There are plenty of truly outstanding music festivals held around the world. From the UK’s Glastonbury Festival to the annual Coachella festival in Southern California, it is hard to go wrong when you travel to your favorite festival site for days of great music and hard partying. Just remember that safety should always be a top concern.

No music festival or rave is worth risking your health or safety. Over the years, people have been seriously injured and killed because they did things that were clearly unsafe. Do not be another statistic. Learn how to rock out safely no matter where your music festival travels take you.

Know the Environment

A big safety concern for all music festivals is the local environment. Whether an event is held outdoors or inside, visitors unfamiliar with the environment are at a greater risk of injury. What does this tell you? It should tell you to get to know the environment before you go. If you are venturing to a place you have never been to before, research it ahead of time.

Knowing the environment is especially important when you’re talking about outdoor events. A person from Southern California visiting Glastonbury may not be prepared for cooler temperatures and a bit of rain. Hypothermia could become a real problem if the weather takes a turn for the worse. Likewise, UK travelers do not have much experience with the heat and blistering sun in Southern California. Sunburn and heat exhaustion are big risks at Coachella.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

Once you arrive at the venue, familiarize yourself with the surroundings. Locate the restrooms. Find out where the first aid area is. Familiarize yourself with where police officers and emergency medical providers have stationed themselves. The more you know about your surroundings, the more quickly you’ll be able to respond in the event of an emergency.

A First Aid Kit Helps

Being prepared is one of the keys to personal safety. To that end, carrying a first aid kit whenever you travel is a good idea. Having a first aid kit at a music festival is an even better idea. Even if you don’t need it for yourself, chances are you will run into somebody who could use a bandage or a couple of aspirin.

You can find easy-to-carry sports first aid kits online. They work well for music festivals and any other events where large numbers of people gather. Sports kits contain a little bit of everything for treating cuts and abrasions, burns, contusions, etc. They are pretty affordable, too.

The thing is that your first aid kit does not have to be anything fancy. It could be as simple as a bag of basic supplies to throw over your shoulder.

Cool It on the Substance Use

It’s sad to say that a lot of the safety issues that tend to pop up at music festivals are directly related to drugs and alcohol. The most important thing that can be said here is as follows: cool it on the substance use. Remember the wisdom behind the old adage that dictates moderation in everything.

If you going to consume alcohol, bear in mind how easy it is to become intoxicated. Never forget the very real risk of alcohol poisoning if you consume too much too fast. As for drugs, it goes without saying that illicit drug use is never a good idea. Why risk your safety just for a temporary high? Isn’t it enough to enjoy great music in the company of thousands of others?

Stick with Friends

There is another old adage that says there is safety in numbers. That is absolutely true, especially when you are venturing into a strange environment you have never been to before. When traveling to music festivals and raves, it is always best to stick with friends.

And if you go with just one or two other people, try to make friends upon arrival. The larger the group you hang out with, the better off you’ll be. If you want to split up because one group wants to see the electronic music and the other wants to head the grunge rock stage, be sure you have designate a meet up point and time. As difficult as that may be to stick to, just make sure you don’t separate from your group in the sea of folks.

Do Not Drink and Drive

Last but not least, never drink and drive. If there is any chance that you’ll be consuming alcohol at a festival, use public transportation to get to and from it. If driving is absolutely necessary, someone in your group should volunteer to be a designated driver who does not drink. You can always use a ride-hailing service if all else fails. Just don’t drink and drive.

It shouldn’t have to be said, but the same rule also applies to taking drugs. Driving while you’re high is just as dangerous as driving drunk. It is also just as illegal. Don’t do it.

Being part of the local music scene is incredible. Having the opportunity to travel to music festivals and raves – both locally and abroad – is even better. But never forget safety. It is possible to rock out and still be safe regardless of the event you are attending. It only takes a willingness to do so, a bit of preparation, and some common sense. Paying attention to safety could save a life. Maybe even yours.