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So how can you still enjoy yourself, without running the risk of sustaining any injuries?

Snap, crackle, pop. Steer clear of popping corks. When champagne corks pop, they do so with quite a force –many a bystander has come away with a black eye. Stand back when these bottles are opened.

Down, down, down. Keep track of what you drink and hang onto your drink. If you put it down somewhere and disappear, there is a small chance that someone may try and drug you. This is unlikely at a party where you know everyone, but watch out at huge social gatherings, where the majority of people are unknown to you.

There she goes! Don't lean against balconies and balustrades, especially if there are many other people doing the same. These are usually not made to withstand all that much pressure and every year a few people die when falling off these.

Feeding frenzy. Choking to death on party snacks is not exactly a very romantic way in which to go.. If you are choking, don't run to the bathroom, where there is no one to help you and where you might die all on your own. Show others that you are in distress, and hope that someone will know how to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre. Breathe through your nose – very often this is possible when you cannot breathe through your mouth.

No glove, no love. There should be no exception to this rule – ever. With one in five South Africans being HIV-positive, chances are high that you could be infected by someone you pick up at a party. Always take condoms with you – these days, getting lucky could mean getting very unlucky.

Candle, candle, burning bright. Candles give parties a romantic atmosphere, but they can fall over, and cause an inferno. Be very careful of candles placed on the floor, as they can easily set fire to the clothing of those standing near them. Also stand well clear of oil and gas lamps.

Doing drugs is dumb. Despite social pressure that there might be to try drugs, just don't do it. Illegal drugs have not been through any quality controls – they can contain anything. And people dying from drug overdoses, accidental and otherwise, have become so commonplace, it hardly reaches the newspapers anymore, unless they're 14 years old or die in a public place somewhere. Once you're hooked, forget about all your other ambitions – staying off drugs will be your major achievement in life.

Don't drink and drive. This is a major killer and there's no getting around it. It is better to stay right where you are or call a taxi, than to drive drunk or get into the car with a drunk driver. This is a rule which should never be broken. Imagine also, what you would feel like, if you caused the deaths of other people, because you had had one too many.

Check the chair. When people have big parties, chairs come out that are usually not in frequent use. Often they are rickety and many a partygoer has tumbled to the floor when sitting down on one of these. If you are uncertain about a chair or stool, rather opt for the floor. If you sit on a dicey chair, you may land up there anyway.

Baby, light my fire. At braais, fires can cause nasty burns, if you don't take extreme care. And an injury is all the more likely if you've had one too many. Never try and turn meat over with your bare hands and stand well away, especially if there is a wind blowing. Make sure you use the right equipment, such as braai tongs. Never be tempted to help a fire along with inflammable liquid of any sort – we're talking third degree burns here. Also take care not to be burnt by lit cigarettes, which people have in their hands.

What's in this food? If you have food allergies of any description, steer clear of any foodstuffs, of which you are unable to identify the ingredients. Don't take chances with dips or sauces, for instance, or with punches. You just don't know what's in them. Take antihistamines with you in case you eat something which affects you adversely. If you have a heavy allergic reaction, get someone to take you to the hospital immediately.

Feeling shattered. When many people congregate in a small area, each person with a glass in hand, chances are at least one glass will break during the evening. Look where you're going, as people will not always pick up the shards from their own glasses or bottles that have broken. - (Susan Erasmus, Health24, updated 2008)

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