November is here and sales are exploding. Christmas shopping has ensued, and Black Friday is near. This day is a hectic time for workers and customers alike. There are several ways to make this shopping rush a safe one.
In 2013, the medicaldaily website wrote a Black Friday article that stated “up to 140 million people, almost 45 percent of the country’s total population planned to, or said that they would shop over the weekend” which means there is a lot of competition.
When picking stores to visit, choose stores that are well organized. Walmart and KMart have lines made to separate the crowd into small groups as much as possible.
This is done to prevent pushing or trampling as much as possible. Stores will scatter the items on sale around the store to prevent huge crowds in a particularly area.
According to the website, blackfridaydeathcount, in the past eight years there have been seven deaths and ninety serious injuries that have occurred in relation to Black Friday events.
It is best to go Black Friday shopping with at least one other person. This provides support, as well as safety. There are a lot of criminals out on Black Friday, so go with several friends and family.
“There’s less chance of something going wrong if you have someone watching your back,” according to Pocket-Lint’s website.
Black Friday shopping lines can be difficult, so do research to know what the best deals are before going to the store. This will help make the trip as short as possible.
“Don’t hesitate to head to the checkout because you are choosing between items. Take them both with you and make your decision later – those few extra minutes could be the difference between a short and a long line,” according to BlackFriday.com.
In preparation, dress according to the weather; bring sweaters, scarves, and hats in case of long lines outside, warm drinks and snacks as well can be beneficial.
“My recommendation for surviving the shopping marathon on Black Friday is to plan ahead. Try not to skip a meal. Instead, make the experience more positive by finding a nice place sit and enjoy some good food…,” Lewis and Clark Biology Professor, Dennis Delfert, said. “If a meal is not an option, then avoid the sugar high from snacks like licorice or Skittles, and go for the more satiating (and nutritious) granola bar or Payday.”
For more tips on surviving Flack Friday go to http://bit.ly/1Cl19me .
Contact Kelly at krulison@lc.edu
