NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — With CMA Fest happening this week, Nashville is preparing to welcome visitors from all around the world. To help people avoid illness and injury during the occasion, Vanderbilt LifeFlight officials have offered tips and precautions for fans to take.
The number one concern of the LifeFlight Event Medicine team - which has provided emergency medical coverage for CMA Fest since 2009 - is heat-related illness.
"Victims of heat exhaustion should know when to call it quits for the day," said Jared McKinney, associate professor of Emergency Medicine and medical director for the Event Medicine division of LifeFlight. "If you are feeling light-headed or dizzy or experience headache, nausea, vomiting or other concering symptoms, please ask for assistance to get to the first-aid tent or ask for evaluation from one of our medics."
According to Vanderbilt LifeFlight, alcohol exacerbates Vanderbilt LifeFlight's concern about heat exhaustion. Alcohol can intensify the consequences of heat exposure and worsen dehydration, leading to impaired judgment and lack of recognition of warning signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion. Alcohol can also interfere with the body's ability to sweat, a natural cooling mechanism.
"We want fans to enjoy Nashville and have a great time, but be careful when it comes to alcohol consumption and do it in moderation," McKinney said.
Vanderbilt LifeFlight says the first step to treating heat-related illness is to cool the body infuse appropriate fluids for re-hydration, such as water or electrolyte-replacing sports drinks.
People should drink water even if they don't feel thirsty, to help prevent heat exhaustion.
Free water stations and water fountains are located throughout the CMA Fest area, including:
- On Broadway between First Avenue and Second Avenue
- On Broadway between Second Avenue and Third Avenue
- On Broadway between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue
- One location at Riverfront Park, near the main entrance at the intersection of Broadway and First Avenue
- One location in Walk of Fame Park
Official CMA Fest water vendors will also be selling water bottles throughout CMA Fest for $2.
More than 100 Vanderbilt EMTs, paramedics and registered nurses will work the festival for all four days of it. Three LifeFlight ambulances will be onsite for needed patient tranports.
If you're attending CMA Fest, here's everything you need to know and a map of CMA Fest road closures.
