for y'all if its a hot Festival: drink Lucozade or Lucozade Sport drinks fairly regularly, it replaces the fluids you lose while walkin around or in the pit. Keeps us old bastards going, and our nephew lived on it last year. Keeps ya rocking longer, I tend to have one before I crash for the night n all
As for sun screen if your fair skinned (which I am) use factor 30 or higher, specially as there is next to no shade there. I should know I was born in Africa, and severe sunburn is not fun, trust me. As for scars getting the sun, my knee is one whole scar, factor 30 copiously on it does the biz, falling over on it is not fun though
 

Screaming  Blue Murder

I have a so called "health problems" im on Clexane (a blood thiner) as I have a metal hart valve was on warfarin but am resistant to it.
well anyway the clexane is in little glass syringe never had a problem getting them in only in 09 when I had one of them self important people go though my bags on a  power trip. If you where to have any problems like that and them been in glass just ask for there supervisor and you be fine.
 
Also i read about them medic alert bracelets/necklace, well me i had one of these lots of these as I always lost them when they broke. so I went and got it tattooed on me, asked my doc about it as the tattooist guy wouldnt do it on the count of me been on rat poison. long story short doctor rang him got him to do it. My doctor also said that he wishes all his diabetic patients would get it as a tattoo.
Something to look into maybe    
Last thing I am also a super rare blood type have that tattoed on to near my medic alert one with its numbers

Holy****zu has it covered, if you have drunk enough to get yourself drunk, then down as much water as you can before you crash out to sleep. hangover's are mainly dehydration.
:)
 

  
  
Monsters of Rock Festivals
1991,1992,1995
OzzFest
1998,2001,2002
Metallica (MK Bowl)
1999
Download Festival
2006,2009,2010,2011,2012
Greenfields (Swiss)
2011
 

I've hurt my leg in an accident a few months ago and I have to take some medication with me to Download. Do I need to take a copy of my presciption just to prove it's mine and prescribed to me, rather than just randomly having powerful medication on me with no identification what so ever. I've never been to Download before so I don't know whether or not you get searched, so I'm not sure what to do. Any advice?
(I've been told to keep some in a locker just so it's safe)

Download 2011 - Twister Camp
Reading 2011
 

SquirrelsOfWar

I've hurt my leg in an accident a few months ago and I have to take some medication with me to Download. Do I need to take a copy of my presciption just to prove it's mine and prescribed to me, rather than just randomly having powerful medication on me with no identification what so ever. I've never been to Download before so I don't know whether or not you get searched, so I'm not sure what to do. Any advice?
(I've been told to keep some in a locker just so it's safe)

 
Keep it in its prescribed box or bottle and get a note from your doctor stating what it is and what it's for and that it's yours. You do get searched - they pick random peole at the campsite gates and pretty much anyone with bags at the arena gates so its better to be safe than sorry

 
Polythene Girl
*mwah*

 

polythenegirl
Keep it in its prescribed box or bottle and get a note from your doctor stating what it is and what it's for and that it's yours. You do get searched - they pick random peole at the campsite gates and pretty much anyone with bags at the arena gates so its better to be safe than sorry

Cheers, that's what I thought. Thanks a lot for the advice, takes a lot off my mind, so I can just focus on getting better!

Download 2011 - Twister Camp
Reading 2011
 

Dont know if it has been mentioned yet but ladies i would suggest taking some Cranberry extract tablets with you if you ever suffer with cystitis, i usually take 2 a day to prevent any occurrences.
 
Ive put myself together a little bag including, painkillers, hayfever tablets, vitamin c capsules, re-hydration sachets, plasters, indigestion tablets, cranberry extract, suncream and a spf lipbalm 

I must say that I have had to thank the onsite pharmacists twice, one year i managed to get conjunctivitis, which was agony and a real pain in the ass, then another year i ate a dodgy sausage from the german sausage stand and ended up running to and from the loo for an hour or so, the pharmacist sorted me out with some pills that were better than immodium!!

ghoulscout

I must say that I have had to thank the onsite pharmacists twice, one year i managed to get conjunctivitis, which was agony and a real pain in the ass, then another year i ate a dodgy sausage from the german sausage stand and ended up running to and from the loo for an hour or so, the pharmacist sorted me out with some pills that were better than immodium!!

Ouch, dark times....

Download 2011 - Twister Camp
Reading 2011
 

It was!! Very dark, but thankfully my tummy got better!! My conjunctivitis was hell!! My eyes ened up looking like golf balls and the dust blowing onto them was like glass shards!!!!