Celebrating on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day is loads of fun but there are lots of dangers as well. A few tips for bringing in the new year safely are below:
-
-
- Plan a safe ride home in advance. It’s a busy night for taxis and other car services. It is never alright to drink and drive. New Year’s Eve is no exception. The Garland Police Department has increased drinking and driving patrols for the holiday season to help keep everyone safe.
- Lock your car if you must leave it somewhere overnight and pick it up as early as possible.
- Party hosts should have safe options for guests. Hire a driver for the evening to provide guests a way home, call early to reserve car services for guests or invite them to spend the night if a safe ride can’t be secured. Soberrides.org and public transportations are options.
- Fireworks are against the law in the city. Do not be tempted to have your own display. Fireworks should always be left to the experts.
- Celebratory gunfire is illegal and the Garland Police Department has a special program in place to decrease problems with folks shooting into the air. What goes up must come down!
- Chill champagne to at least 45 degrees so that the cork is less likely to pop out unexpectedly and cause eye injuries. Point bottle away from yourself and other.
- New Year’s Day is the most hazardous day of the year for pedestrians. Not only are drivers potentially impaired, but those on foot can also ignore traffic lights or crosswalks. If you are walking, make sure to stay on pedestrian paths and observe traffic laws, only cross at crosswalks and try to remain in well-lit areas. If you are driving, take extra care to consider those on foot.
- Offer non-alcoholic drink options and have plenty of water available for designated drivers
- Stop serving alcohol several hours before the party ends (and stick to it!).
- Do not provide alcohol to minors. Keep an eye on all drinks and supplies.
- If children are old enough to drive, set a reasonable curfew and have them check in often. Discuss the dangers of driving on New Year’s Eve with them in advance.
- Provide food and snacks so guests aren’t drinking on an empty stomach. Avoid salty snacks, which can actually encourage people to drink more
- Between fireworks, noisemakers and general revelry, pets can experience high anxiety on New Years Eve. Scared pets can bite or run and potentially get hurt, cause accidents or become lost. The best way to keep pets safe is to keep them indoors; consider playing music to drown out outside noises. Make sure fences and gates are secure and your pet has a current ID tag and that microchip information is up to date. If your pet has shown signs of extreme anxiety in the past, consider consulting your veterinarian to see if anti-anxiety medication is in order.
-
https://www.statefarm.com/simple-insights/smart-ideas/new-years-eve-safety-tips
https://blog.americansafetycouncil.com/new-years-eve-safety-tips/