1. Sunburn
The sun is shining for the first two days of the festival. The most thoughtful have stocked up on sunscreen. “And also sprays,” notes Murielle Bernhard, a pharmacy technician at the pharmacy on the Place de Marché, a few hundred meters from the festival entrance… and on duty.
Jean Maurice Each / SO
In 32 degree heat, sunscreen was a must for the first two days of the festival.
2. Light bulbs
Thousands and thousands of steps, hours spent standing are hard on the feet of festival-goers. Result: “lots and lots of blisters” and dressings bought in batches at the market place pharmacy.
3. Sprains
After just one day, “we’re already starting to see quite a bit,” says Murielle Bernhard. After passing through the emergency center, they come with prescriptions: splints, or even boots for the most serious cases. “It’s when it rains that you have to be careful, because of slips,” warns the pharmacy technician.
4. Headaches
Paracetamol is the best-seller in pharmacies during the four days. Headaches, bruises, everything is covered. Not enough water, too many other substances… This is often enough to treat the minor problems of “young people who are much better behaved than the festival-goers of fifteen or twenty years ago,” says Céline Dornon, an employee of the center’s pharmacy. Didn’t they hurt themselves? “They treated themselves,” she laughs. On the market square, Murielle Bernhard confirms: “They are really always very nice,” including the day after a party.
5. Warm-ups
Heat and sweat added to kilometers traveled between concerts and camping, “the warm-ups arrive quickly”, underlines Murielle Bernhard. A little cream, and off we go again.
