People are fighting,
screaming and yelling all around you.
Did you fall asleep and wake up
playing the Squid Game?
The crowd fights
and claws to get past you.
How can this be the beginning
of the merriest time of year?
In the United States, Black Friday
is the day after the Thanksgiving holiday.
It is known for huge discounts,
angry crowds
and very long lines
of shoppers waiting to purchase
limited quantities of merchandise.
Black Friday has become notorious
for violent conflicts, human stampedes
and people being crushed to death
by other shoppers.
So, how can you avoid
being trampled to death when you're
trying to get that last
video game console?
Black Friday is no joke.
Since 2006, this outrageous day
of discounts has resulted in 14 deaths
and 117 injuries in total.
If you're not careful, you could become
just another one of those statistics.
So grab onto your shopping cart
and listen closely.
The stores are about to open.
While we all love to spend time
with our children,
this is not the occasion to do that.
On Black Friday in 2011,
an off-duty police officer in North Carolina
sprayed pepper spray
into a crowd of people
who were grabbing items off shelves
before the employees had finished
putting the merchandise on display.
It injured 20 people, including children,
according to eyewitness reports.
One young girl had to go
to the emergency room immediately
because she had asthma.
But if you have to take children with you,
make sure they know how to identify
a security guard or employee
and ask for help if they get lost.
Always prepare your shopping list
ahead of time.
Look at what’s on sale,
and adapt your list ahead of time
if need be.
But make sure you know what you want
before going into a store.
Remember to stick to your budget too.
You do not want to fall victim
to impulse buying
and purchase items you do not need.
Don't go alone.
Take a shopping buddy with you
who wants to shop for the same things.
And choose someone who prefers
the same pace
and shopping hours as you do.
If you shop slowly,
pair up with another slowpoke.
And if you're a “power shopper,"
your shopping buddy
should be a power shopper too.
In 2020, a Deloitte survey found that
about 51% of American buyers
were worried about shopping in person
due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
So online shopping on Black Friday
increased by 8%, setting a record
with over 100 million online shoppers.
There are many Black Friday deals online
available by midnight on Thursday.
This will save you gas,
time and money if you find everything
you need online.
But remember that online shopping
also comes with its own set of dangers.
When you buy things on the internet,
your personal financial information
could be stolen by cyber criminals.
That's why it's important to make sure
you only shop from websites
you can trust.
One indicator of a website’s security
is whether their URL begins with
“https” or “http”.
"Https" is usually more secure.
Another good tip is to avoid
using public Wi-Fi to buy things online,
as this makes your information
vulnerable to hackers.
It’s a good idea to take water, juice
and snacks so that you can easily
replenish yourself while shopping.
This will ensure you do not become
exhausted quickly and it will save you
from having to navigate
and stand in line in malls’ food courts.
Although that cinnamon roll looks tasty,
avoid eating sugary foods.
They will quickly spike
your blood sugar level,
so you feel a “crash” in your energy.
You will need that energy
to pack all your items in your car.
And be careful in the parking lot
since carjackings are very popular
during the holidays.
Do you know where the best place
to park is to avoid being a target?
Don't worry, we've got just the video
for you here on How to Survive.