Holiday Party Safety Tips Every Woman Should Know

Don’t arrive at a holiday party on an empty stomach. Eat a substantial meal beforehand and include a good source of protein such as chicken, eggs, Greek yogurt, beans, nuts or cheese.

Food slows gastric emptying, which means alcohol reaches the small intestine more gradually. Since much of alcohol absorption occurs in the small intestine, that slower movement can help prevent blood alcohol levels from rising as quickly as they may when you drink without eating.

Protein-rich foods are especially useful because they digest more slowly and can help keep you satisfied longer. They do not “soak up” alcohol or make your body metabolize it faster, but they can help slow the rate at which alcohol enters your bloodstream.

If the party will last for several hours, consider carrying a small protein-rich snack such as nuts or a protein bar.

Alternating alcoholic beverages with water, sparkling water, soda or another non-alcoholic drink naturally slows your pace and helps maintain hydration.

There is no reason you have to continually accept alcohol simply because someone offers to refill your glass. Cranberry juice with sparkling water, club soda with lime or a zero-proof cocktail gives you something to sip without adding another alcoholic drink. You also don't owe anyone an explanation for what is or isn't in your glass.

Again, this will keep your blood alcohol levels from getting to intoxicating levels. If you are self-conscious about others pressuring you to be drinking, there are plenty of non-alcoholic mocktail options for the festive season.

If you legally carry a self-defense tool, a holiday party isn't the time to bury it underneath everything else at the bottom of your purse.

Whatever legal defensive option you choose should remain somewhere you can actually access. Familiarize yourself with how it operates beforehand and make sure you can reach it without digging through your handbag during an emergency.

Accessibility must also be balanced with control. If you're entering a home where children are present, don't leave pepper spray, a stun gun or another defensive device unattended inside a purse tossed onto a bed with everyone else's belongings.

Alcohol matters here too. Intoxication can affect judgment, coordination and reaction time. Your strongest first layers of protection remain awareness, transportation planning, control of your surroundings and leaving a questionable situation before it escalates.

Holiday parties frequently create unofficial coatrooms where purses, jackets and belongings are piled in bedrooms, hallways or closets.

You may trust your host completely while knowing very little about every guest, plus-one, neighbor or coworker who has access to the same area. It would be very easy for another guest to slip away and casually browse through purses and coat pockets while everyone else is in the kitchen celebrating holiday cheer.

Carry what you actually need and leave unnecessary valuables at home. If you need medication while you're away, keep only what you need secured under your control rather than leaving an entire prescription bottle unattended.

This is also an important child-safety issue. Medications carried in purses and coat pockets can become accessible to curious children during gatherings. Unfortunately, emergency rooms report an up tick in visits during the holidays by children who have accidentally taken a medication or eaten something that was in a guest’s purse at a holiday party.

Keep your phone, identification, keys and primary payment method where you can reach them quickly. You should always retain the ability to leave independently if your plans change.

If you carry your self-defense stun gun or pepper spray with you, keep it on your body at all times where curious children won't be able to access your self-defense weapon.

A holiday party should never cost you control of your own safety. Make your decisions before the night gets noisy, crowded or complicated, and keep enough awareness to recognize when something shifts.

You are allowed to leave early, change your plans, turn down another drink, call your own ride or walk away from someone who makes you uncomfortable. Staying safe does not mean being fearful. It means staying in charge of your choices from the moment you arrive until the moment you get home.

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