Island Health is reminding festival-goers to take precautions and keep safety top of mind as summer festival season gets underway.
Medical health officer Dr. Melissa Wan says it’s important to stay hydrated, take breaks in the shade and look out for friends to help prevent heat-related illness and other health emergencies.
“Heat stress, when the body heats up faster than it can cool, can develop even when temperatures don’t seem extreme — especially with hours of dancing, direct sun, and substances like alcohol or MDMA that make it harder for the body to cool down,” said Wan.
Symptoms of heat-related illness include confusion, agitation, slurred speech, nausea, flushed skin, rapid breathing or a racing heart rate.
The health authority is also encouraging anyone who chooses to use drugs or alcohol to avoid mixing substances, carry naloxone, use drug-checking services and call 911 immediately if someone is showing signs of an overdose.
“A safe festival is a shared effort. Organizers can support attendees by providing shade, water, first aid, drug checking services, and naloxone on site, and attendees can do their part by using these supports, pacing themselves, and watching out for those around them,” said Wan.
RELATED: Coroners report 23 deaths on Vancouver Island through May due to drug toxicity : My Comox Valley Now
In a statement, Island Health said unregulated substances are more poisonous and unpredictable in the ongoing public health toxic drug crisis, and it’s critical that people use harm reduction practices to stay safer.
