Do you think festival should have helped me?

[MyAppleTree]

Not really a big deal, but home and musing. Went to a festival this weekend, on my own. Had an ok time.

For context my stuff was really heavy, 8 man tent huge heavy, only one I could borrow and obviously had to bring it back.

The night before I’ve left my asthma inhaler ran out, and I’ve started bleeding and cramping from a minor procedure I had done last week. I had an asthma attack about a week ago too.

Anyway the car was absolutely miles away, through mud and hills. Sincerely worried I could not physically make it. So I thought I was sensible going to camp welfare and asking if there was any way to hire a buggy to take the stuff to the car. They said no but sent me to first aid to see if I could get an inhaler to manage the asthma doing the drag.

First aid wouldn’t give me a spare inhaler unless I was having an actual attack, not just feeling wheezy. No help available obviously for the cramping as I need a gp to assess that.

So basically no help.

Now I did make it to the car. Very very breathless and in pain, car got stuck in the mud and had to be towed. Stupid gear and I fell down a few hills too!

Hence not a big deal because while breathless I have made it home (2hr drive) and have my inhalers. And yes it’s my own fault for not picking up my spare!!

So just a hypothetical really, were they unreasonable not to help me when I asked? It could have ended differently.

Oh gosh as hard as it is/was it really is up to you to organise yourself and your stuff so you can carry it all.... I had all equipment and my son to manage at Glastonbury... sensibly I have a large wheeled wagon and made several trips ... hard work but doable and if someone helps that’s a bonus

I'm surprised no one helped.
We have been to numerous festivals and we have always stopped to help others and been offered help ourselves.
I know you have to hire a buggy well in advance, I did say to a festival I worked with that they needed to make that really clear on the website. But I'm surprised first aid didn't help with the inhaler, they were always great with my son when we've been to festivals.
Next time, smaller tent, care package of meds and hire a buggy in advance. Always take less than you think you will need too.

No by the sounds of it you shouldn't have went. And were totally unprepared.

*I’m actually just going to keep this going now to tally up the number of MNers that RTFT.

I doubt many people read past the electrifying fact that you went to a festival on your own with an eight-man tent that you had to carry after 'minor surgery' while being asthmatic.

Thanks BiBi

Juells is a coil insertion minor surgery? Should asthmatics not travel?

Several things here. 1. a small pop up tent is £20-£30. So really not thought through given your recent medical history. As for the inhaler thing. I was a medical rep. for asthma products for many years and from my experience people have little idea that an asthma attach can be fatal. I have witnessed my SD have a dreadful attach on holiday with out her inhaler near by. It was horrendous waiting for her Dad to get back with her inhaler. The 1st Aiders really had little idea of how serious it can be. They certainly should have given you an inhaler, once you are having an attack it can be far too late.

Holy hell, I know what an inflatable 8 man tent weighs and I can't believe you hauled it in on your own in the first place!

I volunteer at a couple of festivals a year as a steward with a well-known charity, and feel as if I should share: those people running buggies at the beginning of a festival will almost always be gone when it comes time to pack up at the end. They're usually just doing it to earn money for recreational substances for the weekend and don't have anyone holding them accountable for showing up on Monday.

Of course YABU but you know that now. Unfortunately nothing you've listed is bad enough to get you easier access (accessible camping). You've learned a lesson about camping at a festival: try to limit what you bring to what you can carry in one, maybe two trips at a push.

Fair play @MyAppleTree for holding your hands up and admitting YABU. I also thought so - not least for the 8 man tent! But from your subsequent updates, including that a festival veteran recommend it, I don't blame you so much.

Also as a seasoned festival goer, I do realise that until you actually attend one, you can't really appreciate how they work . The amount of people who question me as to how Glasto and other festivals operate reminds me of this constantly, they either think it is hell on earth a la Daily Mail reporting ( i.e.water is rationed) or can't believe that you actually have camp! And a muddy festival saps you regardless of any other issues.

But as everyone has said ad nauseum and you have admitted, if they didn't have a cart and can't prescribe inhalers, they couldn't really do much.

I know you've said never again which is a shame. Festivals are fun. But maybe not for everyone I guess!

It was fun Ali, and I’ve always wanted to do Beautiful Days. So maybe when I’ve stopped aching and bought a reasonable tent I might change my mind!

I didn’t realise that Cake! Thought it was just staffed, good to know thank you. And yes it was really bloody heavy. That a rucksack and a little bucket for rubbish on my back (I’m so polite), I must have looked like a proper newbie

@Myappletree - believe me, the difference between a muddy and a dry festival is indescribable. It is so much easier if it is dry and sunny! If you enjoyed it at all in the mud and rain, you are absolutely going to love a festival in good conditions.

Just take a smaller tent and remember your inhalers!

You can buy 2 man pop up tents for under £20. Keep a spare inhaler in your car for future forgetfulness

Loving the inflatable flamingo tip , might try it next time just on the off chance.
Re the buggy hire scenario: - being sensible (and old) I usually stay offsite (though might be tempted by OP’s tent palace) so wouldn’t need the buggy hire. I do think it’s a bit rubbish that buggy hire was available when you came in but not when you left - that’s hardly logical. That’s not the case at all festivals - at the one I went to the transport is officially connected to the festival rather than just being a bunch of randomers trying to make a quick buck, and runs until the festival is over. So I don’t think you were unreasonable to think transport would be available when leaving.

If you are the size of 8 men I am not surprised you struggled

mum that’s a ridiculously basic but really useful tip!!! How have I not done that before?

help true, but could have been rolled down the hill like a blimp?

I’m sorry to say that it’s a pickle of your own making. You know you have asthma. You knew that you’d had a procedure. May I make a suggestion for another time? Ring the organisers and find out how close the car park is. Make your decision about attending then. My DiL is disabled and wanted to go to a festival. We rang asking about access and they told us what arrangements were in place. That said, I hope that you suffered no long-term effects from carrying the tent.

Oh dear Op theres an urge to ask how old you are?..coil insertion is not minor surgery.. Please!!...your ashthma therefore your responsibility to manage it, and really? An 8 man tent?..apart from the issues you had carrying it about, the amount of space you took up just for yourself is a BU. Lessons learned YABU.

Coil insertion isn't surgery! Asthma however is a serious medical condition that kills so why would a grown woman travel without an inhaler? Buy a 2 man hike tent, festivals are great, but you carry out what you carry in

I’ve provided first aid at various events, including festivals.
Honestly the first aid crew were correct in their actions. We carry a limited stock of medication and if we provide an inhaler to someone it can’t be used for someone else. All this has a cost that’s not always adequately covered by the organisers.
Asthma problems are really really common at these events and the op would have been one of many feeling a bit wheezy without adequate medication - we can’t dish out inhalers right left and central so the advice was always the same - come back if you have an attack. It might seem like a lack of care to the op but if you scale her problem up, we’d get through hundreds of inhalers.
Same goes for suncream, antihistamines and contraceptive pills left at home.
I can’t speak for the cart but I expect the problem is the same - there’s not the staff or resources to deal with this across the festival goers.

Festivals aren't going to give out inhalers, even if they have spares, if you're not having an attack because they can be used to abuse drugs.

Yabu. Im abit shocked you think the volunteers should help you re the tent. Everyone carries their own. Your tent sounds huge. You shouldnt have gone end of story without you inhaler and having had a procedure. You need to start looking after yourself. Take responsibility

You were recovering from a procedure, didn't bring your asthma medication when attending a festival on your own with an 8 man tent?

Not the wisest choice OP.

YABU.

You should have obtained a smaller tent, got your meds sorted and probably have been best not going after your procedure

Who the hell takes an 8 man tent to a festival?!

Having a coil inserted is not “minor surgery” you drama llama ;)

Tbh I don't see what the festival could have done differently.
They didn't have any trolleys to hire out to you.
The first aid cannot give inhalers to people that are not having an asthma attack. As pp have said there are only a limited amount of inhalers and administering one to someone not having an attack and it having a reaction would land them in big trouble.