Festival Ambulance and Medical Services

What makes festivals different?

The key difference between a one-night concert and a festival is duration. Festivals often run from midday until late at night, continue for several days, and at some of them attendees stay on site. This calls for a differently structured medical plan:

• Heat stroke and dehydration: At summer festivals, long hours in the sun, insufficient water intake and intense physical activity are a significant risk.
• Campsite: At festivals with overnight stays, medical support is also needed during the night; minor injuries, insect stings, getting chilled and forgotten medication for chronic conditions may occur.
• Accumulated fatigue: Lack of sleep, irregular meals and days of constant activity can lead to more people seeking medical help on later days.
• Large site: On sites with multiple stages, zone-based planning is needed so the team can reach every point.
• Alcohol and drug use: At long-running events, monitoring and observing these cases may require more resources.

Medical tent and observation area

At large festivals, the medical tent is the hub of on-site medical services. The tent includes an area where minor cases are assessed, allowed to rest and kept under observation. This setup helps manage cases that don't require a hospital transfer on site and helps keep ambulances available for patients who truly need them. We recommend setting up the tent at a shaded, easy-to-find location with ambulance access.

How is the shift plan structured?

The festival shift plan is based on the stage program and how attendee density changes over the course of the day. A smaller team may be enough in the first hours after the gates open, and the team is reinforced as main-stage performances begin. Shift changes are scheduled so that they don't coincide with peak hours. At each handover, the incoming team is briefed on people under observation on site, open cases and areas that need attention. The night shift is planned independently of the day team, especially at festivals with a campsite.

Weather conditions and changes throughout the day

At open-air festivals, the weather can change noticeably during the day. Heat stroke risk is the main concern around midday, while people may get chilled as the air cools at night. Sudden rain, slippery ground and mud can increase fall injuries. The medical team follows weather forecasts daily and reviews equipment and team placement accordingly.

Preventive recommendations

Having a medical team on site is important; however, some measures can also help reduce the number of people seeking medical help. Examples include free water points, shaded rest areas, signage showing the location of the medical tent and hot weather warnings for attendees. After the site survey, Net Ambulans shares its recommendations on these matters with the organizer.

Festival staff are part of the plan as well. Build-up crews, security staff, food and beverage workers and volunteers stay on site for longer hours than attendees. We recommend making sure these people know where the first aid point is, planning their rest breaks and ensuring access to water in hot weather. Separate backstage medical support for performers can also be planned on request.

Since obligations regarding medical services may vary depending on the type of event and local regulations, you should check with the relevant authorities. For one-night events, see our concert ambulance service; for corporate events, see our event ambulance services. For a site survey and quote, you can reach Net Ambulans at 0212 912 51 84.

How are festival medical services planned?

• Site survey: Stages, the campsite, water points, shaded areas, the medical tent location and ambulance routes are inspected on site.
• Risk analysis: The number of days, estimated daily attendance, stage program, expected weather and whether there will be overnight stays are assessed.
• Team plan: The medical tent, mobile team zones, ambulance positions and the shift plan, including nights, are put in writing.
• On site: Teams take up position before the site opens; shift changes take place as planned and regular communication with the event team is maintained.
• Report: Daily case summaries and an end-of-event review are shared with the organizer, with personal data protected.

Sample team and vehicle plan by daily attendance

The table below is a sample planning table; the final team and vehicle plan is determined by an event-specific risk assessment and the regulations in force.