Festival First Aid Hub
Miss K here. This hub is built for real festival moments — quick steps, calm guidance, and the big red flags. It’s not here to replace professionals. It’s here to help you do the right thing until help arrives.
Call 999 now if someone is unresponsive, not breathing normally, having a seizure, very hot and confused, has severe breathing difficulty, has signs of a severe allergic reaction, or you suspect alcohol/drug poisoning.
Miss K’s 60-second quick check
1) Safe to approach? 2) Do they respond? 3) Are they breathing normally? If they’re unresponsive or breathing is not normal: call 999 and start CPR.
Jump to the situation
Tap a topic. Each section tells you what you’ll see, what to do now, what not to do, and when to call 999.
Recovery Position (Video Guide)
Miss K says: If they’re breathing normally but not responding, get them on their side to protect the airway. This is one of the most important skills you’ll ever learn.
What to say to 999 (Miss K script)
- Where you are: festival name, entrance, stage, landmark, nearest staff point.
- What’s happened: “Person collapsed / unresponsive / seizure / overheating.”
- Breathing: normal / not normal / unsure.
- Conscious level: awake / confused / not responding.
- Key risks: very hot, chest pain, head injury, heavy vomiting.
- Age/sex: approximate if unknown.
- What they took (if known): alcohol, pills, powder, ket, weed — and when.
- What you’re doing now: cooling, recovery position, CPR started, AED on the way.
What to tell festival medics
- Timeline: when symptoms started + how fast it changed.
- Symptoms: seizure length, vomiting, confusion, overheating, breathing changes.
- Substances: what, how much, and last dose time (if known).
- Medical info: asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, allergies, meds, recent illness (if known).
- Injuries: fall, head knock, cuts, burns.
- Actions taken: cooling, water sips, recovery position, CPR/AED use.
- Any ID / wristband info if available.
Unresponsive / Not breathing normally
What you’ll see
- No response to voice or gentle shoulder tap.
- Breathing absent, gasping, snoring-like, or “not normal”.
- Blue/grey lips or skin, or they look like they’re “fading”.
What to do now
- Call 999 on speaker. Send someone to get festival medics and an AED.
- Check breathing for 10 seconds max.
- If breathing is not normal: start CPR.
- If breathing is normal: use the recovery position and keep checking.
Do NOT
- Do not leave them alone.
- Do not waste time “waiting to see”.
Seizure
What you’ll see
- Rhythmic jerking or stiffening.
- Loss of awareness, collapse.
- Afterwards: confusion, exhaustion.
What to do now
- Move hazards away. Cushion the head.
- Time the seizure.
- When it stops: check breathing. Recovery position if breathing normally.
Call 999 now if
- Seizure lasts 5 minutes+, repeats, or they’re injured / breathing problems follow.
Heat exhaustion & heatstroke
What you’ll see
- Heat exhaustion: headache, dizziness, nausea, heavy sweating.
- Heatstroke red flags: confusion, collapse, very hot skin, seizure.
What to do now
- Shade/cool area. Remove extra layers.
- Cool them: fan, cool water, cool packs to neck/armpits/groin.
- If fully awake: small sips of water.
Call 999 now if
- Confusion, collapse, seizure, or very hot skin.
Alcohol/drug poisoning & suspected spiking
What you’ll see
- Very drowsy, hard to wake, slipping in/out.
- Slow/irregular breathing, repeated vomiting, seizure.
- Sudden extreme intoxication (spiking suspected).
What to do now
- Call 999. Put phone on speaker.
- Keep them on their side if vomiting/drowsy.
- Stay with them and monitor breathing.
Asthma attack support
What you’ll see
- Wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, struggling to speak.
What to do now
- Sit upright. Loosen clothing. Calm breathing.
- Help with their reliever inhaler if they have one.
- Get welfare/medics.
Call 999 now if
- Getting worse, too breathless to speak, blue/grey lips, or inhaler not helping.
Head injury red flags
Call 999 now if
- Loss of consciousness, seizure, repeated vomiting, worsening headache, confusion, weakness/numbness.
Campsite burns
What to do now
- Cool under cool/lukewarm running water for 20 minutes.
- Remove jewellery near the burn (if not stuck).
- Cover with cling film or a clean non-fluffy dressing.
Do NOT
- No ice. No creams. Don’t pop blisters.
Miss K disclaimer (keep it real)
This guide is educational harm-reduction first aid. It does not replace professional medical assessment. If symptoms are severe, worsening, or you are unsure — call 999 and follow the call handler’s instructions.