State Fair First Aid and Safety Tips

Where do you find first aid at the fair?

Look at the fair's map or visitor page for the first-aid station and note the location when you arrive. Many fairs staff first aid with trained medical personnel. Guest services and uniformed staff can direct you.

Save the fair office number in your phone. In a life-threatening emergency, call emergency services.

If you are helping someone who is hurt, stay with them and get a staff member quickly instead of moving them. Take a moment to read posted safety signs when you walk past them. They are written for the specific risks at that fair.

• Locate first aid on the map
• Save the fair office number
• Call emergency services in an emergency

What should every group agree on?

Set a meeting spot, share phone numbers and agree that anyone who feels unwell will say so. Keep identification and any medical information with you.

Teach children to find staff or a uniformed worker if they are lost or hurt.

Take a photo of your children each morning, wearing what they wear that day, so you have an accurate description. Agree on a signal for needing a break, and honor it without arguing, since small issues are easier to handle early.

How do you prevent common problems?

Wear comfortable, closed shoes. Watch your step on uneven ground, hoses and cords. Use sun protection and drink water. Keep your hands to yourself around animals, and follow posted signs.

The CDC explains hand washing and animal contact on its pages. Follow the fair's posted rules.

Watch young children near rides and fences, and keep strollers away from animal enclosures. Keep your drink and food covered and clean up spills, since slippery spots cause many small falls in busy areas.

What about animal-related safety?

Animals can be unpredictable, especially in crowds. Keep a safe distance, never enter pens or reach through fences without permission, and ask the owner before touching. Wash hands with soap and water afterward and avoid eating in animal areas.

If an animal injures you, tell the owner and first-aid staff promptly.

Keep your face and hands away from animals' mouths, and keep children's pacifiers and bottles out of animal areas. Livestock handlers have the right of way. Step aside when animals are being led through walkways.

What if a child is lost?

Tell the nearest staff member immediately and give a description, including clothing. Stay where you are if told, since staff coordinate searches. Fairs have lost child procedures, and posted information explains them.

Practice with children at home so they know what to do.

Teach children their full name and a parent's name and phone number. Tell staff if you find a child alone, and stay with the child until help arrives rather than leading them around the grounds.

How do you handle food safety and allergies?

Wash hands before eating. Choose food that is hot when served and cold when meant to be cold. Ask vendors about ingredients if allergies are a concern. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service offers general information.

If you have an emergency medication, carry it and tell your group where it is.

Food left in the heat can make people ill, so keep cold food cold and discard anything that looks or smells wrong. Rinse fruit and avoid sharing utensils, and wash your hands whenever you can, especially before touching your face or food.

What should you do in a weather or crowd emergency?

Follow staff instructions calmly. Note exits, move away from crowds in a crush and keep children close. In storms, go to an enclosed building.

If you are unsure whether to leave, leaving is usually fine. This guide gives general information only and is not medical advice.

After the fair, if you or a family member feels ill, contact a healthcare provider and mention any animal contact. Keep a calm tone when speaking to children in an emergency. They take their cues from you.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the County Fair & Rodeo Guide Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.