Festivals are for fun, and it’s not always fun thinking about things that could go wrong, but by keeping safety in mind, we actually maximize funness for all! Truly!

We’re really fortunate to have Voices for Women & Réseau ACCESS Network as friends of the fest, and they offered some excellent training for volunteers in advance. Even those of us who consider ourselves certified safety nerds learned quite a bit at the session, so we wanted to share some of the things we got from it!

General safety tips

Situate yourself. Take the time to see where things are, including bathrooms, stages, vendors, main pathways, parking lots, first aid/volunteer zones, chill out spaces, etc.

Create a backup plan. If your phone dies, do you have a few numbers memorized? Do you have cash on you? Do you have a meet up place if you lose track of your friends? Do you have someone that you check in with at set times? If things go wrong, where will your group meet?

Stay hydrated. Whether you are drinking alcohol or not, making sure you stay hydrated will ensure you are at your best to enjoy your time out. Low sugar drinks with electrolytes are also helpful.

Eat! Try to eat at least an hour before partying. Some substances suppress appetite and you may forget to eat after you start using substances.

Trust your gut. If something feels off or someone feels weird, leave. Take off in the opposite direction towards a lighted area and crowd, talk loudly on your phone, and look confident. Many attackers will not go after someone who seems loud and aggressive.

Lying is okay, if it keeps you safe. Make up an excuse if you need to leave a situation you are uncomfortable in. Pretend someone is calling you. It’s okay to lie if something feels off, because your safety is what counts the most.

Be careful about posting on social media. Are your posts public or private? Some attackers use apps to find their victims online. Consider sharing pictures of your adventures the next day after the event is over.

Some apps automatically post your location. Consider turning that function off.

Be a buddy. Watch out for one another. When possible, go out in groups or with a designated buddy. Go to the bathroom in pairs. If someone seems out of character, notice and check in. If you suspect your friend has been drugged or needs any medical attention, call 911. See someone you don’t know having a bad time? Seek out a volunteer to check on them.

Be a good neighbour. See an unhoused person trying to survive? Give people space and respect. Carry Naloxone to respond to potential drug poisoning/opioid overdose.

Bystander Intervention 101

If you’re worried or even just a little unsure whether someone is in an unsafe situation and might be at risk of being harassed or assaulted, there are four ways to intervene as a bystander. You can remember them with the acronym CARE.

Create a distraction: Interrupt a conversation, speak loudly and draw attention to yourself and the area.
Ask directly: Ask the person who you’re worried about if they’re OK, or if you want to be more subtle, ask them if they can show you the way to the bathroom, or if they could help you with something.
Rally others: Get a group of friends together to work together to check on the individual.
Extend support: If someone comes to you to share something has happened, use supportive phrases like: thank you for telling me, you don’t deserve this, etc. and avoid anything that might blame the victim.

Safer substance use

Know your alcohol limit. Intoxication increases your vulnerability, decreases your judgment, and inhibits your ability to fight off an attacker.

Establish your buddy system. Who can you lean on if you become intoxicated? Who can spot you if you’re using unregulated substances or a lot of regulated substances?

Be mindful of your tolerance. When having a fun time, sometimes we can feel invincible, doesn’t mean we are. Even a 1–2-day break from a substance can lower your tolerance substantially. Start LOW and go SLOW.

Keep an eye on your drink. There is an increase in drugs being slipped into people’s drinks by perpetrators of sexual assault. To keep it safe, make sure you never leave your drink alone; bring it to the bathroom with you or leave it with a friend. Never accept a drink from a stranger or take a drink from a communal alcohol source like a punch bowl.

Trying a substance for the first time? Have you looked into the effects of it? Does it react with any medication or substances you’re already taking? Does anyone have Naloxone?

Check-in with yourself and friends before the event. Where is everyone at mentally, emotionally, and physically, what are your intentions for the evening? Substances can amplify feelings, make sure you have supports in place.

Mixing Substance? Polysubstance use is common at festivals, learn how your substances interact to maximize the positives and reduce the negatives! For example: Mixing alcohol with some substances can cause blackouts, unconsciousness, and memory loss. Mixing stimulants and opioids can cause extreme strain on the heart and complicate medical care.

Going to the festival alone? Have a friend you can call or use a virtual safe consumption hotline like NORS. National Overdose Response Service 1-888-688-6677.

Prepare. Pick up any substances or supplies, grab Naloxone, bring a water bottle, and a snack.

Test your stash. Do you have fentanyl, benzodiazepine, and xylazine testing strips? You can get some from Réseau ACCESS Network, and The Supervised Consumption Site offers substance testing for anyone in the community. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. everyday, and open a little later, till 8:00 p.m., on Tuesdays.

Resources

Réseau ACCESS Network HIV/Hepatitis Health and Social Services
111 rue Larch Street, 4th Floor, Box #10 Sudbury, ON, P3E 4T5
Hours of Operation; Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m. to noon, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed Thursday mornings.
Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Harm Reduction In-reach and outreach services only.
Réseau ACCESS Network Supervised Consumption Services
24 Energy Court, Sudbury, ON P3C 5T8
Hours of Operation; 365 days a year 10:00a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesdays 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. www.reseauaccessnetwork.com
The Violence Intervention and Prevention Program (VIPP) for survivors of sexual violence consists of specially trained Nurses and Social Workers, who assist with the needs of survivors of sexual violence.
HSN Emergency Department (ask the triage nurse to have the on-call VIPP nurse paged)
Voices for Women (VFW) Sudbury Sexual Assault Program is a free community-based program that provides services to women (and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals) 16 years of age and older experiencing trauma from historical sexual violence (that happened over a year ago).
705- 671-5495 or VFW@hsnsudbury.ca

24/7 Helplines:

Sudbury Crisis Service: 705.675.4760 or Toll free 1.877.841.1101
Talk 4 Healing: 1.855.554.HEAL
Assaulted Women’s Helpline: 1.866.863.0511
Ligne Fem’aide: 1.877.336.2433
ATS: 1.866.860.7082

Safety dance: Staying safer at Up Here (and other fests!)