Medical and First Aid



Click for our prescribed medicines policy

There are medical facilities all around the site including a principal facility at Big Ground Medical supported by smaller medical units at Park Home and Cabaret and as well as a First Aid centre at Worthy View. There are two dispensing/retail pharmacies: Big Ground Medical Centre and opposite William’s Green on the walk through towards West Holt.

Medical and First Aid
Festival Medical Services have been looking after Festival-goers for years. Most problems can be dealt with on site and very few people have to go off to hospital for treatment. FMS provides a comprehensive medical and first aid service at the Festival which includes:

Big Ground Medical Centre:
– Emergency Department
– X-ray facility
– Doctor & Nurse Consultations
– Physiotherapy
– Podiatry
– Emergency Dental Services
– Psychiatric and Substance Misuse Service
– Dispensing Pharmacy

Park Home Medical Centre:
– Minor Injuries Unit

Cabaret Walk-In Centres:
– Doctor & Nurse Consultations
– treatment of minor illnesses and injuries

Stages
There are specialist medical teams in front of the two main stages during performances.

Paramedic Rapid Response and First Responder foot patrols

Site Ambulances
Pharmacies provide advice and guidance as well as the usual retail pharmacy consumables.

FMS works closely with South Western Ambulance Service, whose primary responsibility is to deal with incidents outside the Festival site but also provides ambulances on site to respond to calls received through the 999 system

NHS 111
For health advice in non-emergency situations, simply dial 111.

How to get help in an emergency:
If you need medical or first aid attention, make your way, if you can, to one of the medical facilities. In an emergency, approach a Festival steward, Festival Information, a Markets Office, a security person or a police officer, any of whom will be able to summon assistance.

Only dial 999 from a mobile phone as a last resort – this may not be the most effective means of getting help on the Festival site.

Don’t try to make your way off site to hospital – this may result in very long and possibly dangerous delays in getting treatment.

Pregnancy
There are no midwifery services at the festival and you should think very carefully before attending the event in the late stages of pregnancy. FMS policy is to transfer women in labour promptly to an off-site obstetric hospital, rather than deliver on site.

Infectious diseases
Infectious diseases could spread rapidly amongst festival-goers. You would be advised to stay away if you are suffering from an infection.

Please don’t come to Glastonbury if you have suffered from gastroenteritis with diarrhoea or vomiting during the previous 48 hours. Viral gastroenteritis is very infectious and spreads easily in crowds. Risks can be reduced by careful hand washing after going to the toilet and before handling food.

Measles is one of the most infectious diseases and there are outbreaks in England and Wales. Please don’t come to Glastonbury if you have developed a rash with a fever in the 4 days before arrival.

Be prepared: two doses of MMR vaccine provide a high level of protection. MMR is recommended for anyone over the age of 13 months although if you were born before 1970 you are very likely to have had measles as a child and to be immune.

For further information see www.nhs.uk Health A-Z

Staying safe and well
You can reduce the risk of injury and ill health by following this simple advice:

Alcohol
Drink in moderation. Hangover headaches usually respond if you drink plenty of water. For more detailed information on alcohol at festivals, please read FMS’s alcohol information page.

Burns
Camping gas accidents are the most common cause of serious burns. Never change these canisters in or near a tent and make sure the canister is threaded properly before lighting. Beware of wax flares and candles. Only buy from sellers authorised by the Festival. Every year some irresponsible people sell unapproved flares and candles which cause nasty, sight-threatening eye injuries — so if you are uncertain they are legit, don’t buy!

Crowds
Can be dangerous places for small children. Body surfing may look like fun, but would you like to be dropped and trampled? Don’t put yourself at unnecessary risk.

Drugs
Stay safe, don’t take drugs. FMS does not prescribe or dispense Controlled Drugs and makes no exceptions. For more detailed information on drugs at festivals, please read FMS’s drugs information page.

Hearing damage
If you spend too long in front of the loudspeakers you could damage your hearing. Colourful earplugs, to protect your ears, are available from the Royal National Institute for the Deaf stall next to the Pyramid Stage.

Medicines and medication
Bring some over-the-counter remedies for headache, tooth ache, minor cuts, burns or bruises and sunburn. Ask your local pharmacist for advice. If you suffer from hay fever, remember to bring enough nasal spray, eye drops or antihistamine tablets to last through the Festival. Remember to bring any regular medications you might need. FMS can look after your medication if it needs to be kept in the fridge. If you do forget anything tell FMS. They can usually obtain further supplies. Click for our prescribed medicines policy

Practice Safe Sex
If you have sex without a condom you risk catching diseases such as gonorrhoea, syphilis or chlamydia or risk pregnancy. Emergency Contraception and sexual health advice and screening are available from the on-site Festival Medical Services.

Stomach bugs
Reduce your risk of picking up or spreading the germs that cause sickness and diarrhoea by washing your hands before you eat and after you go to the loo. If cooking take care. Make sure food is cooked properly, especially meat / hamburgers. Wash your hands if you have been handling rubbish.

Upset or depressed
If you are having emotional problems and want to talk to someone, the Samaritans  have tents on the Festival site – identifiable by their large green banners. There are also two main welfare facilities on site; Worthy Welfare next to the farmhouse and Green Welfare in the Greenfields – they offer experienced, caring, and confidential help for all kinds of practical and personal problems as well as dealing with lost and found property. Click here to read about Glastonbury Festivals’ Welfare centres.

FMS has a psychiatric team based at the Medical Centre to help with more serious mental health problems.

Water
Drink plenty of it! In hot weather or when you are very active you can dehydrate quickly. Safe drinking water is available for free from more than 850 taps, including at 30 bottle-filling stations, seven tap boards and four water bars (at the Pyramid Stage, West Holts, Other Stage and The Park), as well as at six WaterAid kiosks.

All water at Glastonbury Festival comes from Bristol Water and is of the same quality as your tap water at home.

Weather
Be prepared for almost any weather. Bring sun protection, warm clothes and wet weather gear – and a spare pair of shoes!

Please note: Although FMS have a fleet of stretcher and walking wounded ambulances operating on site, please don’t call an ambulance unless you really need one. This is to make sure that these specialist resources are always available to those in genuine need. If you are in any doubt call Festival Medical Services and ask advice.

Need more health information?
NHS 111 Tel: 111 / Online: NHS 111

Alcohol:
Somerset Drugs & Alcohol Service: 01373 475 560

Community:
Victim Support: 0845 303 0900

Drugs:
National Drugs Helpline: 0800 776600
West Somerset Healthcare Drugs Helpline: 0800 776600
Somerset Drugs & Alcohol Service: 01373 475 560

Food:
Beat Eating Disorders: Helpline 0808 801 0677; Youthline 0808 801 0711

Sexual Health:
SWISH Somerset Contraceptive and Sexual Health Service: 0300 124 5010
Somerset Lesbian and Gay Helpline: 01823 327078

Smoking:
www.givingupsmoking.co.uk 
NHS Smoking Helpline: 0800 1690 169

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