Top 3 Tailgating Safety Tips

Bring on the beer and the burgers, for tailgating season has finally arrived. It’s time to gather with your friends and really enjoy the game. While tailgating can be a lot of fun, there are also some things you need to watch out for to make sure the day ends just as well as it began. Here are the top safety tips you need to follow to make sure nothing bad ruins your awesome day.

Watch the Food

Tailgating is all about the food. From chicken, to burgers, to steaks, most tailgating menus are loaded with protein. The only problem with these delicious meals is that if they are allowed to sit for too long, or are not cooked properly in the first place, they can become breeding grounds for bacteria. And the last thing you want is to spend the actual game in the bathroom because of food poisoning. Cook meats to their proper temps (if you aren’t sure what they are, check out foodsafety.gov) and don’t let anything sit out for longer than an hour before storing it properly (keep cold foods cold and warm foods warm).

Be Prepared

When you combine a bunch of excited, pumped up people and alcohol, accidents tend to happen. Always keep a fire extinguisher and first aid kit handy, just in case.

Pick a DD

As in, designated driver. It’s no secret that people like to drink during football games, which is perfectly fine, but you should always pick at least one person to refrain for the day. It can be hard to keep track of how many drinks you have actually had during the excitement of the game, so it is always better to just avoid driving. If you are the DD, make sure that you drive defensively when leaving the game. The masses of people trying to leave can be challenging to maneuver through, and, unfortunately, the chances are some of them have been drinking, since they are not all as smart as you.