Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
i hate to say it, but you kinda deserve what happens to you.
People have died there.
i understand that, but if you're gonna be that careless with your body, then there's gonna be some kind of price to pay. i dont even go to the bathroom without bringing water. i mean, its sad that it happens, but most of the deaths there could have been avoided.
Again, it seems that several of you have a self-skewed definition of common sense. One day you'll realize that defending the inadequacies of a corporation just because you like their brand is a fools errand that has left you a slave.
Post by dorkfish85 on Jun 13, 2011 13:44:33 GMT -5
Thanks to my six months of research, I was pretty prepared going into my first Roo...except for just how intense the heat would be. I live in Charleston, SC, where the daily temperatures during the summer are between 95-100, so I'm used to the heat, but I've never been in a situation where I thought I might have a heat stroke just sitting in the shade.
My group drank water constantly, and we bought some misting fans so we sprayed ourselves and others all day. We also made a couple of stops at the American Spirit lounge, which was amazing and helped recharge us for a while.
We took 8 cases of beer along with us and ended up bringing back 5 cases because we knew if we drank all day we'd be really screwed. I saw tons of people who were wasted and couldn't believe anyone would be that stupid. We actually drank so much water on Saturday night, that me and my boyfriend had to stop because our sweat stopped being salty and we were just sweating water.
What made me really angry was that after standing in line to get in on Friday for 30-45 minutes, the guy who checked my boyfriend's bag told him he was only allowed one sealed water bottle. After standing there and watching him give the water away to people, the security guy was like 'oh my bad, they're actually letting people take more than one in today.' Wtf?
I thoroughly enjoyed my first Roo, but I definitely think they need more shaded areas, and it would be nice if they had air conditioned lounges spread around like the American Spirit one.
Post by pondo ROCKS on Jun 13, 2011 14:08:31 GMT -5
It was Wayyy less hotter this year than last.That being said... people did not hydrate like they were supposed to.
I gave a bottled water to a guy outside the cinema tent who was throwing up and flagged down the medical team. When he asked the EMT's for water they said "We don't have any water or any way of getting you water. Are you ok?" This guys heart sank and I gave him another bottled water and got him inside the cinema tent to cool off.
I am not picking on the medical staff but seriously, if someone is throwing up and appears to be getting ill from the heat and they ask for water, your response should not be 'we have no water for you."
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I thought this year was WAY more tollerable than last year!! I drank water all the way to the gate, dumped what was left, went in the fountain to cool down then went and filled my water. No issues. I, as well as everyone should have been,am aware they will dump water. Drink all the way up to arch. No problems.
Post by twistedlittlepuppy on Jun 13, 2011 15:44:19 GMT -5
Not sure if anyone saw this, but on Sunday morning, I left my camp a bit early to go to the L&F tent in Centerroo. Past Shakedown St, somewhere in the VIP section, I saw about 6 mounted officers attending to this guy was literally screaming and fighting the people trying to help him. This was my 1st Roo and it kind of scary seeing someone that messed up. Hope he's ok, whoever he was.
There could have been more water for sure. The water fountain near the HTC building had HORRIBLE water pressure! On Friday, I was waiting in line for 90 minutes to get water b/c it was coming out in the slowest of trickles. By Sunday, the water fountain near the Which Stage was barely drinkable as it was SO sulfuric. I dumped two packets of Crystal Light drink mixes into one small bottle and it still couldn't mask the taste or the smell and I ended up dumping it out.
Shade was a major issue. While I was waiting to get water on Friday, my friend was nearby in line to get her phone charge. I could go on a completely separate, long-winded rant on the nonsense that was the cell phone recharging service, but I'd be off topic. All I can say is that my friend and tons of other people sizzled in the borad sunlight for 4+ hours as they waited in line for literally nothing
Thank you to all of you awesome folks on Centeroo. I truly don't know if I could have survived w/o the tips I got from here. the group I was w/ only had 1 shade canopy that they mostly used to sit under during "breakfast" (i.e., hot dogs and several beers). I made sure to pitch our tents right under our ez up and we (friend and I) were able to sleep well past 9AM! I also had 4 beers the entire trip. I got called boring by someone in my group, but then again, I got to see several afternoon sets while they were passed out in the State Farm tent most of Saturday. Winning!
Post by Pandacakes on Jun 13, 2011 17:30:15 GMT -5
I was 2 cars down from the girl that died. It was by far the most awful thing from roo this year. The two guys she was with were complete assholes to her. They had a huge fight that woke me up really early in the morning. Then she got into the tent and they just walked off for the rest of the day. I didn't even think about her being in the tent before i went to centeroo. But I really wish i could go back and do something. Remembering her voice is going to haunt me for a long time.
I gave a bottled water to a guy outside the cinema tent who was throwing up and flagged down the medical team. When he asked the EMT's for water they said "We don't have any water or any way of getting you water. Are you ok?" This guys heart sank and I gave him another bottled water and got him inside the cinema tent to cool off.
I am not picking on the medical staff but seriously, if someone is throwing up and appears to be getting ill from the heat and they ask for water, your response should not be 'we have no water for you."
All I have to say is that if this isn't some hallucination you had then Bonnaroo is really asking for it. If the number one cause of injury and death at Bonnaroo is overheating and dehydration then you would think that the medical staff would certainly at least have a small electrolyte packet and water at ready at all times. Its common courtesy by a venue, if not legally required.
Is Tennessee in a drought or something where having water flowing freely for medical situations is a problem?
My group drank water constantly, and we bought some misting fans so we sprayed ourselves and others all day. We also made a couple of stops at the American Spirit lounge, which was amazing and helped recharge us for a while.
We took 8 cases of beer along with us and ended up bringing back 5 cases because we knew if we drank all day we'd be really screwed. I saw tons of people who were wasted and couldn't believe anyone would be that stupid. We actually drank so much water on Saturday night, that me and my boyfriend had to stop because our sweat stopped being salty and we were just sweating water. .
I agree that it felt considerably cooler this year, and I actually was able to find shade a lot easier, even took a nap in the state farm tent, which was clutch.
It is really sad to hear about people dying from the heat and all, but I agree that it's a bit naive to say that it's all Bonnaroo's fault. I constantly saw the security guys when I was in the pit taking water bottles to VIPs and other security guys so I think it's a bit absurd that the medical teams don't have water on them in general, but the five or so people that passed out around me during MMJ all had water quickly administered. There is tons and tons of information on the weather at Bonnaroo and what to expect so while it is sad and it sucks that water there is expensive and there are lines and all, you can bring a case of water and a nalgene and be good just bringing in two 500ml bottles + the nalgene a day and refilling those every couple shows give or take. I'm nowhere near in good shape and drank a lot of beer and did a lot of dancing this weekend and that was enough for me.
Last Edit: Jun 13, 2011 18:02:04 GMT -5 by nate - Back to Top
Emoney serves more of a purpose than any of you, especially Nate, whose incessant, garbled ramblings are so mindless and pointless that I get depressed just seeing them.
I gave a bottled water to a guy outside the cinema tent who was throwing up and flagged down the medical team. When he asked the EMT's for water they said "We don't have any water or any way of getting you water. Are you ok?" This guys heart sank and I gave him another bottled water and got him inside the cinema tent to cool off.
I am not picking on the medical staff but seriously, if someone is throwing up and appears to be getting ill from the heat and they ask for water, your response should not be 'we have no water for you."
All I have to say is that if this isn't some hallucination you had then Bonnaroo is really asking for it. If the number one cause of injury and death at Bonnaroo is overheating and dehydration then you would think that the medical staff would certainly at least have a small electrolyte packet and water at ready at all times. Its common courtesy by a venue, if not legally required.
Is Tennessee in a drought or something where having water flowing freely for medical situations is a problem?
I did see one example of the medical staff being completely retarded. A girl was dry heaving under the mist tent at What Stage on Saturday, and her friends were so casual about it. Basically, bragging that they were playing wine and beer pong all day (smart move, huh?). By the time the medical staff gets there, the poor girl is in bad shape. But they spent 10 minutes debating on whether to carry her or get a cart. Finally, we spoke up and said if they didn't take her to the med center now, I would carry her myself. Right after, a cart pulled up and took her away. She was conscious and I'm sure she's fine now, but it pissed me off. Time is precious in those situations, make a decision, and get this poor girl an IV
Post by abrakapokus on Jun 13, 2011 18:45:39 GMT -5
I suppose some people don't understand that when your body starts to shut down from lack of hydration/salt/carbs that the brain just simple doesn't work well nor does the body. I stood in line at a water station for over 20 minutes. If I had just realized then that I needed water my body probably couldn't have made it to the next station to then wait in line for God knows how long. Blaming people who are dead is absolutly callus and shows a huge lack of understanding. Yes, the people who drank beer or used all day and stayed in the sun were ignorant of what the Roo might have been like. I was lucky enough to have my hubby who has gone for three years and this board to guide me along. Still yet, I found myself walking long distances in the sun to find even the shade given by garbage cans taken up. The people who died may have woken and called for help or realized that they needed water without a way to obtain any. You just don't know.
I greatly enjoyed Bonnaroo but they need to step it up. Their medical staff is obviously undertrained, they need more shade and better water supply. This year, Dollywood started giving out free cups of water at any station and Bonnaroo should do the same even if it does hit them in the pocket. I am from East Tennessee so I'm used to these temps and as a farmer's daughter I've spent plenty of time outdoors but I still couldn't imagine how hard Bonnaroo could be on the body and found myself faint a few times despite drinking water all day long. I plan on coming next year and brining extra water to give away. I was stupid myself assuming the people passed out in the sun would have someone friend or staff to help them and I feel terribly guilty.
I'm a nurse and I know I helped at least a dozen people out this weekend...that being said, I also don't blame them. Sometimes accidents happen. No fault, no blame, just a terrible thing happens because of a series of negative events that line up...
Post by onesweetla83 on Jun 13, 2011 19:22:50 GMT -5
Some of these things (like whether they dumped your water or not) depended on what line you were in getting into Centeroo. Three of the 4 days I had no problems. One of the days I got in the slow line and the guy checked EVERYTHING - including patting me down and checking my wallet. He didn't make me dump my spray bottle but I saw him make some other ppl dump them, and my Camelbak was empty so no problems there.
EDIT/ADDITION (after reading more of this thread): All this being said, I don't think ANYONE (Bonnaroo or the concertgoers) can really be blamed for these obvious accidents.
Yes, Bonnaroo could and probably should step it up. There's no reason whatsoever for medical personnel to NOT have water on them. Since most of the illnesses are heat and sun-related (drugs or no) water and a first aid kit at the very least should be accessible at ALL TIMES or they're really not doing their jobs. More infrastructure and shade would also be welcomed, but an umbrella is a small thing to pack and offers at least a little shade with minimal effort.
Yes, concertgoers should do the research before they go, and be prepared for how they might handle the intense heat we all know Bonnaroo is famous for, but that's still not to say something bad won't happen out there even to someone who thinks they've got all their bases covered.
This was my third year and although this year wasn't AS hot as last year it was certainly close. I have not even once thought of taking a single sip of soda or beer at the festival, or trying any party favors - not bc I have anything against those things necessarily, but bc I simply know my body struggles in the heat period, and that's without those outside factors complicating things. If others want to drink alcohol or do the no-no word, that's their thing - I just hope they're taking extra extra precaution to rehydrate in the process and have an idea of what they're doing to their bodies/how their bodies are going to handle it. I think some people are doing that and some aren't. Still, one guy could get totally wasted and be fine all weekend, and then another guy could think he's covered all the bases and still have serious medical issues, you just never know. That's why I don't see the point in taking chances personally, but everyone deserves the freedom to make their own choices.
Bottom line, NO ONE "deserves what they get" if what they get is death. Period.
Post by duncmelsmom on Jun 13, 2011 19:29:33 GMT -5
This was my first 'Roo and I had a total blast. I hope to go again next year! It's so sad to hear about the deaths. I have a couple of suggestions:
More misting tents More shade. There has to be a way to hang netting over some of the fields. I've seen it done at the Renaissance Festival and Six Flags. My group would wake and start hydrating. I never had a problem with filling my camelbak. We would bring a few unopened water bottles in each day. I honestly believe that more deaths would happen if camelbaks were allowed to be full. Partiers would fill with vodka or other liquors and be sicker. Yes, I saw some throwing up and many passed out. I expected as much. It's a partying festival. One morning, we were buying souvenirs and I saw some Bonnaroo employees walking around talking amongst themselves. They were older and important looking. One guy laughed to the others and said, "I wish we could figure out a way to sell shade next year". I thought, I'd buy some. I was really impressed at the constant self-evaluations the festival people were constantly doing. We would run to the trees at Which and claim our space for the day. I can't imagine those who were unprepared. So scary!!