Tips for a Safe and Stress-Free Holiday Party

The holidays wouldn’t be the same without festive gatherings of friends, family and coworkers. Holiday parties should be joyous occasions with fun and enjoyment for all. When you host guests in your home, you need to be sure that your guests are enjoying themselves and that they are safe.

If you are hosting a holiday party, consider these safety tips:

• Never serve alcohol to someone under the legal drinking age.
• Plan party activities to keep people interested and engaged and less likely to overindulge on alcoholic beverages.
• Insist on designated drivers.
• If someone has had too much to drink and does not have a safe ride home, offer alternative transportation (e.g., call a cab) or allow them to spend the night at your house.
• Close the bar 90 minutes before the party ends and serve dessert with coffee.
• Make sure you have plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages available.
• Invite people whom you know are mature and capable of having a good time without over-indulging.
• Don’t light candles during your party if you think you will forget to monitor them.
• Keep candles out of reach of children.
• Watch for spills and clean them up immediately to avoid slips. Pick up off the floor anything that might cause someone to trip or fall.
• When preparing a meal for guests, be sure to wash your hands, sink, utensils and anything else that has come in contact with raw poultry.
• Never defrost food at room temperature; instead, thaw in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave.
• Use a clean food thermometer to make sure foods have been cooked to a safe temperature before serving.
• Don’t use sponges or wet dishcloths to clean surfaces. These can easily harbor and spread bacteria.

By taking some precautions before and during the party, you can eliminate the stress of worrying about the safety of your holiday party guests. No one wants their holiday spoiled by an accident in the home or on the road after a party.