Revellers at T in the Park have been advised to think about their wellbeing while enjoying themselves.
Around 85,000 people are expected to descend on the festival at Balado this weekend to watch acts including Coldplay, the Foo Fighters and Beyonce.
Those attending will be in party mood and on Thursday Perth and Kinross Focus on Alcohol launched their summer alcohol awareness campaign at Sportsters in Perth, with its message, PartyHardStaySafe.
It is a sub-group of the Alcohol and Drugs Partnership (ADP) in Perth and Kinross, and is using volunteers and social media to get across safety messages to festival-goers.
ADP is a multi-agency strategic partnership tasked with identifying and co-ordinating local action and priorities on alcohol and substance misuse
The council’s Skillseekers will be handing out advice as well as PartyHardStaySafe wristbands.
Lewis Hepburn, leader of the Skillseeker group, said, “To be involved at a large event like T in the Park will provide my team with plenty of positive experiences, and by getting an important message across to the festival-goers we hope they too will enjoy their time safely and responsibly.”
Social media sites, such as Facebook, are being used for the first time.
Advice is available on an e-guide, What Makes Good T, which can be downloaded online.Simple tipsThe guide features information from a recent survey of 1600 festival-goers, which found 75% bring water, 71% stick with their friends and 72% don’t drive home.
Liam McLaughlin, from Perth and Kinross Focus on Alcohol, said, “Many thousands of people descend on Balado, Kinross, during the weekend of T in the Park, and many of them see alcohol as a key part of their enjoyment of the weekend.
“We want people to have a great, safe and brilliant time, and have produced messages that we hope will support this.”
Tayside Police chief superintendent Roddy Ross, focus group chairman, said, “Every year a small number of people get themselves into trouble at T in the Park because they don’t follow simple advice look after yourselves and each other and make it a weekend to remember for all the right reasons.”
ADP chairman Bill Nicoll said, “T in the Park is Scotland’s largest outdoor music event and draws crowds from all over the country. This is Scotland’s gold standard music event.”
Music fans were also urged to make sure they are prepared for any minor medical emergencies.
NHS 24 medical director, Dr George Crooks, advises festival-goers to pack a few small items to ensure a stress-free weekend.
He said, “Summer festivals are great places to meet people and enjoy music with friends but try to remember to pack a few small items with you in case you do become unwell.
“Take some over-the-counter medication with you for stomach upsets of diarrhoea and remember antiseptic cream is good for bites, stings and cuts.
“It is always important to have sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and antiseptic hand gel is always handy to have at outdoor events.”‘Don’t wander off’He added, “Plan ahead and take some condoms with you to protect you from sexually transmitted infections.
“Also tampons, wet wipes and hayfever medications will always come in handy over the weekend-don’t forget to take your asthma inhaler or any prescription medicine.”
He said revellers should not allow themselves to get too carried away by the party spirit.
“Don’t ruin the weekend for yourself and others by drinking far too much too quickly.
“Try alternating soft drinks or water for alcoholic ones on a regular basis over the day.”
Dr Crooks added that anyone who does feel unwell should visit the first aid area on-site.
“Never leave your friends on their own and don’t wander off by yourself,” he added.
“Organise a meeting point if you get split up and stay with people you know.”
Photo by Flickr user Pex Cornel.