Tips for a safe Mardi Gras

Nobody does Carnival season quite like we do in New Orleans - parades, yummy food, delicious drinks, parties, Mardi Gras balls, and so on.

You can have a great time, but it's important to be mindful while navigating your way through Mardi Gras. Touro’s Internal Medicine Physician, Dr. Schuyler Williams, discusses some tips that will help you have a fun and safe Carnival season.

Moderation is key

Of course, it wouldn’t be Mardi Gras in New Orleans without delicious food and drinks. And many people like to indulge in all the food and alcohol they desire before Lent begins. But we need to be mindful of how much we are consuming. There are many consequences with going to the extremes with food and especially alcohol. You can still have fun but do everything in moderation.

You don’t need to eliminate the fried chicken or the king cake but maybe consider 1 slice of king cake or 1 piece of fried chicken. Just be reasonable and not excessive with your choices.

• Try to limit your alcohol intake and drink water in between alcoholic beverages
• Consider smaller portions of the foods you love during Mardi Gras.
• Take your time

Stay hydrated

Alcohol is a diuretic and strips water from the body. Intoxication and/or alcohol poisoning are common reasons for medical attention during Mardi Gras.

• A good rule of thumb is to drink water in between each alcoholic beverage to make sure you are staying hydrated and to cut back on the amount of alcohol consumed.
• Choose a beverage that includes at least some water such as club soda, seltzer or mineral water and blend beverages with ice.

Not only is it important to hydrate when drinking alcoholic beverages, but if the weather is hot or humid, regardless of your activity level, you should drink water to counteract dehydration.

Let's talk safety!

Anything can happen during the season: getting hit in the head with flying beads, tripping over tents and chairs, falling off ladders, etc. Some tips to keep you and your krewe safe:

• Keep ladders safe. always place it as far back from the street as the ladder is tall and always have an adult standing on the back of the ladder while children are seated.
• Watch for flying throws. Keep your guard up for hard-flying throws. Watch out for beads underfoot that can put children and adults at risk for falling.
• Stay a safe distance from floats. Never reach under a float or approach a float that is not fully stopped. Never follow behind floats and even bands.
• Don’t reach to pick up anything off the ground. Fingers can get crushed

LCMC First Aid Stations

If it is something more serious and requires emergency medical attention call 911 or go straight to the nearest emergency room.

However, if you get hit by hard-flying throws or trip and fall and you need basic medical attention, LCMC and the City of New Orleans Health Department are providing first aid stations along the Uptown and Mid-city parade routes. The volunteers working the first aid stations are CPR and first aid-certified and prepared to provide treatment for basic injuries. So, look for these first aid tents along the route if you need “basic” medical attention.

Be sure to have fun, but most importantly be safe, and let the good times roll!

Dr. Williams specializes in Primary Care at Touro. She attended Meharry Medical Coll School of Medicine and completed her residency at Tulane University and is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.