Festival wristbands are now commonplace for festivals in the UK - they’re an important part of both the safety and security of an event. However, the question we’re often asked is: is it safe to sleep in a wristband for say, 2-3 days? The short answer is yes - it’s safe to sleep in a wristband and very common for 2-3 night festivals, but there are some key safety considerations. Let us explore the safety concerns around sleeping with a wristband.

Choose the material wisely

When worn for too long or incorrectly, some materials may irritate the skin - especially if they’re not designed for long-term usage. It’s important to ensure that attendees are not allergic to any materials that the wristband is made of. 

To mitigate discomfort over a 2-3 day period, we recommend opting for a softer fabric that isn’t likely to cause any issues. In fact, you may have seen festival-goers who still wear a number of wristbands from festivals attended in the past (although we don't recommend this). Fabric wristbands offer the following when worn for events that span over a number of nights:

Flexibility

Made from soft materials like woven fabric or polyester, they’re flexible in nature which can really help during that festival sleep. Soft in touch, this fabric texture reduces irritation and friction against the skin during a 2 to 3-night festival stay.

Breathability

Compared to the likes of vinyl or even plastic, fabric wristbands allow for air to circulate around the wrist. What’s more, we know that festivals can be a fairly wet affair if the weather is poor. Such circulation prevents this and any discomfort that comes with moisture accumulation, ultimately leading to a better night's sleep.

Lightweight in design

These wristbands aren’t bulky or heavy on the wrist. Attendees are unlikely to feel the contact during sleep. The chances of this kind of wristband causing any hindrance during sleep are minimal.

Keeping a wristband on for ID and emergency response

Now it’s clear that fabric and cloth wristbands are about as comfortable and safe a wristband to sleep in at a festival as possible, let’s take a look at the role wristbands play in safety and why wristbands should remain on - even during sleep. 

It’s actually incredibly important that festival goers do in fact wear a wristband to sleep. In the event of any emergency, the festival staff and medical personnel can identify those who are participating in the festival at pace. The wristband can act as a visible indicator that helps ensure rescue and medical emergencies are accurately dealt with in the event of critical situations. 

Wristbands act as an important communication tool during the festival. Some festivals choose to add contact information, hotlines for emergencies and unique IDs to wristbands to help with these communications. 

Here are our top tips for keeping a wristband as fresh as possible over a 2-3 night event:

  1. Try to avoid touching it unnecessarily. This will help reduce the amount of dirt and/or bacteria that can build up.
  2. Advise attendees to wash their hands as regularly as possible. Standard practice but it will pay dividends in not transferring germs to the band.
  3. Try to keep bands as dry as possible. Moisture around the wristband can make it a bit of a breeding ground for bacteria. If it does get wet - as this is sometimes unavoidable at a festival.
  4. Be mindful of the food and drinks at the festival. Advise that your attendees prevent contamination by avoiding touching the band while enjoying refreshments.
  5. Advise your attendees to remove the wristband once it's all over. Whilst safe to sleep in for 2 to 3 days, wearers should get rid of the wristband in a safe and secure manner after. It's understandable that they may wish to keep it for nostalgic and sentimental value, but long term usage will result in bacteria build up.

If you’re organising a festival or an event? View our festival wristbands here.