A hot and sunny Glastonbury Festival requires as much preparation to stay well and happy throughout as a wet and windy one, say the volunteers from Festival Medical Services.

The teams of doctors and nurses who run the on-site medical centre, clinical services and pharmacies are preparing to be busy with pop fans who may mis-judge the effects of heat. 

But they say a little forethought and planning can help everyone stay safe in the sun and minimise the risk of sunburn or dehydration ruining their revelling. 

Croscombe's Dr Chris Howes, managing director of Festival Medical Services, says it is important to think about coping with the heat, even on the journey to the Worthy Farm site, which for most people will be today (Wednesday 26 June). 

He said: "It always takes longer to get on to site than you might think; so be prepared for long waits in the car or in a standing queue waiting to reach the camping areas.

"Make sure you have enough water to keep everyone in your party hydrated. If you are waiting in the open, wear a hat and keep slapping on your sun protection.

"And please be patient. Heat can give us all a tendency to be more irritable than usual, but please remember the festival gate staff are trying to get you in as quickly as they can."

Once on site, FMS has these tips for enjoying a hot and sunny festival.

Hydration

· Know the signs of dehydration – headache, nausea, dizziness and dark urine.

· Quench your thirst with water or juice before drinking alcohol and between alcoholic drinks.

· Locate the water points around the festival site and use a refillable bottle – keep it topped up.

· Regular sips of water are better than one large intake of it, so carry water with you on site. 

· Keep water in your tent, so you can drink it before going to sleep and when you wake up.

Sun Safety 

· Wear good-quality sunglasses, loose-fitting cotton clothing and a sunhat with a wide brim to offer plenty of shade

· Wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 for adults – SPF 30 is even safer. Children's skin is much more sensitive than adults' and they need the extra protection of at least SPF 30 or more. Sunscreen sold in the UK has a star rating.

Higher-rated products offer more UVA protection, so the higher number rating the better – five is the highest.

. Carry your sunscreen with you around the festival site to top it up and make sure it's used on all areas of exposed skin, including ears and toes.

. Festival Medical Services has two on-site pharmacies at Glastonbury where people can buy sunscreen and after-sun lotion.

· It may not be easy on the festival site, but try to find some shade between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its most fierce.

Encourage your friends to do the same, particularly if they are tired and tempted to lie down and fall asleep in the open. Try to always make sure they are lying in a well-shaded area.

 . Bring any medication that you take regularly. Some conditions are aggravated by hot, dry, dusty conditions, so remember asthma inhalers and hay fever medication particularly.

Leaving Site

. Getting off site can also take some time, so the tips about keeping calm and hydrated will apply equally on the last day as on the first - if any hot weather lasts that long of course!