Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday season – not only for families, but for retailers. And even though a growing number of stores are agreeing not to open on Thanksgiving, more and more of them are starting their Black Friday sales on turkey day itself. With so many shoppers competing for so few items, it can be pretty dangerous at the mall or outlets.
We want you to stay safe this year on Black Friday, so we’ve compiled a list of tips that can help you avoid an injury during the biggest shopping day of the year.
- Consider shopping online. To counter the craziness that Black Friday is, a lot of stores and retailers start offering online sale in the week before Thanksgiving, or on the Monday after the holiday (known as Cyber Monday). Stay home and avoid all the fuss this year; you’ll definitely be safer.
- Avoid the body crush. Lots of stores offer “door buster” sales, where the first 100 people get an extra percentage off, or where shoppers can get free gifts if they come into the store the minute it opens. But people can get crushed under the weight of the masses, and there is rarely enough security on hand to keep shoppers calm. Is a free tablet case really worth the risk of broken bones, dislocated shoulders, organ damage or death?
- Buy an item and then bring it to your car. As a whole, we prefer to make one trip with items than many trips. But you can strain your muscles and risk a serious back injury if you’re carrying too many heavy packages. Bring your items out to the car and lock them up safe, and then proceed back into the store. Your spine will thank you.
- Be careful in parking lots. When you have a lot of gifts piled up in the back of the car, you can impede the view in your windows and mirrors. This makes you more likely to get into a serious car accident. Shoppers who are rushing to get the best parking spots probably aren’t paying attention to you, either, so make sure to look both ways before you cross the lot.
- Look for signs of danger. Store and shopping malls are responsible for keeping their walkways and floors clean, dry and free from obstructions. Shoppers, however, can be pushy litterbugs. Your chances of slipping, tripping or falling on a wet floor, a discarded wrapper or another person’s bag increase on Black Friday. Keep an eye out for these obstacles to help you avoid an injury.
- Drink your juice and wash your hands. Black Friday shoppers will not be deterred by something as silly as the flu. As such, you’re at risk of contracting it yourself – and so are your elderly relatives and young children. Leave the very young and the very old at home, and make sure you get a flu shot a few weeks before you shop. Wash your hands often (with soap and water; don’t rely on hand sanitizer) to help you reduce your risk of infection from touching things like handrails and doors.
The stores are responsible for your safety, but you need to do your part too. Taking a few precautions could be the difference between getting that new TV on sale and breaking a leg.
From all of us here at Banks and Jones, we wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving, and a safe Black Friday shopping experience.
T. Scott knows the importance of interacting with colleagues to stay abreast of developments and changes in the legal world. T. Scott frequently teaches CLE courses on trial strategy, teaching other lawyers his methods for success in the courtroom, and is certified as a Rule 31 Mediator in the Tennessee Supreme Court. He is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the National Trial Lawyers, and both the Tennessee and American Associations for Justice.
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