They’re loud, sweaty, fun, hot, dirty, and a dream come true for those in their teens and beyond. Summer is the season for music festivals and unlike your average concert, these can last several days and host hundreds of bands all in one place. They are wildly popular too, with Coachella seeing 99,000 attendees per day, 85,000 heading to Bonnaroo, the Vans Warped Tour hosting an approximate total of 500,000, and Lollapalooza entertaining about 100,000 each day. Factor in the heat, perspiration, and tight crowds, and the bacteria are bound to have just as much fun as the fans.
No matter where a festival is located, hygiene should be as much of a priority as keeping everyone hydrated and safe. Between the huge number of fans, venue staff, musicians, volunteers, and music techs, there is a massive population to serve. It is important to keep hand soap and sanitizer available at all times and so that it can be used before and/or after:
- Bathroom breaks
- Eating
- Preparing food
- Crowd surfing
- Blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- Touching trash
During the day, maintaining clean hands is the most effective way to avoid catching any sicknesses that could ruin two days of a three-day long festival. Most venues now have permanent restrooms in addition to portable ones. This gives everyone access to flushable toilets and sinks, which means hand washing with soap and water is easy to do. Some have gone a step further to provide hand-washing stations. This shows how festival organizers want their fans, bands, and hard workers to stay healthy too.
As music festivals can last up to six days, some offer camping as an alternative to staying in a hotel. The campgrounds provide showers too, which are a great benefit to attendees. A full shower is necessary, as crowds get packed so tightly at the stages and people inevitably exchange their sweat and more with many others. This can be a party for bacteria, so showering at the end of the day could save campers from skin irritation and illnesses. Keeping hair and body shampoo in each stall ensures that everyone can get a proper shower; even those who forgot to pack their own products.
Music festival season is the highlight of the summer and is anticipated all year long by fans who get the chance to meet their favorite bands, make friends, and get a break from their usual routines. Supplying the right products to promote good hygiene will ensure that everyone stays healthy and truly enjoys the experience.
The Green in Hygiene 