Summer is one of the best times to be social. Warm weather, outdoor activities, and good friends will make this season one to take advantage of by rounding up the crew for a party or barbecue. These activities will allow you to relax in the moment and ensure your friends have fun plans this season. However, hosting a summer party can bring its share of risks. Plan ahead for a safe and fun event!
1. Beware the BBQ – Hotdogs and hamburgers used to be the staple of a summer party. In our modern times, they have become rivaled by veggie burgers and the divisive grilled tofu. Regardless of your food choice, the grill is the most iconic cooking tool this time of year. No one wants to think of a fire when grilling but a tool that’s sole purpose to produce exposed flames at a high heat can become a fire hazard. By keeping a small extinguisher nearby, maintaining a vigilant eye on the grill and staying away from fire hazards such as extremely dry grass will knock out some of your major worries easily. From there, the next step is ensuring your reputation as a grill master.
2. Practice pool safety – After gorging on barbequed delights and undoing the months of preparation for your beach body, the next step is to lounge by the pool. Easy steps can make your pool a much safer area for all your guests. Think about constructing a gate around your pool, adding lights for night swimming and investing in tile that is slip-resistant. The pool is so much fun, but it does pose a lot of risks, especially for unattended children. Safety devices for children such as small life jackets, etc., can be inexpensive ways to help out. These safety measures may seem like a bit much or even ridiculous to some, but these changes can help to protect someone and provide you with peace of mind.
3. Minimize risky horseplay – A summer party is usually not complete until there is a beer-induced flag football game by a few distant uncles. Whether supported or not, there are a few ways to prevent the games from getting out of hand. First off, only provide activities for lower risk sports such as Frisbee as opposed to having boxing gloves. Next, be okay saying ‘no’ as you can be potentially liable for any injuries a family member or relative incurs on your property. While it can be a somewhat awkward conversation, it is one that will be better to have now than outside of the ER.
4. Don't keep your guests in the dark – As the day winds down and the sun begins to set, the nighttime party will get underway. The typical staples include a fire pit, some mosquito-frying torches, and s’mores. Fire safety is important for keeping your guests and your home safe. Also, make sure to light your walkways leading around your house for easy navigation. It can also help to be aware of the drive party goers may have to make home to prevent tired drivers.
5. Keep an eye on the festivities - While the people you have over are friends and family, be aware that you may carry responsibility for their safety. An often discussed topic is what to do with an over-intoxicated guest. Even if you are tired and they may just be a ‘friend of a friend,’ you can still be liable if they leave and get in an accident, depending on social host liability laws in your state. Make sure to have alternative non-alcoholic beverages to serve guests, food available to anyone drinking, and guest rooms and couches ready. Some hosts can even go the extra mile and purchase cab vouchers or offer to call Ubers or Lyfts for their guests. Not only can you be held legally liable for your guests, but you are so much better off taking care of a drunk friend for the night than letting them risk their life to get home.
6. Increase your coverage – If you know you like to host and want to have lots of people over for the summer, consider expanding your liability coverage for the season. The summer is such a fun time, the last thing you want is a twisted ankle from a guest or a nasty grill fire to ruin it. Your insurance provider can let you know how much you should consider adding to your existing homeowners or renters insurance policy or if you need an umbrella policy.
7. Be a good guest – Let’s flip the script for a hot minute and consider how we can all be better guests. Put yourself in your host’s shoes and take steps to be a proactive guest. Easy things, such as cleaning up after yourself or not getting too sloppy when drinking can take a lot of anxiety of the party planners.
You can have a great party while still being prepared. Putting small steps on a calendar can make it less daunting and get you prepared over the course of a few weeks. By just thinking through these fixes and problems will make you a much more proactive problem solver so you can anticipate potential risks and fix them.