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Festival (taking insulin from you).

D

dundo1968

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 1
We're off to a festival and they are very insistent that all insulin / injections are kept in the medical tent. I'm not entirely happy about this. Trapsing across a sizeable field when high, needing extra insulin or to cover whats about to be eaten just doesn't sit well with me. It's a big festival and fighting through crowds etc seems very unreasonable.

Before I take them on, juat wanted to see what others think. Are they discriminating, putting a risk on health, breaking equality regs?
 
I've never heard of something like this (which doesn't mean a thing of course, there are more things I haven't heard about).
For me, keeping my insulin, glucose meter and quick acting glucose on me would be non negotiable, and I wouldn't even have thought of declaring beforehand, they are an essential part of me.

My phone for getting my CGM info, longer acting carbs for treating mild or stubborn lows, and lower carb snacks for hunger if nothing suitable is available at the festival would be things I'd consider compromising on, if unwillingly.

I have no ideas on the legal aspect of your question. Are you in the UK?
 
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So do they expect insulin pump users to disconnect their pumps and hand them over.?

I suspect that you could, but shouldn't have to, get a doctor's letter to say that your insulin needs to be with you at all times. And what about users of things like epipens for anaphylaxis?
 
This is a new one on me.

Firstly, I’ve never disclosed what meds I’m carrying.
I’ve heard of festivals not allowing bottles of liquid (water) in some larger festivals back in the day.
There was almost a riot at one hot fest back in the mid 1990s as the sun beat down & temperatures soured. Seemed to remember the fire brigade battling through an exiting crowd at the end of the night after the “sex pistols.” When a tent was set alight..

I’ve done the festival circuit myself for 16 years across Europe, too… (as an artist with a band.)
Seen a lot of illicit drug use back & front stage..
No one has ever given me grief, let alone blinked an eye at my pens.

Which festival is it?
Is there any “terms & conditions” on the website??

Edit; just thought of another question. Are you certain the organisers aren’t just offering a safe storage facility for insulin dependent diabetics??

Went to a car rally once where a member kindly offered the use of a fridge..
 
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Seems a strange request to me , but in this day and age everything is a bit “ strange” , I would have thought if they are going to the trouble of providing a “ medical” tent then they would have some ” professional “ input, or maybe not . I would certainly get a letter off my doctor . Am wondering will they search people on entry like I initially said……. strange
 
It's Reggaeland at Milton Keynes. It's on thier website. I just wanted to get a feel of opinions and our rights. I just think having to keep running to a tent to get meds when high, ir eating / drinking etc is ridiculous. It doesn't seem like a nibe offer, it's all medication including injections must be taken to the medical tent!
 
I’ll take a look at their site later.. (off to a band practice.)

The running around for meds back & forth to a tent makes no sense to me.
I’ve always felt it’s my responsibility to look after my insulin & would keep it about my person. At such events…

I certainly understand the practicality of your issue.
 
No not an offer a stipulation. I've emailed them and mentioned the Equality Act, remember tge lady who sued for having her lucozade confiscated, she used that so thought I'd wing it and quote it!
 
My personal view and it is only a personal view is that this little diktat has arisen from mistakenly thinking that a) there are hyper dermic needles involved and could be used for elicit drug use, Or b) insulin has been caught up in a total ban on all meds they suspect could be sold as a high. They cannot test these meds to see what is actually in them and for safety reasons they have simply said no you must deposit all your medications with us for ‘safe keeping’.

They are on very questionable legal grounds, and specifically they have left themselves exposed to legal jeopardy should a medical emergency arise from not being able to access medications.

My only thoughts contrary to this is that this is technically a private venue, and they can put in place what ever restrictions they think fit. A case of if you don't like our rules don’t come, kind of thing. However their legal jeopardy still stands. Maybe if there is a member who is a UK lawyer may be able to shed more light on this legal and ethical question.
 
OK..

Hopefully I found the same website “T&Cs”

Not saying they are right. & it seems to side with a general safety issue regarding other festival goers & could be part of the stipulations of a public event licence?

I’ve outlined what I’ve read in red.. so we’re looking at sharps & glass. Even a pen cartridge is glass. (Stupid I know..)
I went from back stage at a festival in Sweden with a bottle once with a bottle & they would only let me go “front of house” if decanted into a plastic cup?



Now this…. (Below.)

Looks like how they are attempting to resolve the above..

A shockingly bad solution.

Personally. I could be quite happy give my verified with proof of ID details to the organisers stating i carry such items because it would be detriment to my personal wellbeing & be transparently accountable…

I have to admit. This looks concerning & a serous oversight regarding the insulin dependant amongst the music lovers..



 
This is very wrong and suggests a gross misunderstanding of diabetes and maybe interpreted as discrimination within the disability discrimination act (or whatever it is called now).
I think it maybe worth contacting Diabetes UK for support in educating the organisers. They have a weekday helpline on their website.
Note: this forum is nothing to do with the charity Diabetes UK.
 
Just to update everyone, I did email them, I explained why it needs to be in you, pointing out the obvious and not so obvious. They will let us keep them as long as we bring a doctor's letter! That's fine, although our doctor charges fir letters!

It's annoyed me as I only saw this as I happened to join a Facebook forum. When booking things I don't normally and just rock up I don't check t&c particularly (especially both their whole list of demands). So am concerned that any other t1 who hasn't checked and doesn't have a letter will be denied thier medication.

Oh one person did helpfully tell me that epi pens are allowed (great, never had anaphylaxis) and I can take one fizzy drink in (oh i feeled spoiled now). So shows there is no understanding at all.

Did try and educate and suggest they get a proper medical consultant in to save being sued they declined to comment!
 
Just, Wow! Perhaps this needs to be taken to the media? MPs, too.
 
dundo1968 said:
That's fine, although our doctor charges fir letters!
Click to expand...
Typically, GPs will charge for such letters but endocrinologists and diabetes clinic based DSNs do not.
At least, this is the case for letters written for flying with all our diabetes kit in our hand luggage.
 
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