Festival Health and Safety

While first aid will be on site at the festival for any problems, the best way to avoid a ruined weekend, is to help prevent it in the first place by taking precautions ahead of time.  Here's our list of tips for staying safe, and enjoying the event all weekend long with your friends.

1.  Stay Hydrated

You may not realize it, but your body will constantly be loosing water at Backwoods. Sometimes on dry hot days, you may not even sweat. DRINK WATER. Stay hydrated as it can be very hot during the days in Arkansas. Continuous dancing and running around the festival grounds only amplify dehydration.

2.  Stick Together

Stay with your group. There is safety in numbers. Watch out for one another, and extend this favor to your neighbors.

3.  Set a Meeting Point

If you get lost from your group, you should have a meeting place on the festival grounds. This can be your tent back at camp, or any other location within the festival grounds. Setting a meeting place ensures you don't miss each other when looking for one-another.

4.  Mark Your Tent Site with a Distinctive Tall Flag

With thousands and thousands of people at Backwoods, it is sometimes hard to decipher how deep into the campgrounds your tent may be. At night, or even in the day after more people setup their tents, the camping environment can look very different than when you first arrived or left it in the morning, and it may be hard to find your way back. Using a large tall flag to distinctly mark your site, will help you find it from afar.

5.  Don't Take Something from Someone You Don't Know

Never buy or take something from a stranger you just met, or someone you don't trust. Without knowing exactly what you're getting, you could be putting your life in danger.

6.  Pace Yourself

Backwoods Camping & Music Festival is a 4 night, 4 day festival. You have a long time to enjoy the party. Pace yourself, so you don't fall out early and miss out. Don't over-do it, and you'll have a great time. Take naps in the afternoon, remember to eat, stay hydrated, and most importantly have fun.

7.  Keep Yourself and Stuff Safe

Lock up your valuables in the car. Be sure to leave your campsite closed and put anything away you may not want to disappear. Be careful with fires, making sure they're attended at all times. Keep water and a shovel next to the fire pit (this is mandatory or you will be asked to leave!) in case of emergencies.

8.  Be a Good Neighbor

Meet your camping neighbors. By doing so, not only will you make friends but others will help look out for you and your things. Return the favor and watch out for them.

9.  Ditch the Valuables

If you're not willing to loose it, don't bring it to the festival. If its something you can't be without, keep it with you at all times and make sure it's in a closed (zippered or velcroed) pocket.

10.  Keep it Charged

If you have a cell phone, keep it charged. While cell phone signal may be hard to come by, you should always have a way to try and communicate with your friends or 911 if necessary. Bring an extra battery pack that’s fully charged with you to the festival and keep it for emergency charging only.

11.  Pregnancy or STI Scares

Just because you're at a festival, doesn't mean the scare for STIs or pregnancy should be ignored if you had, or think you had, unprotected sex during the festival. See our medical staff if you're concerned or worried about what to do.

12.  Sunscreen & Heat Exhaustion

It's hot. And the sun is consistently beating down. Seek out shade during the day to stay cool, drink lots of water, and wear sunscreen! If you've been severely sunburnt, please seek out our medical staff.

13.  Know Where First Aid Is

Look ahead of time on the festival map for the First Aid stations. Take a walk and seek them out. Know where they are in case you need them.

14.  Keep a Festival Map On You

Always keep a festival map on you at all times. Having this will allow you to find help as close as possible if you were ever in need of doing so.

15.  Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help

If you think you may have a problem, or a friend may be in trouble - ASK FOR HELP! You will not get in trouble. All we care about is your well being.

16.  Warning Signs of a Drug or Alcohol Overdose

  • Pale discolored skin

  • Inability to communicate or talk

  • Blurry vision

  • Inability to stay awake

  • Rapid or inconsistent breathing

  • Skin that is cool and sweaty or hot and dry (instead of hot and sweaty)

  • Sleepiness, confusion and disorientation

  • Difficulty standing or walking

  • Unconsciousness

  • Seizures

  • Fainting

Again, If you or a friend even think you may be in trouble, please seek out medical help IMMEDIATELY. Medical and security are safe zones, and you will not get in trouble for anything you do or say. The only concern is your well-being.