Everyone knows that to survive a festival you need to be prepared!

We've arrived at that time of year when the word 'Festival' is banded around a lot. Whether it's your kids pleading to go, or your friends pressuring you into a long weekend of mud and 'long drops'! Whatever the reason. If it's your first time, you'll need a little advice. Trust us, a little help now will make your experience a much more enjoyable one. So here we go, our top tips on how to be 100% festival ready (if that is possible).

Tent

This will be your home for the duration of the event. So don't scrimp and save to allow for more beer money. And don't think a tiny pop up one will make things simpler. Fast forward to you sat in your tiny tent with your soaked gear and muddy clothes (because it WILL rain). You'll be screaming for a little more room and wish you'd thought more about it. So our first tip is get a decent tent and choose one that is 'one person' bigger than you need. If there's one of you, get a two-man tent, if there's two of you, a three-man tent, and so on. Make sure you attempt a test run, pitch up your tent in the garden before you go as a trial. You do not want to get there and be left tied up with guy ropes.

Remember to bring extra tent pegs and guy ropes, as people (including you) will trip over and possibly rip them. Maybe even bring duct tape, because you will struggle in the rain with a ripped tent!

The Perfect Spot

The key to finding the right spot can only be achieved by arriving early. The people that turn up late will never find a perfect spot. They'll be left camping next to the portaloos, and nobody wants that, however bad you think this is, IT'S WORSE! The key is to find an area on a gentle slope, then you won't be sleeping in a pond if the weather takes a turn for the worse. DO NOT set up camp at the bottom of a hill. As all the rain, beer and other 'disgusting' liquids will find their way to your tent and you'll be camping in it. The ideal plan is finding a friend arriving early, who'll find a perfect spot and even put up your tent. You will then obviously have to buy them a few beers.

Mark Your Territory

This is not as grim as it sounds - it does not involve weeing on your tent! You may think you know where your tent is, but that is before many hours of festival fun. Attempting to return to your tent in the pitch black, most likely a little worse for wear - you will struggle. Bring along a flag, solar lights or anything that you'll be able to pick out in the forest of tents. As your home for the night is bound to be right in the middle of it.

Group Rules

On your way to the festival get your friends together and work out a few group rules. Honestly, these will help you have the best time whilst you're there. Nothing strict obviously (we know you want to have fun), the main rule should be to arrange a meeting place. These festivals can be enormous places, bigger than you could imagine and getting lost is far too easy. So agree to have a meeting point and meeting times throughout the day. Therefore anyone who gets lost in the morning knows where to go and when, and isn't left stranded. Don't shrug off this old school method of relying on your mobile phones. Because festivals are usually held in the countryside and you can bet you'll have no reception. Your battery will also disappear because of all the snapchatting!

Cleanliness

You'll be living in a field with thousands of random strangers and you'll be sharing their toilets. So if you're going to pick up an infection, odds are this is where it will happen! There are very little (if any) showers, the toilets will be portaloos or long drops and the queue to wash your hands will be so long it may put a lot of people off. So this is the time when you need to have the right things with you to keep yourself germ free.

The ideal plan is to bring along a pack of cleansing wipes to allow a morning 'tent shower'. You can also use them throughout the day when visiting the facilities. After any visit to the toilets (or any unsavoury experience) you'll need to clean your hands. The best idea would be to carry a small hand sanitiser that can fit in your handbag or pocket.

Health And Safety

Official festivals have health and safety teams on site 24 hours to deal with any problems you may have. They will have designated areas within the festival where you can go to seek treatment or find help. The best idea is to introduce yourself to the campsite staff when you arrive and tell them where your tent is (using your distinctive flag/banner). They will most likely then keep an eye on you during the festival.

Due to the size of some festivals it may take you a long time to find the area to help with a small cut, graze or burn. The best plan is take along a First Aid kit/Mini First Aid kit. Something that has the essentials should someone in your group have a minor accident. A Burn dressing, tape, bandage, plasters, wipes, eye wash would be ideal.

Alcohol.......And The Hangovers!

Most festival goers will be looking forward to having a few drinks during their stay. Try and make sure you're sensible throughout. The best idea is to stay hydrated, try to drink lots of water in between other drinks. If you're drinking alcohol in the sun and taking in no water - this could lead to problems. The least of which will be a very bad hangover! So drink lots of water and you can even try our ORS Hydration Tablets. They're pocket sized tablet packs which have a scientifically balanced formula of electrolytes, glucose and minerals. Confusing science apart, they increase your hydration - you can thank us later!

Personal Safety

This is your first time remember, so be careful. Make sure you stay with your group and try to be tolerant of other festival visitors. If you meet someone new, invite them to join your group, don't join another group on your own. Before all the craziness and fun begins have a walk around the site and try and gather your bearings. You'll be very glad you did this later, as it's so easy to get lost.

Other Helpful Festival Tips

• Take a torch, this'll get you back to your tent in one piece and not land you on someone else's
• Don't lock your tent, as it won't keep people out. It just makes it seem like you have something worth taking
• Keep your valuables close to you when asleep, not at entrance to tent
• Don't get in your tent soaking wet, dry off first
• Never leave your drink unattended
• Take plenty of sunscreen............JUST IN CASE
• Don't take your best clothes, as you'll probably ruin them

There you go, that is our very own Festival Survival Guide. If you've been to many festivals you'll already know all this but just think of the newcomers.

Oh yeah, and don't forget your WELLIES!