Last weekend, thousands of fans traveled to Boyd County, Kentucky, to take part in the Rock the Country music festival. Welcoming stars like Kid Rock, Hank Williams Jr., Tracy Lawrence, and even Nickelback, the festival promised an unforgettable time. And while the music entertained the crowd, the sun above brought scorching temperatures in the high 90s. With some not used to such extreme weather, medical professionals ended up treating over 300 people with heat-related illnesses.

Like any festival, Rock the Country offered more than great music. With venues selling food and drinks, many tend to enjoy a little alcohol. While understandable in moderation, adding alcohol with extreme heat is a deadly combo. Speaking about the situation they found themselves in, Boyd County Emergency Management Director, Tim England, admitted people needed attention even before the gates opened. “By the time the gates opened, we already had people dropping.”

More Than 500 People Needed Assistance During The Music Festival

While medical staff are present at every music festival, England and the rest of the first responders had no idea how many people would need their assistance. “Over the course of the weekend, there was about 538 patient contacts that were seen in the medical tent.”

Already building one medical tent, the staff needed a second tent to accommodate the growing number of people suffering from the heat. And that new area included more than 200 extra cots.

Hoping to educate concertgoers on the proper steps to take to enjoy a festival, tips included taking breaks from the sun, staying hydrated, limiting alcohol consumption, and even drinking extra water days before an event starts. England added that if a person happened to become unstable, they were advised to move to a shaded area and immediately call 911.

Able to make it through the festival, Boyd County already looked ahead to its next music festival in September, Healing Appalachia. Although not knowing what the temperatures would be, the Boyd County EM made plans to meet with organizers to help accommodate the 30,000 people expected to attend.

(Photo by Simone Joyner/Getty Images)