How to Stay Cool and Safe at Summer Festivals and Raves

Summer is a great time for food, florals, and festivals. But as much as we may enjoy decking ourselves out in our rave wear and dancing from sunset to sunrise, there are a few safety considerations to always keep in mind.

Summer is a hot time, no matter what state you live in, and to ensure that everyone has the safest (and most comfortable) raving experience possible, we've assembled a quick list of the best ways to stay safe and cool during summer raves. 

1. Dress Cool 

We don't mean just your style. Between the sun, high temperatures and physical exertion, it's easy to overheat at a festival. Do your best to stay cool while dancing the night away in the proper clothing. While hoodies and long sleeves are stylish, it's easy to overheat in them. Stay cool and stylish in crop tops and tanks. They'll keep you comfortable even on the hottest days, and you can dance for hours. 

2. Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate

We hear it at every festival we attend. Drink water. The repeated sentiment exists for a reason. Festivals are good fun, but between the dancing, the heat, and the sun, it's easy to get worn out. The best way to keep your body running and keep yourself cool is to hydrate. Remember, if you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated. Try to drink water between sets and always consciously hydrate. 

3. Listen To Your Body

How many times have we put off taking a break at a festival? The DJ just dropped a new track. The set is only 15 more minutes. We're all guilty. However, when your body is sending you signals (read on for the symptoms of hyperthermia), listen to those signals. You should always listen to your body, even when your brain comes up with reasons not to. No one knows your body better than you, and no one else can tell you when something is wrong. 

4. Sun Protection

Sunlight and summer are synonymous, but too much of a good thing can be bad. Protect yourself from the harmful effects of the sun with sunglasses and sunscreen. When you spend hours in the sun you risk damage to your skin and eyes, with long-term repercussions. Check out the iEDM collection of sunglasses HERE for rave wear that looks good and keeps your safe! 

5. Learn the Dangers

Hyperthermia is the usual culprit when medical attention is needed at a festival. Hyperthermia is a heat-related illness, caused by elevated body temperature. There are several symptoms of hyperthermia to keep an eye out for. Fatigue, nausea, dizziness, headaches, and muscle cramps are all red flags. If you have any symptoms of hyperthermia, make sure you take a break, sit down, hydrate and cool off. It's worth missing ten minutes of a set to ensure that you and your squad are healthy. 

6. Bring the Necessities 

There are a lot of things that we bring to festivals. Comfortable shoes, good vibes, water. But during the summer months, there are other items to add to your festival packing list, especially if you'll be outdoors dancing. Water spritzers, handheld fans, and hydration packs are all great things to bring. (They also kept me alive during EDC). The best thing about these summer rave staples is that you can share them with others and keep each other cool. One of my favorite parts of EDC was seeing people keeping the PLUR alive, fanning each other and sharing water. 

7. Take Breaks

Like we said earlier, you'll always come up with reasons to delay taking a break. However, taking breaks is extremely important during any festival, but especially with summer events. Even if you don't think you need to take a break, step out of the crowd for five minutes to hydrate, catch your breath, and then feel free to jump back in. If you wait until you KNOW that you need a break, you've waited too long. Take five minutes to rest during a set rather than sacrifice the entire festival because you're in the medical tent. 

8. Practice PLUR

The health and safety of all is the responsibility of all. Practice PLUR at any festival you go to, and you're sure to keep yourself and others safe. If you see someone who looks like they need help, check in with them. Some people may just need a drink of water and a minute to rest, but better safe than sorry. If you're not sure what to do, escort them to a medical tent, or contact a staff member. Treat others the way you want to be treated and spread PLUR as much as possible. 

9. Fabric Matters

Wear fabrics that are cool and lightweight. You also want to wear loose and airy clothing that will help you cool off during the hot months. Luckily, our crop tops and tanks are not slim-fit, but will allow enough movement and motion to cool you during the hottest raves. But remember, as helpful as wearing the right clothes may be, it's no replacement for taking proper breaks and hydrating during an event. 

10.  Never Be Afraid To Ask For Help

The medical staff and tents are not there for decoration. Sometimes people don't like asking for help. Maybe you're afraid, maybe you don't think it's important. Remember, it's always better to be safe than sorry, and if you think that you or someone else may need help, then simply ask. Safety is the priority at festivals and festival organizers and medical staff want everyone to have the safest and best time possible. 

Ready for your next summer rave? Dress cool with our bestselling crop tops HERE, tank tops HERE, and shorts HERE.