Updated for 2019
While the celebration of a New Year brings excitement, new resolutions and new goals for the year ahead, it also brings late nights, unsafe driving conditions, and parties and get-togethers with friends and family. Whether you plan to celebrate socially with friends and family at home, at a friend’s house, at a company party, or by braving the night scene out and about, there are some safety precautions that everyone can follow, even when staying at home, in order to deliver a safe and happy celebration.
Here are some safety recommendations from the Yahoo! Contributor Network.
1. Keep an Eye on Small Children and Pets – Often times they can get overlooked amongst the commotion and excitement. To prevent accidents, be sure to close off all areas that are not child or pet friendly, such as stairways, kitchens and bathrooms. Also, make sure to pick up and clean any fallen or broken decorations for their safety, and make sure guests shut doors so children and pets don’t end up wandering outside.
2. Be Aware of Your Decorations and Party Favors – Be aware of using paper decorations, aerosol streamers and other flammable items around open flames. Also, be aware of decorations such as deflated balloons, party snappers, small items, and even tissue paper piñatas, all of which can pose a choking threat to small children. Items could also have sharp edges or cause someone to trip or fall.
3. Monitor All Alcoholic Beverages and Smoking – Make sure all alcoholic beverages are in one place with an adult monitoring the usage. Be sure to include non-alcoholic beverages for any children, designated drivers, or any guests who will not be drinking alcohol. Providing two different color drinks can help monitor usage and keep the alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks from being confused by minors and non-drinking adults. Glass bottles can also pose a danger, so make sure to keep all empty bottles in a separate area or a designated receptacle for recycling. Also, safety precautions recommend designating a smoking area for your guests, either outside on a porch or in the yard. If you don’t have outside access for smokers, and don't mind others smoking in your house, keep the smoking limited to the kitchen. It is much safer to have smokers in the kitchen then in any other area of your home.
4. Never Drink and Drive! – It’s illegal and can put yourself and others in danger. A DWI can add up to thousands of dollars, not to mention the possible loss of life and jail time. Always designate a driver in advance. If you are traveling, make arrangements with your hotel or a cab company to pick you up at a designated time and place. Never get into a vehicle with anyone who has been drinking.
5. Be Aware of Your Surroundings – When possible, it's always better to be out with a group of people than to be out alone – there’s safety in numbers. Never leave a party with someone you don't know. Be aware of what's going on around you, especially if you're in a place where there are more strangers than friends. It’s very easy for someone to slip something into your drink while you're holding it in your hand, and even easier when you aren't paying attention. Never accept drinks from strangers.
6. Surround Yourself with Plenty of Food - If you are staying up until midnight, make sure that you are snacking regularly, especially if you are drinking. This can help counter the effects of the alcohol.
As much as we try, we just can't predict what could go wrong in every single situation. But what we can do is anticipate the worst case scenario and take the necessary precautions in our party planning to keep ourselves, family, friends, guests and pets as safe as possible. Remember to drink responsibly and to always be aware of your surroundings. Only you can keep yourself safe, and with a few precautions, you can help keep everyone else safe as well.
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