Tips to improve your Country Music Festival experience

Before you head out your door or tent during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, there are a few health tips you might want to consider.

Tamworth health services see a variety of illnesses and ailments during the festival - most of these due to the heat the city experiences in January. Public Health Physician for Hunter New England Health Tony Merritt says protecting yourself from the sun is important.

“January is typically a very hot month in Tamworth, and our visitors are at risk of sunburn and sun stroke,” Dr Merritt said.

“You should protect yourself from the sun, cover up, wear a hat and use sunscreen regularly to avoid painful sunburn when taking in the sights.”

And while you’re protecting your skin from the sun, make sure you cover up and protect yourself from mosquitos.

“Mozzies are about and are a pest with their bites and diseases,” Dr Merritt said. “The best way to avoid their bites is to apply insect repellent, especially in the evening and at night.”

Dehydration is also common in Emergency Department (ED) presentations during the festival. The best thing a country music lover can do is to maintain healthy fluid levels. Fresh water is cheap and the best way to hydrate yourself.

“Keep drinking water, especially when walking around outside in the heat,” Dr Merritt said. “Put a water bottle in the freezer the night before your attend an outdoor event and keep it with you during the day so you’ve always got cool water.”

One of the main tips to remember is to take a break from the festivities once in a while.

“It’s important to rest regularly – if you can, take a fold up chair with you to outdoor events or stop and sit in a shady spot,” Dr Merritt said.

Hunter New England Health also urges country music festival goers to care for some of their bodies’ most precious assets – their feet.

“Strange as it sounds we treat a fair few people with bad blisters on their feet, Dr Merritt said.

“Due to the heat, it’s tempting to wear thongs or shoes without socks for the entire festival. A week of walking in inappropriate footwear can take its toll on your feet. Make sure you pack socks and good walking shoes for your trip to Tamworth.”

And even though fans are in the festival mood, it’s important to maintain good personal hygiene practices. Displaying good food hygiene is also important and the rules are simple: keep cold food cold and hot food steaming hot. This will help to keep food safer to eat.“Regular hand washing before handling food and after using the toilet can help to avoid contamination and illness,” Dr Merritt said.

“A lot of illnesses can be avoided by regularly washing your hands, so soap up or carry a small bottle of waterless disinfectant gel with you.”

If you plan on drinking alcohol, the rules are simple. If you want to drink, don’t drive. A shuttle bus operates around Tamworth for the period of the festival.

Continue to follow these health tips and tricks and you’ll get the most out of your Country Music Festival experience.

Contact: Abbey Wright

Phone: 0400 051 702