The UK's festival season has faced its fair share of extreme heat this week, with temperatures soaring to record-breaking highs in some areas. While revellers at Glastonbury have been spared the worst of it – thanks to the festival's fallow year – organisers are now grappling with a pressing concern: how to protect attendees from increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves.
Susan Tanner, CEO of the National Outdoor Events Association, warns that climate change is making weather planning a top priority. "The weather is an event organiser's biggest worry," she says. "We spend months planning for all outcomes – it can make or break a year." With scientists predicting even hotter temperatures in the coming years, organisers are re-evaluating their strategies to keep attendees safe.
Events like Bristol Sounds and Harry Styles' concert at Wembley have shown that with enhanced safety measures, events can still go ahead despite the heat. But it's not just about providing extra water stations or medical teams on standby – it's about changing the way festivals are organised from top to bottom.
Andy Bennett, a BBC Radio Somerset presenter who's been attending Glastonbury since 1998, notes that organisers have made significant changes in recent years. From distributing large quantities of water and sunscreen to increasing refillable water stations, events are evolving their response to varying weather conditions.
Nich Woolf, trustee for Festival Medical Services, says while they prepare for all scenarios, heat-related ailments are rare – most patients treated on-site have common injuries like bruises or fractures. Organisers stress the importance of public cooperation in ensuring safety, urging attendees to arrive prepared with their own hydration and sunscreen.
Some festivals are even exploring innovative solutions, such as using 'misting tents' to cool down crowds. But it's a delicate balance between protecting attendees and maintaining the festival experience – one that organisers must get right if they're to avoid making headlines for all the wrong reasons.