We are sure your aware of the accidents and injuries that people have had from being up front, but we just want to make you aware of what to do just in case.

So you want to be down the front within sweat dripping distance from your favourite band? You may not be the only one thinking that way. Alot of gigs get really crowded down the front, and its not unusual to get crushed. Crowd surges can be very scary. Thousands of people rushing to the front of the stage at once (usually when you hear the first riff, or the start of the classic everyone knows and loves).

Some measures can be put in place to combat this. Different types of barriers are sometimes used. T bar barrier – normal front barrier, but with a channel through the middle of the crowd. This stops the side to side movement, and the result is you should have half the crowd pushing forward. T Barriers can sometimes be masked as T Stages, where you have a catwalk type extension of the stage. Secondary barriers. You have the front barrier, but you also have another one a bit further back. Dividing the crowd in this way should stop the sheer volume in normal surges and increase safety.

These measures are being introduced more widely, and should be seen as a positive, rather than a fun stopping raspberry at the crowd. Everyone wants to have fun and enjoy themselves, not everyone wants to finish the festival in hospital.

The security up front do a sterling job most of the time, but, with an over excited crowd, their job is very difficult. Please keep an eye out for all the people around you. They may not be able to see the lass behind you who is gasping for air and needs water, or the chap on the floor who fainted. Keep your wits about you at all times, and keep an eye on those people close to you, if they need help, help them straight away, you would expect the same.

We cannot expect the safety of potentially thousands of people to be the sole responsibility of a few people at the front of the crowd. These people have been yanking out crowdsurfers and people in need all shift, they need assistance too! Alot of them get injured themselves. So if you see someone who needs help (at the front, middle or at the back of the crowd), help them, I am sure you would like to feel a helping hand if you were in trouble. If need be, ask the people around you to help too, they will be more than willing to, don’t forget, you’re not superman, security will be able to help too!

Make sure you wear sensible shoes, it will help to support you, not strain your ankles and help you to keep your balance during any crowd surges. Dehydration DOES happen, and you’re at a much higher risk of this in a hot sweaty field. Try avoiding a delayed trip to the hospital by drinking water, having a bottle with you helps too and don’t get drunk, cause if you didn’t know this will speed up the dehydration process (and make you want to go to the loo more, meaning you miss some of your band!). The security will pass/throw water into the crowd. Nabbing a cup and guzzling the lot is severely frowned upon, as is taking a sip and then throwing the remainder behind you, the water hand outs are few and few between, take a few sips, and pass it round the people near you!

At the end of the performance, there is normally a rush of people trying to get out, and this gives further risks of injury through crushing. You can either leave slightly before the band have finished and miss the last song, get out before the majority try to squeeze out of the exits, yeah you miss a track or two, but you’re out safe and sound! Or if you decide to stay right to the end, it may be advisable to hang around for a while to miss the rush, if you can’t wait, then take your time, don’t push, as said before it causes surges and crushes!

Thanks to Leanne O’Brien for this information