Festivalgoers urged to stay hydrated, consume responsibly to avoid heatstroke [Video]

With festival season in full swing, festivalgooers are advised to stay hydrated and consume responsibly, as heatstroke and intoxication are among the most frequent paramedic interventions.

The type of intervention varies greatly according to the weather and the type of event: “When it’s very hot, the number of interventions related to heatstroke, weakness, dizziness, will be very high,” said Jean-Pierre Rouleau, spokesman for Urgences-santé, Quebec’s largest ambulance service, which serves the Montreal and Laval regions.

For more family-oriented festivals, medical assistance is more related to traumatic injuries or weaknesses, he says. Events attracting a younger clientele could be associated with more cases of intoxication.

In 2023, at the Osheaga festival—a large gathering held at Montreal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau—paramedics intervened in a dozen cases, including four that required hospitalization.

“It’s clear that alcohol and drugs are often involved in this kind of event. We’re always urging people to drink responsibly, but unfortunately, …