Festival Safety Tips: How to Stay Safe Without Killing the Vibe

Heading to Glastonbury or a festival this summer? You need more than just a wellies-and-glitter checklist. In this episode, Julie and Dene break down the real risks - spiking, theft, sexual assault - and what you can do to protect yourself and your friends.

Learn how to:

• Stay safe in crowds, tents, and after dark
• Spot the safety gaps most people miss
• Use instinct, prep and smart kit to stay streetwise

Based on data, real cases, and expert advice—no fear, just facts.

For extra safety tips, visit: streetwisedefence.com/blog/festival-safety-tips

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Chapters

• 0:00 Festival Safety: Understanding the Risks
• 6:42 3 Core Elements of Festival Safety
• 14:00 Navigating the Festival Environment
• 16:55 Understanding Crowd Dynamics at Festivals
• 17:44 The Importance of Situational Awareness
• 20:28 Navigating Personal Space and Boundaries
• 22:03 Trusting Your Instincts in Unfamiliar Environments
• 23:07 The Role of Security and Personal Responsibility
• 24:39 Preparation and Personal Safety Measures
• 29:09 Personal Admin at Festivals
• 31:07 3 Key Takeaways on Festival Safety

Transcript

Julie Waite (00:00)

In today's episode, we're sharing how to stay safe at festivals without losing the joy of the experience. Welcome to Self Defence for Women, Live an Empowered Life, the podcast that helps you stay safe, feel strong and take control of your personal security, both physically and emotionally.

I'm Julie Waite, women's advocate and alongside me is Dene Josham, Security Expert with 30 years experience and former bodyguard to A-list stars like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Together we co-founded Streetwise Defence and we're here to give you real-world safety strategies, expert insights and practical tips that help you feel more confident wherever life takes you.

Before we dive in, a quick favour. If you find this episode helpful, please subscribe and leave us a review. It helps us reach more people like you. So let's get started.

I've got some statistics to share about this. This is from a YouGov study in 2018 of 3,400 adults and it said that 30 % of female festival goers experienced unwanted sexual behaviour. 17 % of women under 40 were sexually assaulted. 6 % were assaulted while they were unconscious.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (00:55)

you

Julie Waite (01:18)

2 % were raped at a festival, 29 % experienced forceful dancing, 23 % faced verbal sexual harassment and 11 % were flashed. And then from a Durham Law School survey in 2022, it says that 34 % of women reported sexual harassment or assault at festivals.

And then I guess in wider news, we look at something like the Notting Hill Carnival where there were 10 stabbings. Also, there was the Park Life Festival 2024 where 52 people were arrested after a huge brawl broke out in the festival between a big group of men. So, Dene, when you hear numbers and statistics like this, what goes through your mind? You're shaking your head.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (01:45)

So many words,

yeah, I mean.

I just lost words really because you just think really? But we have to be, this is a reality we've got to deal with like I always keep banging on about. You need to know these statistics to go okay, they're the elements that are out there. Predators will target these certain places because it's an opportunity isn't it? You had drugs and alcohol, people can use that as an excuse. People can use that knowing that.

people are going to be drunk or on drugs or whatever and not in their normal state. So, you know, people change, opportunities change, and that's where bad predators will go because it creates a chance and opportunity to do these horrible horrific things. As uncomfortable as the statistics are, you've got to know them. So take the positive from it. If there is a positive to go, okay, that's where the dangers are. That's what's going on. Right. I need to be aware.

and I need to look at it in the perspective of how do I go about enjoying myself but also realize there is a danger and I think that's just the reality. As soon as you walk out the door there's a danger isn't there? You know, we're not living in this utopian world of everything's fine and that's the reality. We're not there yet and venues and places create an opportunity.

Julie Waite (03:22)

Yeah.

Yeah, and I didn't even mention ⁓ thefts there. That was more just, you know, assault and harassment of women at festivals. But I know there's a lot of theft at festivals as well, because again, people are leaving things in tents, people are drunk, people are having a good time. And it's like you say, anytime there's, you're going to have large numbers of people who are distracted.

unfortunately you will get people that will go just with doing these horrible things in mind and then also

Dene - Streetwise Defence (04:10)

Yeah.

Yeah.

Julie Waite (04:13)

you'll get opportunistic people who maybe wouldn't normally do that kind of thing but they've had too many drinks and they're not acting like themselves and they do something really stupid so it's unfortunate but

We're not saying don't go to festivals. I've been to a lot of festivals over the years and I still go now at slightly different festivals now because I

take the kids. You can still go and enjoy yourself but you have to go with your eyes wide open I think.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (04:48)

Yeah, definitely. In every situation, you've got to be realistic to what's going on, and then you can prepare best you can. Also, that's in your subconscious, in your thought thought to go, okay, I need to be aware of that. That's what's really happening. That's the uncomfortable part about what we do and what we deliver in the education is because

Julie Waite (04:59)

Yeah. Yeah.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (05:07)

we're looking at reality and the real statistics and it saddens me that society or some elements of society are still like that. We're like, but that's just what it is.

Julie Waite (05:18)

Yeah, it does.

And as a parent, know, kids aren't old enough to go to a festival on their own yet, but they may well want to do that. And I have to say the thought of that really scares me because this is like the last thing on their mind. So if you're a parent and you've got kids going off to festivals,

this is an opportunity for you to get some information, to talk to them and have some real honest open conversations with them and maybe share some of the statistics with them so that they go into it. Not just thinking about what band they're going to see and what drinks they're going to have and what they're going to wear, but also that extra element of and how are we going to stay safe. So we'll share

Dene - Streetwise Defence (05:45)

Yeah. Yeah, definitely.

Julie Waite (06:00)

a lot of that with you today.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (06:01)

Yeah,

it's important just being on the same page and having an open conversation where you're not gonna judge, you're not gonna get upset or you're just gonna write, this is what's going on. This is like for adults, these are our experiences we've had and hopefully you can make them more aware and there's that good discussion as well. And also, we're a support backup team for them. So if they do do something daft and they're in the moment and something happens, then rather than them fearing us,

they're gonna get told off. It's like, we'll be there for you. We'll come and help you. And you know, we're always here 24 seven, your personal safety and being safe is more important than, okay, you made a bad choice. You know, it's looking at the bigger picture.

Julie Waite (06:39)

Yeah.

Yeah, so we've got three core areas of festival safety that we're going to go through and just to help you categorize it and think how are you planning in each of these areas. The first one is looking out for each other. Most people will be going along to a festival with some friends or family or a partner.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (06:50)

You

Julie Waite (07:05)

so you're not going on your own. If you are going as a group, then it's about having those discussions together to plan in advance how you can

keep each other safe. So have you got some tips in this area for people?

Dene - Streetwise Defence (07:21)

Yeah, I think understanding when you get there, know, what you're gonna do, how your festival is gonna look, obviously understanding the dangers and putting things in place that you agree on. So you look at, okay, what's happened before at festivals, good and bad.

Especially the festival you're going to what you need to consider and then having that open discussion to sort of go right? We're going to do this. We're not going to do that We're going to be aware of this when I stick together. Yeah, buddy systems great isn't it because you're looking out for each other and You're potentially pointing out or looking for Dangers that the other person might not have considered or realized that they've put themselves in

Julie Waite (08:11)

Yeah.

So by a buddy system we mean, particularly if there's a big group of you going, know, let's say there's a group of like six or eight of you going, then you might think that the other people are safe or you might think they're with someone else and they might think you're with someone else because you've not agreed and planned it in advance. And actually some of you might, one or more of you might have got isolated and lost or something might have happened. So it's about agreeing beforehand, right? I'll partner up.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (08:15)

Yeah, Yeah

Julie Waite (08:41)

with you, you partner up with them,

if you've got a three then you know there's three of you together and then agreeing that you will stick together so if one of you needs to go to the toilet you all go to the toilet together if one of you needs to go and get a drink you all get a drink together because it's so easy to get lost and separated at festivals particularly we've got Glastonbury starting this weekend absolutely huge festival but even at smaller festivals you know I've been to festivals with four or five thousand people

Dene - Streetwise Defence (08:43)

Yeah. ⁓

Julie Waite (09:11)

and that's quite a small event in comparison but it's so easy to get lost in the crowds and particularly if it's at night, you've had a few drinks it can be really upsetting if you get lost so just stick together and yeah you might not want to all go to the toilet together when the band's just about to come on but it's about just planning together

Dene - Streetwise Defence (09:19)

Yeah.

Julie Waite (09:38)

and really making sure no one gets isolated and no one gets left on their own.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (09:41)

I

think that's reality as well is bad predators will look for that opportunity when you're away from your people, your crowd or your group. They'll try and herd you off if you like. And that's just being sensible going, we need to stick together. Like you go to the bathroom, like I always say, when you go to the public bathroom, that's like I've experienced, I know people have been attacked in pubs.

pub toilets, nightclub toilets, because you're on your own. So it's like, don't be on your own. You've always got a second pair of eyes and ears looking out for you watching things, because guaranteed they'll see stuff or you'll miss stuff or they'll miss stuff and you'll see stuff. And you just an extra set of eyes and ears that are with you that are looking out for each other. And especially going to the toilet or going for a drink because that's so easy to get, you know, not to not find your people. And then here.

where do you end up and it can be quite, like you said earlier, just a minute ago, it can be quite overwhelming and upsetting and confusion as well. If you've been drinking or taking something, then the confusion that you could have not knowing where you are and unfamiliar area, another person with you can reassure you and you can work together.

Julie Waite (10:52)

Yeah, and I always think as well at festivals, don't go for a nap in the tent on your own. That's just...

For me that particularly in the day if most people are at what you know watching the music and you're feeling hungover or tired or whatever it is and you feel tempted to go back to the tent and have a nap on your own just don't do anything like that because that is a prime opportunity for someone to maybe see you going back or Someone might be going around

Dene - Streetwise Defence (11:01)

You

Julie Waite (11:24)

checking tents. I know

people that have had things stolen from tents, like drinks, people looking for valuables. And if someone comes in your tent looking for stuff and sees a woman asleep on her own and there's not many people around, could be a really dangerous situation. So be wary of that.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (11:40)

I think as well realizing that

Sorry,

realizing with the buddy system, you're responsible for the other person and yourself and vice versa. It only takes one incidence to totally wreck an event, an experience and the lasting effects, it can be damaging for life.

Julie Waite (12:06)

Yeah, we always say as well, designate a meeting point and you might need multiple meeting points if you're at a big festival. So you might need a meeting point during the day, you might need one at night, depending on what area you're in. So get used to doing that just in case, because things can happen.

you know, you can turn around, you can be together and can turn around and all of a sudden the landscape's changed, there's people

Dene - Streetwise Defence (12:35)

Yeah.

Julie Waite (12:37)

have moved in to your area or someone has just started chatting to someone and then you find that you've lost them. So even with the buddy system, designate a meeting point and know that if you get lost, you know where you're going to go and you're going to find them then. Because you don't always get phone signal as well at these festivals because there's that many people there using phones.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (13:00)

Yes. And

also be realistic, it's like, okay, if we were at a festival and I don't see you for 15 minutes,

That 15 minute time frame means after 15 minutes, I'm going to go to that point we discussed. Yeah, because then you know where your tent is, where the toilets are, where the bar is, where the tents are, where the medical services is, that if you need them, if you need to get out of there, where the exits are. It's just

Julie Waite (13:13)

And what about knowing the layout of an event of a festival? Why is knowing the layout such a big deal?

Dene - Streetwise Defence (13:36)

a good thing to understand the layout of where you are. Also to enjoy yourself, so you know, okay, I need to be in tent one for that band, I need to go in tent two for that band. And having, like anywhere, the more familiar you are with it, the more confidence you have in a sense of you know where you are, you know where to go, you know how to navigate yourself around that area rather than kind of just lost and not sure.

Julie Waite (14:00)

Yeah.

particularly finding out the medical points just in case anyone gets ill, in case anyone gets their drink spiked, which is unfortunately a problem at festivals. We've got a blog on festival safety, which we'll link in the show notes, and we've got a clip in there, a video clip of two girls at a festival. They're actually filming themselves, and they're just kind of doing a selfie, looking around, and one of the girls is holding a drink. And as they are filming themselves,

Dene - Streetwise Defence (14:12)

You

Julie Waite (14:30)

a guy walks past and drops a tablet in a cup and it's honestly I get chilled I've got chills now just thinking of it it can happen so easily also I've seen a video of someone that got spiked well it wasn't spiked it was that someone offered them a go on their vape

they were kind of queuing for something and someone said, you know, try this vape and it was spiked and this girl had a reaction to it and she was on the floor having ⁓ seizures within seconds and she was really, really ill afterwards. So.

There's kind of two issues there. One is knowing where the medical tents are and how you can get help, being aware of who you can ask, where's the security. And then the other one is being aware of spiking and making sure that you just never accept a drink from strangers. Try using...

drinks, covers, drinks, toppers or bottles, but just being really, really wary of taking anything from anyone and just having your drink in your vision at all times.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (15:43)

Yeah, like I said then, realising vapes can be spiked, get syringe spiking, as well as drink spiking. I suppose you can get food spiking as well. yeah, just to realise you need to understand where stuff has come from and that it's been, somebody's been watched, well.

Julie Waite (15:55)

Yeah, you can.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (16:05)

You need to be watching over it in my view. it's your drink or whatever you're eating then yeah.

Julie Waite (16:09)

Yeah, use a cover. You can get drinks covers. Use one of those. It's just the safest way to do it. And then also knowing, Dene mentioned knowing where the exits are. That's important if you look at this festival I mentioned earlier, Life, where there was a big fight broke out.

anyone who's ever been in a crowd situation

where things get a little bit out of control or people start surging or it's a bit tight and people are pushing, the atmosphere in a crowd can change very, very quickly and you don't want to find yourself stuck. So if you know where the exits are, then if something does happen, you know how to get out and where to head to.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (16:55)

I think it's

important as well with big crowds, I've experienced big crowds and things and you see things happening and it's movement change.

You'll see everybody dancing and all of sudden something can happen. It might be somebody falling out and then the crowd dynamics change and that spreads massively, super fast as well. So, the atmospherics of a place can change very quickly and it's understanding if you see crowd movement, you go, okay, does that fit in? Well, no, everyone's dancing all of sudden. Some people stopped over there and then it's changing. You okay, do I need to make sure I can get to somewhere safer? Because as...

Probably we all know, when crowds move, people fall over, gets trampled on and all sorts. So it could create that panic. So it's just understanding what your options are.

Julie Waite (17:44)

Yeah, that kind of moves us onto the second area of festival safety that I wanted to talk about, which is situational awareness and trust in your gut. So you mentioned there just having an awareness of what's around you. We always say that self-defense is 95 % awareness and avoidance. How can this help in a festival safety situation?

Dene - Streetwise Defence (18:14)

Yeah. Plugged into the vibe, I suppose, isn't it? You know, I know, know, you when I was younger, certain music creates certain emotions, can't it? ⁓

I've been to a techno event many years ago with a friend and that was wow. Some of the music in there was like, it's quite aggressive in my viewpoint. So just understanding how that might change with who's playing on stage. If you have someone like Slipknot blasting out, people are be moshing aren't they? They're gonna be, because that's what their fans kind of do. They get in there and they mosh, the mosh pit or whatever.

very physical. So it's understanding, okay, this might be a point where I might need to move somewhere else, ⁓ because that's going to change the atmosphere and the dynamics of people's emotional, physical state as well.

Julie Waite (19:05)

Yeah, and I think as well knowing that when you've got tight crowds and tight spaces, it gives cover to people who want to do something and then move away quickly. You can very easily be disguised in amongst a crowd.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (19:08)

Hmm.

Julie Waite (19:24)

So I think being aware of that and being aware of people's behaviour around you, someone looking a bit shifty, also people keep kind of turning up near you, it's like red flags like that to look out for.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (19:39)

Yeah, it's difficult

on it because of the nature of a concert in the event people will be close together and obviously some people will take advantage of that because

That's them. Yeah, so it's just understanding, trying to keep some personal space as well. I'll let you know, you're, for a guy, for me, if I was with female friends, I'll be very aware of the guys around and go, just making sure somebody isn't getting too close. And if they aren't, maybe I need to get in between and put that barrier between them and somebody else.

Julie Waite (20:14)

Yeah, and thinking about where you are in the crowd as well because it's exciting to get up near the front but if you are up near the front you are going to be squashed in and you're going to have people very very close around you.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (20:24)

Hmm

Julie Waite (20:28)

so that's your personal choice if you want to do that it's not something that i want to do anymore now i'm older i'd rather be kind of further back and have a bit of space around me but ⁓ it's just being aware of that and i think that is where a lot of the groping and unwanted touch

comes in because

Unfortunately, you get guys at festivals that do take advantage of young girls because everyone's pressed up against each other. ⁓

Dene - Streetwise Defence (20:53)

Yeah.

Julie Waite (20:59)

I guess it's trying to be aware of that, trying to move away, trying to set your boundaries. If someone starts to do that to you, you're well within your rights to say, stop,

doing that. Draw attention to it from people around you. And there will be other good people around you that will help if someone's doing that to you. Or just getting away from them and telling security.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (21:16)

Yeah. Is that

a reality? If you go in the mosh pit, you know what to expect. You go to front of a crowd, it's gonna be crammed, packed in. So it's that decision you make that, okay, if I do that, then these potentially might be, I might be more at risk of somebody trying to touch me inappropriately or I might get squashed a bit and or.

Boshed about in the mosh pit. Yeah, it's not, yeah, yeah, it's not, not accepting it, going, that's a, yeah, it's still not acceptable, but you know that, you know, you're more at risk probably at the front than you are at the back where there's space and you can get more distance between people.

Julie Waite (21:42)

Yeah, but you can go and get squashed and get squashed and pushed around or whatever, but you don't have to expect that someone should do that to you. That's not, you know, that's not acceptable. ⁓

Yeah.

And we always say as well, trust your instincts. if you do feel like someone is creepy or

if you're walking back to your tent and you feel like someone's following you, even in a group or you feel like a group of guys are following you.

everyone has a sixth sense and if you're getting a feeling that something is off, just listen to it. So take a change of direction, go to where security is, go to where there's more people and then assess the situation and think, right, ⁓ let's wait until they've gone, let's just

Dene - Streetwise Defence (22:19)

You

Julie Waite (22:37)

try something different or ask for help.

Also, we have been saying, go and ask for help, go and ask the security if you're in trouble. And then this contradicts that a little bit, but it's also don't rely too heavily on security because unfortunately not all of them can be trusted. And Dene, you know a lot about security and you know a lot about how people can quite easily get into security and...

Dene - Streetwise Defence (23:00)

Yeah.

Julie Waite (23:06)

at large scale events

Dene - Streetwise Defence (23:08)

Yeah.

Julie Waite (23:09)

and there have unfortunately been instances where the security have been the ones who have been doing the sexual assault or whatever it is. I'm not saying don't use them, but you just need to have that awareness again that you can't 100 % rely on them unfortunately.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (23:26)

I

think that's the reality as well. Being in the security, or was in security industry,

It's licensed now better than it has ever been, but people still slip through the cracks. And also, it's potentially a position of power or responsibility. And some people manipulate that. Like we've said before about predators will be drawn to certain jobs because that presents an opportunity for them. And security is one of those things. realizing they are still normal people, they're just...

in a role of security to help people, but doesn't mean they're a good person. Like we've seen with police as well. There's a lot of good police, but there is bad police as well. So it's just realizing that and taking it on board and considering that as well.

Julie Waite (24:14)

Yeah. And then the third area of festival safety we want to cover is personal responsibility and just being ready and prepared, not being paranoid, but being prepared. So there are some things that you can do. One of them that we suggest is to get a personal safety alarm and to keep that on your bag in a place where you can pull it easily.

something like that can help if you are for example you're walking back across to your tent hopefully in your group and you feel unsafe you could activate the alarm then having it within the tent as well so if someone comes in in the night while you're sleeping you can activate that very quickly and easily again it has to be somewhere where you can grab it instantly and it's just

It's just an extra thing that, you know, if you are in a tent, people will hear that. Whether anyone will come to help you, I don't know, but it should have a deterrent effect if someone's come into your tent or someone's following you and there are other people around.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (25:20)

Yeah, alarm could be great. You could set it up on the zip of your tent ⁓ and if somebody comes in there accidentally, which I'm sure that happens, people are drunk and whatever and they all have got the wrong tent.

That can obviously alarm you, someone's trying to get in, but also alarm the person to, oh, right, okay, oh, the wrong tent. I know people could use a knife and cut the side of the tent and get in and stuff, okay, you these are all things that can help, but there's never like 100 % guarantees there.

Julie Waite (25:44)

Hmm,

no, there's not. Then also we mentioned drinks covers before so make sure you buy those, take them with you. A lot of festivals sell them but it's about being prepared, having everything with you and just making it as easy as possible so get some covers for your drinks.

thinking about what bag you're taking that you're to have with you around the festival in the day. So it's making sure that it's something that's not too big so that you're not dragging around a big bag but you can get maybe a drink in there, your valuables, your phone and we suggest as well a few first aid items just to you know just to make sure you've got something with you.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (26:31)

Yeah, not any self-medication you need, know, if you need an EpiPen or you need certain medications, make sure you've got enough of that. And it might be a case of, you know, the old 80s bum bags, keeping them on you. you know, if you need medication, would you leave it in your tent? It's one of those, isn't it? You kind of go, well, actually, I need that and it's in the tent and it goes, I haven't got it. So, okay, is that a man bag? I'm I'm speaking out. You know, man bag and woman bag. Yeah.

person bag, whatever that is, to have it on you and you've got your main stuff on you. Also for me, I'd be like, okay, I'll take stuff, but if I have to walk away and leave it, it's no big deal. I might have a bag especially for that, just go, okay, if I lose it all, I'm okay, all right, that's just part of the expense of going to a festival and it's old kit or I'm not bothered about it.

Julie Waite (27:26)

Yeah.

And it's about making sure it's a bag as well that you can keep it zipped up and you can keep it at the front of you. So don't have it behind you because if your bag's on your back and you're watching the band, someone could easily get into that. And those bags you mentioned are actually back in fashion with the kids now, Dene. The bum bags that we used to call them in the 80s. I don't know what they call them now. They wear them across the body, across the front.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (27:28)

Yeah. I can just.

no

no, you've got to round the waist. I can dust mine off now. And the big baggy bodybuilding trousers you used to wear. Moving on.

Julie Waite (27:57)

I don't think they'd wear them around the waist. ⁓

Yeah

so yeah thinking about what bag you've got, making sure you've got everything on you. Some festivals have ⁓ lock-up stations like I know Glastonbury have lock-up stations where you can put in some your valuables so you could put in half your money or your car keys if you go in by car or anything that you think if I did lose everything

Dene - Streetwise Defence (28:16)

Okay.

Julie Waite (28:30)

what

have I got in there? It's like a little backup. Maybe you write down a phone number. we suggest you memorize a phone number, although it takes a bit of effort to memorize a phone number. I've been trying to memorize yours and I did manage to do it, but then I've not been using it, so I've forgotten it again. But if you can memorize a phone number, if you can write something down and put it...

somewhere then if you do lose your phone or that gets stolen you can at least get in touch with someone at home to say I need you to come and pick me up because if your phone's gone and you've got no phone number you're a bit stuck

Dene - Streetwise Defence (29:04)

Yeah, don't ask me to tell you what yours is because I don't know it. Yeah, I need to that. Look at us giving advice and you take some of that as well. Definitely. Yeah, you go.

Julie Waite (29:09)

Right I'm gonna set you a challenge to start memorizing it. I know. We mentioned earlier don't leave valuables in tents and just thinking as well about like your personal... I know you call it personal admin from your time in the Marines you have to

stay hydrated and all that stuff. He's always telling the kids hydrate or die.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (29:29)

Yeah, yeah hydrate or die Yeah,

you gotta look after yourself, you know your personal admin is your responsibility, you know ⁓ Take your power back and go right. I'm hydrated. I've looked after myself I've had enough food or you know, whatever that is. You're responsible for you. I know we have a buddy

Julie Waite (29:47)

Yeah, food, sun

all of that.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (29:50)

Yeah, we have a buddy system, but that's like an overview. that, you, but again, you know, don't keep looking after yourself always.

Julie Waite (29:58)

⁓ So those are the three areas that we suggest you have a look at and it's not about going into a festival feeling worried or scared it's just about going in with your eyes wide open

and making sure that you've done everything you can in advance to be prepared and have a really good time.

Our advice to you then is to go through all of these areas that we've talked about, have a chat with friends, family, partner, whoever you're going with, and just make sure that you come up with something that works for you. Don't worry about doing too much planning and thinking about these things and it kind of spoiling the atmosphere of it. It won't, it'll actually make it even safer for you if you do it in the right way.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (30:22)

you

I also think as well, know, somebody says, oh, you killed joy. know, we're going to have some fun. It's like, if you're still listening and you know, you're aware of the actual statistics, the latest statistics and just ask that person, do you know the real statistics of what happens at festivals? It's like, I mean, you're not being a killjoy. You're being practical to go. We want to go to festival. We want to have fun. We want to enjoy ourselves, but we still need to stay safe.

Julie Waite (31:07)

Yeah. So we've got three takeaways for you now that you can use to make your festival safer. One, make a plan with your group. So get a buddy system in place, look at the layout of the festival, check your exits, decide on where your meeting points are going to be.

Two, pack smart. So have you got an alarm, drinks, covers, first aid, phone charger, water, those kind of things. And then three, most important thing I think is to trust your gut. And if something feels wrong, act on it and act on it quickly, don't wait. We haven't mentioned the physical self-defense.

That is an element here that can help you feel safer. If you want to learn the physical and other self-defense as well, we have got online courses. We've got...

One called self-defense essentials which is a one-hour introduction and you can learn very quickly some physical moves that will help you to protect yourself. If you want to go deeper we've got seven days self-defense for women which is around an hour a day over seven days and if you haven't learned that, you don't know the answer to how would I defend myself physically if someone was to attack me then we would recommend that you

Dene - Streetwise Defence (32:07)

you

Julie Waite (32:33)

get some training in that area so that you have got the tools you need to protect yourself.

Dene - Streetwise Defence (32:39)

It's

about becoming proficient in it as well. Investing your time is so important. This is a life skill and how that can obviously share that with other people and obviously make people around you safer as well. The more you can learn, think the more benefit is as well. There's a lot more preventative measures as well in them courses to give you a real understanding of personal safety and all the other elements like this, like going to festivals.

⁓

Julie Waite (33:06)

Yeah, so if you are going to a festival, if you know someone who is, if you have kids that are going to a festival, we hope you enjoy it, have a great time. Please share this with people that need to see it.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe so that you can get future personal safety and self-defense tips. Please give us a review if you found it beneficial, that really helps us be found by more people. And until next time, stay safe.