ST JOHN AMBULANCE ISSUES CRITICAL WARNING FOR OUTDOOR EVENTS: KEEP COOL & HYDRATE!
With temperatures expected to soar across Australia’s southeast corner this week, St John Ambulance has warned those attending outdoor events to stay hydrated and prioritise safety.
Sydney’s western suburbs are expected to see temperatures in the high 30s, marking the onset of what could be one of the hottest summers on record.
Outdoor gatherings, including sporting matches and music festivals, present heightened risks during extreme heat.
St John Ambulance Event Commander Simon Frost emphasised the importance of hydration as a simple yet effective way to mitigate the dangers of heat-related illnesses.
“Hydration is key,” Mr Frost said. “It’s one of the easiest ways to protect yourself in these conditions. We urge everyone attending outdoor events to come prepared and take this seriously.”
New data from St John shows a worrying spike in the number of people needing assistance across all states in the past 12 months.
This includes a 46% increase in visits to St John first aid posts at NSW music festivals in 2024, a 114% increase in visitations at a recent festival in Darwin, three out of every four heat-related illness presentations during WA music events being female, and the highest number of visitations per event in Victoria happening during the hottest months of December to March.
If you are attending an outdoor event or festival, you need to take precautions to ensure you don’t become one of these statistics—stay hydrated, protect yourself from the sun, fuel up on food, and seek our assistance if you do get into trouble.
These statistics are compounded by findings from a recent YouGov survey*, which revealed 46% of Australians fail to meet the recommended daily fluid intake at least five days a week.
This widespread lack of hydration puts festival-goers at an even higher risk.
The latest stats reveal the worrying surge in first aid post visits:
New South Wales: Visits to St John's first aid posts at music festivals have grown by 46% compared to 2023. Even before the peak summer temperatures, heat-related illness has proven to be a major issue.
Northern Territory: At the November 2 Electric Storm Festival, first aid visits jumped 114% over last year. Among females, the top issues experienced were dehydration (30%) and pain (30%). For males, it was dehydration (60%) and intoxication (40%). Notably, the percentage of people suffering from dehydration increased by more than 10% each year over the past 3 years of the festival, further illustrating the risks of extreme heat and insufficient fluid intake.
Western Australia: 971 people have visited the St John first aid post at music events throughout 2023 and 2024. Of these, 27% were experiencing heat-related illnesses. Notably, 73% of those suffering from heat-related issues were female.
Victoria: Preliminary data suggests about 700 festival goers seek help at first aid posts annually. The leading causes are headaches (18%), wounds (9%), and pain (10%)—symptoms often exacerbated by the harsh summer heat and inadequate hydration.
St John Ambulance has teamed up with top electronic music duo Set Mo and Hydralyte to drive home the safety message in the lead-up to this summer’s event schedule.
As the leading provider of first aid and medical event services in Australia, St John will have Hydralyte available at outdoor events and festivals around the country throughout the summer to help manage dehydration.
"We love music festivals, and we're all about having a great time, but it’s important to stay safe so that you can enjoy one of the best days of your life," said Nick Drabble, one-half of Set Mo.
"It’s incredible seeing people going off to our music and having a ball, but we’ve also witnessed some stuff that isn’t so good—people fainting from the heat or getting hurt when they’re not taking care of themselves.
“That’s why we’re all about spreading the message to look out for each other, take breaks when needed, and stay hydrated,” continued Stu Turner of Set Mo.
“Festivals are awesome - dancing, jumping around, and feeding off the hype. A little hack is to bring some Hydralyte; it helps manage dehydration. We live for these music events, so it was a no brainer to team up with St John Ambulance to help spread the word before summer kicks in.”
St John has created an acronym to help everyone stay safe and make the most of their day just remember “A FESTY”:
Ask St John for help
Fuel up with food
Enjoy responsibly
Stay hydrated
Take care in the sun (sunscreen, hat, sunnies and shade)
Your mates matter
St John Ambulance recommends drinking water and Hydralyte, as it is scientifically formulated to help restore the body’s electrolyte balance and manage dehydration, especially in hot and sweaty environments like festivals.
The average festivalgoer can lose approximately 1 litre of sweat per hour of vigorous exercise like dancing, rapidly leading to dehydration and potential health consequences.
Hydralytes provide an optimal balance of fluids, electrolytes, and glucose to aid water absorption in the small intestine, along with potassium to replace what is lost during dehydration. This combination helps restore electrolytes and enables faster rehydration compared to water alone.
Speaking to the findings of the YouGov hydration survey showing less than one in five Australians meet the recommended fluid intake most days, Mr Frost said: “Music festivals are one of the best parts of Australian summer, and event organisers and St John do an amazing job of keeping everyone safe, but these insights reveal we’re a dehydrated nation, and with the hottest months coinciding with festival season.
"It’s crucial for Australians to be mindful of their hydration. Dehydration can strike quickly, especially at festivals where people sweat more heavily from dancing in the sun. Staying proactive with proper hydration can prevent severe health risks and keep the good times rolling.”
St John provides first aid services at all types of summer events, including our amazing music festivals. Whether you need a band-aid for a blister, are experiencing dehydration, or are having a medical episode, the message from St John responders couldn’t be clearer: if in doubt, seek them out. Staying hydrated could be the difference between enjoying the music or becoming a statistic. Beat the heat—dance safe this summer.
Hydralyte is the Official Rehydration Partner of St John Ambulance Australia. Always read the label and follow the directions for use.
