Mardi Gras season is upon us in south Louisiana and many people are prepping for the upcoming parades in a variety of ways.

As the students of Nicholls prepare for the Krewe of Shaka and the Krewe of Ambrosia to roll through campus, others prepare for their own parade experiences.

Parade Goers

Parade onlookers, like Laura Baddeaux, are preparing not only themselves, but their kids.

“I’m polishing majorette boots and attaching new tassels for my little girls,” Baddeaux said.

Baddeaux who is bringing her children to New Orleans for the parades said the different setting brings along challenges.

“I am making sure the seat for my ladder is secure,” Baddeaux said.

New Orleans parades are  crowded so people put their children on ladders with seats attached to them so they can see the parade.

Float Riders

For those on the parade floats, planning starts months before the krewe is set to ride.

Throughout the planning process, krewe members come together once a month and discuss themes and costumes for their floats.

Royalty is announced as soon as September, said Amanda Pellegrin, a member of the parade.

“In September, we have a party that reveals our Queen and Court,” Pellegrin said.

As the parade draws closer they begin to load throws onto the float.

“Two weeks ago we had to load all of our throws on the float,” Pellegrin said.

While parades are often associated with beads, that is not all they throw. Pellegrin said she throws items she embroiders herself, snacks and even a few toys.

Her throws are not the only thing she brings on the float. She also brings the necessities for a long ride.

“We pack an ice chest with water and sandwiches for ride day,” Pellegrin said. “I also bring a bag with me that has snacks, scissors, Excedrin and bandaids.”

Nurse’s Advice

Nurse Lawrence Hebert said crowded parades filled with drunk people are a perfect place for people to become injured or ill.

“The most prominent conditions reported around carnival season are traumatic-type injuries such as falls and heat-related conditions such as dehydration,” Lawrence Hebert said.

Large crowds of people create dangerous conditions for those finding their way through them. Hebert advised people to walk in groups, watch their surroundings, and stay off the roads.

High heat with the large crowds and increased amount of alcohol intake can lead to an increase in dehydration.

“When alcohol is consumed, it inhibits a hormone in the kidneys called vasopressin, which is responsible for regulating body fluids,” Hebert said.

Vasopressin is a hormone that constricts the blood vessels and helps the body to reabsorb any water that the body might have lost. When alcohol stops that hormone from working, the body begins losing water in the urine, which is why a common side effect of alcohol consumption is increased urination. This excessive urination is what causes the body to become dehydrated.

Hebert advised that people drink lots of water or sports drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade to keep them hydrated. Hebert also advised, “Apply sunscreen, bring an umbrella, or even find the shade of a good tree to hide from the sun and stay cool.”