Ensuring Paediatric-Aware Medical Coverage at Family-Friendly Festivals

Picture this: A sunny afternoon at a bustling family festival, with children squealing in delight as they dash between a splash pad and a play zone. Suddenly, a toddler slips on the wet grass and starts to cry. Within moments, a nearby medic – trained in paediatric first aid – is kneeling beside the child, offering comfort and a bright cartoon bandage. This kind of swift, child-friendly medical response doesn’t happen by accident; it’s the result of careful planning and a commitment to paediatric-aware medical coverage at festivals.

Modern festivals around the world are increasingly family-friendly, welcoming attendees of all ages. From major music events like Glastonbury in the UK to community food and culture festivals in Singapore or Mexico, festival organisers know that keeping young festival-goers safe and healthy is as important as delighting them. Ensuring medical services are prepared for children’s needs is a vital part of festival planning. This article draws on decades of festival production experience – spanning intimate local fairs and massive international festivals – to offer practical, actionable advice for providing top-notch paediatric-aware medical coverage.

Children are not just “small adults” – they have unique needs and vulnerabilities. They can dehydrate faster, are more prone to bumps and scrapes, and may not communicate their discomfort clearly. A family’s enjoyment of an event hinges on knowing that if anything happens to their little ones, help is immediately at hand. Moreover, a festival’s reputation can be made or broken by how well it protects its most vulnerable attendees. No festival organiser wants to see a child hurt or frightened on their watch, and no parent wants to second-guess bringing their kids along. By proactively adapting medical services for children, festival producers build trust with families and create an environment where everyone can enjoy the event with peace of mind.

Below, we delve into key strategies – from training staff and stocking child-size supplies to smart positioning of first aid posts and continuous improvement – all illustrated with real-world examples. Whether you’re producing a boutique community festival or a large-scale music extravaganza, these insights will help ensure every member of the family, from toddlers to teens, is looked after.

Training & Staffing: Child-Savvy Medical Teams

When planning medical coverage for a festival that welcomes children, it starts with the people. Festival medical staff need specialized paediatric training. This doesn’t mean hiring an entire paediatric hospital team, but it does mean ensuring that every medic on site is prepared to treat and interact with children. Key steps include:

• Hire or designate paediatric-trained personnel: Aim to have at least a few team members (doctors, nurses, paramedics or first aiders) with specific paediatric experience or certifications. For example, event medical providers in many countries offer Pediatric (Paediatric) Advanced Life Support (PALS) or paediatric first aid certified staff as part of their service. In the UK, volunteer-driven organisations like Festival Medical Services – which has been looking after festival-goers for decades – include doctors and nurses from the National Health Service in their ranks (festival-medical.org), and they even recruit staff with paediatric qualifications specifically for festival work. These professionals bring invaluable expertise in treating everything from infant fevers to childhood asthma on-site (festival-medical.org).
• Child communication and psychology: All medical staff – even those without formal paediatric credentials – should be trained in how to communicate with kids in a crisis. Treating a child at a festival isn’t just about clinical skills, but also about comfort and empathy. Medics should practice getting down to the child’s eye level, speaking in a calm and friendly tone, and using simple words. Many festivals run pre-event workshops or briefings where staff role-play scenarios like comforting a lost toddler or distracting a child with a scraped knee during treatment. A little patience and a gentle approach go a long way in soothing an upset youngster.
• Background checks and child safety training: Remember that medical staff might be alone with an injured child even briefly (for instance, if a parent is momentarily not present). It’s crucial to ensure safeguarding protocols are in place. In Ireland, for example, St. John Ambulance requires all event first aid volunteers to undergo Garda vetting (police background checks) and complete child safeguarding training (www.stjohn.ie). Festival organisers should mirror this diligence. Make sure your medical provider or team members have been vetted and are aware of child protection procedures – this protects both the children and your staff.

Real-world success stories highlight the value of investing in child-savvy staff. At Camp Bestival in the UK – a multi-day music festival specifically aimed at families – the organisers (led by veteran festival producer Rob da Bank) partner with an NHS-approved medical team every year to provide full on-site hospital services (dorset.campbestival.net). They ensure paediatric expertise is on hand, which has resulted in most children’s ailments being treated right at the festival without hospital trips. Conversely, organisers have also learned from tragedies: in 2023, a child at Camp Bestival fell critically ill and, despite immediate on-site care, later passed away in hospital (news.sky.com). While heartbreaking, this incident reinforced to festival teams everywhere how crucial it is to have skilled medics ready to respond in seconds. It’s a sobering reminder that being prepared for paediatric emergencies is literally a life-and-death matter, and that even with the best preparation, vigilance must remain high throughout the event.

Kid-Friendly Supplies: Stocking the Right Medical Gear

Having the right people is step one; equipping them properly is step two. A paediatric-aware medical post should look a bit different from a standard first aid tent. Here’s how festival producers can ensure their medical stations are stocked for child care:

• Oral rehydration solutions (ORS): Dehydration is a top concern at outdoor events, especially for active kids who may forget to drink water. While hydration is important for everyone, children can become dehydrated much faster than adults. Stock plenty of oral rehydration salts or ready-made electrolyte solutions (like Pedialyte) in kid-friendly flavours. Some events in hot climates even keep electrolyte ice pops on hand as a fun way to rehydrate children – turning medicine into a treat.
• Bandages and dressings of all sizes: A good first aid kit will have bandages, but make sure to include plenty of small-sized adhesive bandages (“plasters”) that fit tiny fingers and toes. Kids appreciate fun designs, so consider stocking bandages with colourful patterns or cartoon characters to help take away the sting of a scrape. Also have gauze, antiseptic wipes, and gentle adhesive tape suitable for children’s sensitive skin. These small touches can make a big difference in calming a child during treatment.
• Asthma and allergy tools (spacers & EpiPens): Respiratory issues and allergies are among the most serious paediatric emergencies you might face. For any child who needs an inhaler, a spacer device is critical. A spacer attaches to an inhaler and helps young children inhale medication more effectively (since they often struggle with the timing of using an inhaler). Every medical tent should have a couple of spacers on hand, including mask attachments that fit over a small child’s face. Likewise, stock adrenaline auto-injectors (such as EpiPen Jr.) for severe allergic reactions. Quick access to these can literally save a life if a child eats something they’re allergic to or gets stung by an insect. (Many festival medics can recount stories where having an EpiPen handy prevented disaster – for instance, a child at a food festival with an unknown nut allergy who was saved by immediate on-site treatment.)
• Child-size equipment: This includes items like pediatric blood pressure cuffs (adult cuffs won’t read accurately on a small arm), child-sized oxygen masks/nasal cannulas, paediatric cervical collars and splints for injuries, and child-appropriate doses of common medications. If the festival is large enough to have an on-site doctor or infirmary, ensure you have pediatric formulations of medicines like pain relievers and fever reducers (e.g. liquid paracetamol/acetaminophen and dosing syringes). One Australian family camping festival learned this the hard way: on Day 1 they realized they had only adult-strength pain tablets, which were useless for a five-year-old with a headache. After that, they made sure to stock kids’ liquid formulas and measuring spoons in their kit.
• Comfort items for kids: Taking care of a child’s medical needs isn’t only about the medicine – it’s also about their emotional comfort. Stock a few items that can soothe or distract an anxious child. Simple toys like stress balls, stickers (hand them a “bravery badge” sticker for being tough), or a cuddly teddy bear in the first aid tent can work wonders. Some festivals even provide “mini hero” certificates to kids after treatment, turning a scary moment into a proud memory. These gestures might seem small, but they can transform how children (and their parents) perceive the festival’s care.

By thoughtfully stocking these supplies, festivals signal that they have anticipated the needs of kids. It’s far better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. The peace of mind this preparedness gives to families is immeasurable and sets your event apart as truly family-oriented.

Strategic Placement of Medical Posts (Location, Location, Location!)

At a festival with tens of thousands of people, where you place medical resources can make all the difference – especially when responding to incidents involving children. Kids aren’t typically clustered at the main-stage mosh pit; they’re in the family-centric areas. Here are placement strategies to ensure help is always nearby for little ones:

• Near play zones and kids’ activities: If your festival has a designated children’s area (play zone, carnival rides, bouncy castles, craft tent, petting zoo, etc.), station a first aid post or medic team there. Incidents like tumbles, bruises, or a child feeling unwell are most likely to occur where kids are most active. For instance, the International Children’s Festival of the Arts in St. Albert, Canada, places its main First Aid & Lost Kids tent adjacent to the kids’ activity area (stalbert.ca). This way, any child who is hurt or separated from their parents is brought to one clearly marked safe spot. The result? Quicker treatment for minor injuries and a rapid, calm reunification process for lost children – all in one family-friendly space.
• By water attractions (splash pads, pools): Water play and splash pads are big hits at summer events to help kids cool off. However, they do introduce slip hazards and the risk (albeit small) of water-related accidents. If your event features a splash zone or wading pool, treat it like a swimming pool – have a medic or lifeguard on duty nearby. For example, at a county fair in California, organisers noticed on opening day that several children slipped and bumped their heads at a popular misting tent and water play area. They responded by assigning an EMT with a radio to that spot for the rest of the festival, drastically cutting down response times (and perhaps even making parents more cautious seeing a medic present). Even a shallow water play area can lead to a child swallowing too much water or taking a hard fall; having staff right there ensures prompt attention.
• Family camping and lounges: Many multi-day festivals (think camping festivals like Glastonbury in England or Woodford Folk Festival in Australia) offer family camping zones that are quieter at night. It’s a smart idea to position a first aid outpost or on-call medic near these camping areas, especially overnight. A child with a fever at 2 AM or a baby with an upset stomach can get care more quickly if there’s a medic stationed in the family campground, rather than parents having to trek across a huge site in the dark. Similarly, if your festival has a family lounge, mother-and-baby feeding area, or toddler nap tent, consider situating a medic or at least a radio-equipped staffer there. This doubles as both a convenience (for minor needs like a request for a plaster) and a rapid-response location for anything serious.
• Clearly marked and communicated locations: Visibility and awareness are key. Ensure all medical and first aid points are clearly marked on the festival map (with a prominent red cross or a child-friendly symbol) and signposted around the grounds. During the event, use PA announcements or info boards to remind attendees where first aid stations are located – especially highlighting those near family areas. Some festivals hand out a “family guide” at the entrance listing all kid-related facilities; in that guide, include the nearest medical post locations and what to do in an emergency. The more easily parents can find help, the better the outcome when an incident happens.

By thoughtfully integrating medical post locations into the overall site design, festival producers can drastically cut down response times for child incidents. One veteran event manager put it this way: “If you have to sprint more than a minute to find the nearest medic for a child, your medical posts are too far apart.” Position them smartly, and you’ll foster an environment where families feel secure and cared for at every turn.

Roaming Medics & Reading Child Cues

Not all medical responses at festivals happen at fixed first aid tents – nor should they. Roaming medics (mobile first responders on foot or in carts) are a staple of large events, and they play a special role in safeguarding children. Here’s how to optimize roaming medical teams with kids in mind:

• Patrol family areas and high-risk times: When scheduling your medics’ patrol routes, devote extra attention to family zones, carnival ride areas, and the perimeter of big stages during daytime (when kids are likely present). For example, at one major music festival in the US, the dedicated family zone sees frequent EMT patrols who check in with staff and casually scan for any child that looks unwell or upset. Similarly, festivals in Europe like Sziget or Roskilde (which attract some families despite being huge events) ensure medics circulate through family camping areas in the mornings to catch any overnight issues with kids.
• Train medics to read child cues: Kids might not always tell you they’re in trouble. A toddler may be overheated and listless in a stroller, or a shy child could wander away from their parents and silently stand crying at the edge of a crowd. Medical and security staff should be trained to spot these subtle signals. A roaming medic needs sharp observational skills – looking for children who appear lost, disoriented, flushed, or distressed. If they spot a little one who seems off, they should gently intervene and ask if everything is okay. In one case at a UK festival, a roaming first aider noticed a young boy sitting on the grass looking pale and woozy; she quickly checked on him and discovered he was feeling sick from heat and too timid to seek help. A bit of water, a shaded seat, and a cool cloth on his forehead prevented a case of heat exhaustion from escalating into something worse.
• Engage with parents and kids proactively: Roaming medics can also take a friendly, preventative approach. They might carry a few kid-friendly supplies in their packs – small packets of sunscreen, earplugs for children, or adhesive bandages – and offer them to families they encounter (“Hi there, looks like someone could use a plaster for that scrape – can I help?”). This not only helps prevent common issues (like sunburn or loud-noise discomfort) but also builds rapport. When kids see medics as the nice folks who gave them a fun sticker or helped refill their water bottle, they’re less likely to be afraid to approach if something is wrong later. It humanises the medical team in the eyes of the public.
• Quick response protocol for child incidents: Ensure your roaming teams know that any report of a lost child or an injured/ill child is a top priority call. Many festivals have a specific radio code for a missing child scenario that triggers an all-hands alert among staff (e.g., security closing perimeters, information points on lookout). Likewise, a child medical incident should be triaged with high priority – children can go from okay to critical faster than adults, so err on the side of rapid response. Cultivate a culture where the motto is “if in doubt, check it out.” It’s far better for a medic to double-check on a child and find out everything is fine than to miss a silent plea for help.

With vigilant, well-trained roaming medics, festivals create a safety net that moves through the crowd. Think of them as lifeguards on land – always scanning for the kid who’s gone under the radar. Many festival producers have breathed a sigh of relief after investing in this approach, citing incidents that didn’t become crises because a roaming medic caught the warning signs in time.

Integrating Medical Services with Lost Child & Welfare Teams

Family-friendly festivals often have multiple support services for attendees: first aid, lost children, and general welfare tents (for issues like lost property, counselling, or simply a quiet space). For parents and kids, these services overlap – a lost child might also be frightened or scratched up; a child feeling ill might actually just be lost and panicking. It’s crucial to integrate these services as much as possible to provide holistic care for families.

• Co-locate or closely link the Lost Kids and First Aid tent: As mentioned earlier, some festivals choose to house the lost children centre inside or directly next to a medical tent (stalbert.ca). This has many advantages. If a child is found separated from their parents, they can be brought into a safe, supervised space where a medic can immediately check that they’re physically okay (sometimes kids wander because they feel sick or have an issue). Conversely, if a child gets hurt, medics can simultaneously radio the lost child team in case the parents are frantically searching. The synergy means whether a child’s problem is primarily emotional (lost) or physical (injured), both needs are addressed together until the child is back with their family.
• Utilise child ID wristbands: Many events run a child registration scheme so that upon entry, parents can get a wristband for their child with the parent’s mobile number on it (www.festivalkidz.com). Encourage families to use these schemes. In case a child is found lost or needs medical help and the guardians aren’t immediately present, having that info literally on the child speeds up finding the parents. Festivals from Camp Bestival to city fairs in Singapore have praised this simple step as a game-changer in reducing the time a child remains separated or unclaimed.
• Cross-training staff: Train some of your medical staff in basic child welfare procedures, and likewise train some lost children/welfare staff in basic first aid. For example, the Angel Gardens crew in the UK specialises in running children’s areas at festivals and ensures their team is trained in both child welfare and first aid. Their founder – a child psychotherapist by background – has worked alongside medical professionals and festival organisers to develop a comprehensive approach to family services. The result is an environment where a child who scrapes their knee receives both a plaster and comfort simultaneously, whether it’s a medic or a childcare volunteer who happens to be closest. No silos, no “not my department” – the child’s wellbeing is everyone’s priority.
• Communication is paramount: Ensure that your security, medical, and lost child teams are all on the same communication network and share information in real time. If a lost child report comes in, security should inform medics so they can keep an eye out and be ready to treat if needed. If medics treat an unaccompanied child, that should immediately trigger a lost child alert to reunite them with their parents. Have a clear protocol (written into your event safety plan) outlining these steps. It’s also wise to brief all staff on what to do if they encounter a missing child or worried parent. A cohesive, practiced plan will make a potentially scary situation run smoothly and swiftly.
• Family welfare facilities: Some festivals provide a quiet family welfare tent or even childcare services during certain hours. It’s worth situating a first aid kit or even a volunteer medic near those facilities. If a baby develops a mild fever or a teenager has an anxiety episode, the welfare team and medics can coordinate to support the family. Ultimately, a family’s needs at a festival can range from a lost teddy bear to a sprained ankle – and the events that handle all those scenarios gracefully will earn the trust and love of their audience.

Monitoring, Data Tracking & Continuous Improvement

Even with the best plan in place, the first day of a festival will teach you something new. Perhaps kids are using an unofficial shortcut and getting nettle stings, or maybe you notice many families stopping by the medical tent for free earplugs. The key to excellence in festival safety is to learn and adapt continuously. Here’s how to use data and observation to refine your paediatric medical coverage:

• Incident tracking: Have your medical team keep detailed logs of all visits and calls, including patient age (or at least note if it’s a child), location, time, and cause of the incident. Review these logs at the end of each day. Many festivals conduct nightly safety meetings where department leads share issues from the day – make pediatric (paediatric) incidents a specific point on the agenda. Did you see any patterns? For example, “On Day 1, we treated five children for bee stings, all near the flower garden by Kids’ Camp.” That’s a clue to maybe cordon off that area or have an EpiPen-equipped medic patrol there on Day 2. Or if you found that lots of kids ended up with sunburns, perhaps Day 2’s morning announcements should include a sunscreen reminder, and you distribute more free sunscreen at info points.
• Redeploying resources: Use the incident data to redeploy medical staff nightly. If certain areas saw more action than expected, adjust your staffing or operating hours accordingly. A real-world example: at a large weekend festival in Europe, the first day revealed that the family dance tent in the afternoon had multiple cases of kids feeling dizzy (likely from dancing in a hot tent). The organisers responded by stationing a dedicated first aider at that tent on subsequent days and adding extra fans for ventilation. Similarly, if your records show the main first aid tent was overloaded at noon with scraped knees from the skate park, consider sending a medic to be posted at the skate ramp during peak hours the next day. Treat your plan as flexible – it’s better to adapt proactively than to stick rigidly to a map that isn’t matching reality on the ground.
• Feedback from families: Don’t underestimate the value of directly asking parents about their experience. Some festivals send post-event surveys to attendees that include questions on safety and medical services. Solicit feedback on whether families knew where to find help, if they felt the provisions for kids were adequate, and if they have suggestions. You might discover that many parents didn’t notice the baby changing and first aid tent because the signage was too small – an easy fix for next time. Or you could learn that families really appreciated the kid-specific care (and will rave about it on social media), which is great insight to highlight in your marketing.
• Emergency drills and debriefs: If possible, run a quick drill or tabletop exercise with your team for a child-related emergency scenario (imagine a missing toddler announcement, or a serious playground accident) before the festival begins. This helps pinpoint any gaps and ensures everyone knows their role. During the festival, after any significant incident involving a child, do a short debrief once things are under control: What went well? What could be improved? Perhaps communication between the lost kids team and medics could be faster – so you refine the protocol immediately. Continuous small adjustments like these throughout the event can make a big difference.
• Celebrate successes (and learn from close calls): When preparation pays off, acknowledge it. If a child’s asthma attack was swiftly handled because you had spacers and trained staff ready, share that story with your team – it reinforces the importance of these measures. On the other hand, if there was a close call (say a child nearly wandered into a backstage area unnoticed), treat it as a learning opportunity to further child-proof your event or retrain staff on vigilance. Fostering a culture of openness and continuous improvement will motivate your crew to maintain high standards.

Continuous improvement is the hallmark of a professional operation. Festivals like Tomorrowland in Belgium or Splore in New Zealand didn’t become renowned for their great atmosphere overnight – they iterate and enhance safety and guest experience every year. By making paediatric safety a core part of that iterative process, you ensure that families will return year after year because they trust your event to care for their kids.

Key Takeaways for Festival Producers

• Paediatric training is a must: Ensure your event medical team includes staff trained and experienced in treating children. Invest in training all medics on child communication and the nuances of paediatric care.
• Stock up on child-specific supplies: From oral rehydration salts and kid-sized bandages to spacers and EpiPens – having the right gear on-site can prevent small issues from becoming big emergencies.
• Strategic placement of medics: Position first aid stations and roaming medics near family areas – play zones, splash pads, family camping – wherever kids are likely to be. Quick access saves precious minutes in an emergency.
• Roaming vigilance: Train mobile medics to actively watch for kids in distress or at risk, and empower them to intervene early. A proactive approach can stop trouble before it escalates.
• Integrate with child services: Coordinate your medical efforts with lost child and welfare teams. A unified, child-friendly safety net ensures no child slips through the cracks, whether they’re hurt or just momentarily lost.
• Adapt and learn each day: Track all incidents involving children, analyze the data, and be ready to adjust staffing, supplies, or procedures on the fly. Responsive and agile management keeps the festival safe and shows parents you care.
• Communicate your family-safe features: Let attendees know about your paediatric-aware medical coverage – through festival guides, maps, and signage. Parents will feel more comfortable attending when they know you’ve gone the extra mile for their kids’ safety.

By embracing these practices, festival producers around the globe can create events that aren’t just fun for families, but also fundamentally safe for the youngest festival-goers. A truly family-friendly festival isn’t defined only by its kids’ entertainment, but by the quiet confidence it gives parents that if anything happens, the festival has got their back. That peace of mind, backed by well-prepared paediatric-aware medical coverage, turns a good event into an outstanding and inclusive one – a place where lifelong happy memories are made for the entire family.