How to avoid going down in flames at Coachella Music Festival... and be there for the feature performers!
You paid good money for your tickets to Coachella and you want to make sure you are in it for the long haul. The feature acts come on late... and you have been there all day! This year it looks like the weather will be a little cooler-- but that doesn't mean you can avoid some of the common pitfalls from Coachellas past--
A local Rancho Mirage doctor shares his tips on making the most of your experience-- and making sure you avoid going down in flames at Coachella music festival! 
The problem with summer events is that people always plan for the best, instead of planning for the worst. Event-goers tend to choose clothes that they look great in instead of clothes that protect them from the harsh sun. They neglect to carry things like headwear and sunscreen. Then they have a good time, indulging in foods and drinks that look and taste good, rather than considering what their body needs.
My philosophy is that you will have a far better time if you are prepared for the downside of the party. Your skin and the rest of your body will thank you and you will be able to party on, long after the ill-prepared must retire in pain and exhaustion.
The main enemies of having a good time at an outdoor music festival like Coachella are sunburn, dehydration and heat exhaustion. Here are guidelines to avoid all three:
1. Sunscreen. Choose a sunscreen that blocks ultraviolet A and B (UVA and UVB) rays, preferably one that blocks with a physical blocker like zinc or titanium. Apply it 30 minutes before on all exposed areas, not just your face. I can't tell you how many sandal wearers I see with hopelessly burned feet. Reapply that sunscreen as directed, usually every hour.
2. Hydration. Riddle me this: When does drinking cause dehydration? When you consume alcohol, which suppresses the hormone that stops your urination. It's a double negative; by suppressing the suppressor of urination, you urinate — a lot.
Ever hear someone say you don't buy beer, you only rent it? After a few alcoholic drinks you lose the drive to drink water, you urinate more and you become dehydrated quickly. Add that to elevated fluid loss from being in the heat and sweating, and before long you are seriously dehydrated.
To avoid this consequence the formula is simple. Drink water instead of alcohol. If you really want to enjoy an alcoholic beverage, drink two water-rich non-alcoholic drinks (not soda) for every one alcoholic drink you have. And avoid caffeine and carbonated beverages, which seem to quench your thirst but in reality, they just dehydrate you more.
3. Stay cool. Extreme heat combined with dehydration can lead to heat exhaustion. This can progress rapidly to heat stroke and become a life-threatening emergency. Symptoms sound a lot like someone who has been drinking too much, so they might not be recognized. Dizziness, weakness, nausea and vomiting are commonplace at festivals and parties. Those are the exact symptoms of heat exhaustion. The best treatment is to get inside where there is air conditioning and cool down. Rest, hydration and cooling the body can save your life.
Dr. Andrew Ordon is a Rancho Mirage-based plastic surgeon and a star of “The Doctors.” Contact him at drordon@cordmedia.com.
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