The Dangers of Black Friday Shopping
Black Friday is one of the most foreshadowed shopping events every year.
by Emily Lefrois-Heath
Black Friday is one of the most foreshadowed shopping events every year. Every Friday after Thanksgiving, retailers offer massive discounts and deals that attract many shoppers, old and new, to find affordable gifts for the upcoming holiday season. The rush to be first to these deals can raise the adrenaline in customers, and as good as the deals are, no one really talks about the safety behind arriving at the destination. The impatience during Black Friday causes frustration and aggression and can even lead to injuries. Shoppers need to be cautious this coming Black Friday.
If you take part in Black Friday shopping, you know the traffic during this shopping event is the worst hold-up to be a part of. As time goes on, drivers are getting increasingly impatient, rushing around to get from point A to point B, increasing the amount of car accidents. Especially during Black Friday. After a study from Progressive Insurance (an American motor insurance company), they had 34% more reports of car accidents on Black Friday compared to other weeks in the year. Of course, car accidents usually come with some level of injury, but lots of injuries (even death) also occur from conflicts in stores.
Many fights take place during Black Friday shopping, most of which are over merchandise or rude guests. After collecting data over the course of 12 years, an outside source gathered the count of reported injuries and deaths from various incidents.
Stampedes – 32 injuries, 2 deaths
Pepper Spray – 30 injuries, 0 deaths
Shooting – 15 injuries, 6 deaths
Car accident – 12 injuries, 3 deaths
Physical altercation – 9 injuries
Stabbing – 7
Robbery – 2
Merchandise – 1
With stampedes and crowded areas, also overheating. At a retail store I was working, one of the customers in line was overheated, fainting in front of me. Another co coworker I helped her to the back room where she stayed hydrated while waiting for a police escort.
Luckily, today's world allows us to avoid all these risks by shopping online for Black Friday. The percentage of Black Friday shoppers continues to increase as technology improves. Online shopping is the way to go! this holiday season