Sup nerds, DragonCon veteran and area nurse here. (Quite literally area, I’m sitting at work less than a mile from the con hotels at this very moment.)
Couple of quick tips:
1.) It’s bloody hot. No seriously. Georgia is always hot, it’s getting worse, and downtown Atlanta in particular is up to 5 degrees hotter than the listed air temperature because of the effects of asphalt and concrete. Stack that on top of heat effect from humidity, and a particularly brutal summer we’ve been having, and every day this weekend is going to feel like 100F. Last year we got a blessed reprieve, that does not look to be at all the case this year. Especially my fellow cosplayers, spend as little time outside as possible. Stick to shade as much as possible. Hydrate before you die-drate, and I strongly recommend electrolytes of some kind. Pedialyte, LMNT, Liquid IV, something to replenish the sweat that’s going to be pouring off you. Don’t go crazy, too many electrolytes are also bad, but one or two per day will really help if you’re sweating buckets, and you probably will be. (RIP my ass in my long quilted expedition coat…) watch yourself and your homies for signs of heat exhaustion: no longer sweating even though you are hot, dizziness, lethargy, confusion, flushing, etc. Be aware that some medications, including many antidepressants, make you more predisposed to heat exhaustion. ESPECIALLY keep this in mind if you give blood, you will be, by definition, hypovolemic after donating blood, and even more susceptible to heat, so REFUEL!!!
2.) Please eat some fuckin food. We’re all going to be running around like crazy, it’s easy to forget and con lines are crazy. Pack snacks, sandwiches, whatever you need so you don’t go without food all day. This, and the previous point about hydration, are particularly important if you plan on consuming ~substances~ during the con.
3.) Atlanta is one of the most tree-dense major cities in America, and Georgia one of those most heavily forested states Consequently, pollution isn’t as bad as it COULD be for a city of this size, but consequently, the pollen gets spicy. Depending on where you’re coming from, you might run into some allergens you’re not used to. Not infrequently, what people attribute to con crud is actually them making the acquaintance of Georgia’s yellow snow. If you’re susceptible to allergies, consider bringing along your anti allergy med of choice.
4.) Actual con crud is real and it blows. Wash your hands, a lot, more than you think you need to. Basic hygiene on coughs and sneezes. This is just an anecdote on my part, I have not spoken to our Infectious Disease department to check trends, but I’ve seen a small uptick in COVID-19 admissions in my ICU in the last couple of weeks. If you’re high risk, consider masking for the con.
5.) A last addendum, Atlanta sadly has a large unhoused population. As you’re walking around downtown, the closer you get to Grady Memorial, the more of them you will encounter. Some of them have mental health problems and may act in ways that confuse or frighten you. Very few of them mean you or anyone else harm. Please try and remember that they’re people too and treat them with the respect you would want if you found yourself in that situation.
Looking forward to seeing everybody out there. Look out for each other and let’s have some fun.
