Tailgating accidents are, unfortunately, all too common during football season. Oftentimes, alcohol has a lot to do with these accidents. It’s important to be careful if you plan to tailgate, especially if you’ll be drinking. Take things slow and make sure that you’re drinking plenty of water. Wear the correct clothing and sunscreen to avoid burns, and try to find shade when possible. Finally, make sure that you have a sober driver for the ride home so that you don’t risk getting into a drunk driving accident. Hopefully, by following these tips, you’ll be able to have an enjoyable and safe time tailgating at the next game.
Tailgating Accidents to Avoid This Football Season
Alcohol Poisoning
Alcohol poisoning is one of the tailgating accidents that can be very dangerous. Every year, some fans go overboard with drinking and wind up in the hospital with alcohol poisoning. If you over-drink, you run the risk of dehydration, seizures, choking, or even stroke. If a friend is displaying symptoms of alcohol poisoning, forgo the game and get help immediately. And never leave a person alone if they are overly intoxicated.
Dehydration
Another reason why drinking can lead to so many tailgating accidents is that alcohol dehydrates your body. However, there’s also the risk of dehydration from being out in the hot sun for too long. Especially during the hotter months of football season, or if you’re standing on black asphalt that’s absorbing the sun. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, and if you’re drinking alcohol, swap every other drink with a bottle of water.
Sunburn
That
hot sun can also cause other tailgating accidents besides dehydration. For example, sunburn. Don’t focus all your time on your face paint and forget to apply sunscreen. It’s also important to find shade whenever possible or to wear protective clothing. It might be the last thing on your mind during the fun of a tailgating party, but you’ll be sorry later if you forget the sunscreen on a hot day.
Drunk Driving
Finally, one of the most dangerous and deadly tailgating accidents typically occurs after the game is over, and that’s drunk driving. If you are planning to drink while prepping for the big game, line up a sober driver ahead of time. Or plan to take a cab or Uber home. Getting behind the wheel of a car when you’re overly intoxicated is a huge risk to your safety as well as the safety of every other car on the road.
Getting ready for the big game should be fun, but tailgating accidents do occur, so it’s important to take some precautions. If you plan to drink alcohol while at the game or beforehand, take it slow and pace yourself. In addition, plan a sober ride home before you even leave the house so that you don’t have to worry about it later or risk getting behind the wheel drunk. If you’ll be out in the hot sun for most of the day, it’s also important to drink plenty of water and protect yourself from sunburn. An accident can ruin a great day of tailgating, so make sure that you’re safe out there so that you can enjoy the game as much as possible.
