EDC party-goers warned to keep hydrated on a sizzling Day 2

Officials are urging Electric Daisy Carnival attendees to drink plenty of water before heading to Las Vegas Motor Speedway today.

About 134,000 people, most dressed in colorful clothing, attended the electronic dance music festival overnight, listening to DJs playing on eight stages throughout the venue into the early morning hours.

While many EDC attendees slept away the afternoon on Saturday to gear up for Round 2 at 7 p.m., temperatures reached a fiery 113 degrees, tying a record high set in 1961, according National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Outler.

Fortunately for the partygoers, temperatures at midnight were expected to hover at 95 and drop to a more comfortable 82 degrees around sunrise this morning, according to Weather Service senior forecaster John Adair.

Similar temperatures are expected on the festival’s third day as the high is forecast to hit 112 degrees this afternoon, one degree above the record set in 1954, Outler said. Temperatures should drop to the low 80s early Monday morning.

In addition to music, EDC offers rides, artwork and performers decked out in over-the-top costumes.

Desiree Naranjo, communications coordinator for Insomniac Inc., the Los Angeles-based company that hosts the festival, said 400,000 people were expected to attend throughout the weekend.

“We are prepared for the heat, having an event in June in Las Vegas you have to be,” Naranjo said. “The best part of our event is that it is basically from sundown to sunrise, which means the temperatures are cooler as it gets later in the evening.”

Though attendees will be gifted with cooler temperatures, Naranjo said the company will have hydration stations and cooling stations where they can relax in an air-conditioned space and purchase bottled water.

“We encourage our attendees to drink water at regular intervals days leading up to the festival,” she said.

In addition, Insomniac will have medical teams roaming the venue to assist people in need until the show ends at 5:30 a.m.

Glen Simpson, special event manager for MedicWest and a member of the medical team, said he hopes EDC attendees will hydrate and take advantage of the cooling stations.

“We anticipate an increase in calls across the valley for heat-related emergencies as well as out at the festival,” he said. “As a premier destination for those from all over the world, attendees need to adjust to the environment and this weekend is no different than other weekends during the summer months here in Las Vegas.”

From Friday evening into the early morning hours Saturday, the Metropolitan Police Department had more than 500 medical calls leading to 10 transports to hospitals. They had no number for heat-related calls.

Metro also made 19 felony arrests during that same time, all of which were drug-related, as well as one DUI arrest.

According to Simpson, a mixture of drugs, medications and alcohol can all increase the risk of heat-related illness, leading to symptoms such as headache and nausea.

“It can affect each individual differently,” he said. “Consuming drinks containing alcohol or caffeine will cause you to lose more fluid and lead to dehydration faster. It’s important to stay hydrated and party responsibly.”

Simpson recommends that EDC attendees drink 8 to 10 glasses of water per day minimum, wear sunscreen and lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.

“Remember to keep cool and use common sense,” he said. “We want everyone to have a good time, stay safe, and remember, if you see someone needing assistance or you need assistance, find the nearest staff member and ask for help.”

Parking lots will be accessible starting at 5 p.m. and doors open at 7 p.m.

Tickets to EDC are sold out.

Review-Journal writers Kimber Laux and Ricardo Torres contributed to this report. Contact Ann Friedman at afriedman@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4588. Find her on Twitter: @AnnFriedmanRJ.