If you are planning a holiday party this year, of course you want a memorable event and you will want your guests to have a great time. However, you will also want to make sure that your guests stay safe. Whether you are planning a personal or workplace holiday party, you can keep guests healthy and avoid a premises liability claim in Homestead or your community by following these tips:
1) Decorate safely.
Party decorations can be a lot of fun, but they can also pose a hazard. Where possible, avoid decorating with candles, since they can pose a fire hazard. Even if you are using strings of lights, however, you will need to check for any damage to cords and connectors. Old, worn lights should be replaced. Never hang lights near flammable materials, such as drapes or paper. Lights can still overheat or cause sparks if they malfunction.
If you are throwing a party at home, keep in mind that you will need to use extra precautions if some of your guests will be pets or young children. In these situations, you will want to avoid any decorations that hang or drag near the floor. You will also want to avoid any plants that could be harmful if consumed or any decorations that have small removable parts that may pose a choking hazard. When in doubt, place any potentially hazardous decoration high up and out of reach.
2) Practice good food safety.
Hot food should be served hot and cold food should be served cold. Avoid leaving foods that contain meat, seafood, mayonnaise, dairy, or eggs out for longer periods of time. They not only become unappetizing but can also grow bacteria. Try sending around smaller trays of treats, keeping trays in the fridge to send out periodically. If you do prepare a buffet-style table, keep cold foods on ice and invest in serving dishes that keep hot foods hot.
3) Have a plan for guests to get home.
If you will be serving alcohol, serve drinks earlier in the evening, so that guests can sober up before the event ends. Even with this precaution, make sure that you have a plan to get guests home safely. Gather keys as guests come in to ensure that no one drives drunk and have extra bed linens and fold-out beds or taxi money on hand to get guests to stay or get home safely. As a host, you can do your part to prevent drunk driving in Homestead or your community.
4) Reduce the risk of falls.
Clean up spills promptly as they happen and pick up any items that fall. Make sure that walkways and stairs are well lit and free of any clutter. Never decorate with items that are low to the ground and pose a tripping hazard.
5) Plan to supervise at your party.
Of course, you want to be able to relax and enjoy your party, but make it a point to stop every so often and walk around any area where guests are. This not only allows you to make sure everyone is having a good time, but also gives you a chance to notice and handle any problems, such as a spill or a light that has blown out and left a walkway in darkness.
Have you been injured while attending a holiday event? Contact Flaxman Law Group for information about your legal options. Our law firm will continue to serve our clients throughout the holiday season and our hotline at 1-866-FLAXMAN (1-866-352-9626) will continue to be staffed around the clock so that you can always reach a legal professional.