7 Tips to Have a Safe New Year’s Eve

The classic U2 song , New Year’s Day said it best:

“All is quiet on New Year’s Day
A world in white gets underway
I want to be with you
Be with you night and day “

If you want a quiet New Year’s Day with the ones you love, you need to be safe on New Year’s Eve. Whether 2017 was a good or bad year,  you’re going to be keen to let off some steam and have some fun on December 31st and into the morning of January 1st. Regardless of what you do and where you go, this New Year’s Eve, it is important to follow these seven safety tips to help avoid New Year’s Day regrets.

Dinner or Snacks

It’s the end of another year, and this calls for a nice dinner with friends. Even if you just sit around eating appetizers, chips and munchies before getting dressed for your night out, having a full stomach before drinking is always a smart idea. Not only will it soak up some of the alcohol, it will also keep you from snacking on candy or appetizers at a bar or party.

Transportation

Don’t drink and drive. Unless you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve party, you’ll most likely be heading to a friend’s place or a bar to celebrate the end of the year. If you find yourself at a friend’s house, don’t be afraid to ask to spend the night. A rough night’s sleep on a sofa is far better than an impaired, or worse, an accident. Pick a designated driver or arrange for a cab if you think you might drink on New Year’s Eve.

Monitor Your Alcohol Intake 

The majority of people will be drinking on New Year’s Eve. If you in that category just be sure to pay attention to how much you and others are consuming. If you’re drinking know your limits and stick to them. Drinking a glass of water in between mixed drinks is always a great way to ensure that you don’t get too dehydrated or intoxicated. If you or one of your friends over drinks and begins to vomit or pass out, don’t hesitate to call it an early night on their behalf. Be on the lookout for the symptoms of alcohol poisoning and call 9-1-1 if you think someone is in real danger. It’s better to kill the party than to let alcohol kill a friend.

Stick Together, There’s Safety in Numbers

New Year’s is fun with friends so make sure you don’t find yourself alone on New Year’s Eve. A good portion of the population will be drinking so the risk on the streets will increase. Travelling in groups will help ensure nothing bad happens to you and your friends.

Keep Your Cell Phone On and Charged

Make sure your cell phone is charged up before you go out on New Year’s Eve. Keep it on you at all times in case you get into a situation that you need to get away from and you need to call for help. It’s a good idea to type in the name and address of the hotel or location you’re staying at, to make sure you get home safe at the end of the night.  Some party people in the house get a little absent minded the later it gets and the more beverages they consume.

Tell Someone Where You’re Going

Make sure you tell friends and family where you are going. If you’re not sure where you will end up give your safety person the information about who you are going with and the location you are staying and any possible stops you may make on the way. You can also text them as plans change throughout the night.

Communication is Key 

No matter how many of the above tips you follow, your night can always take an unexpected turn. What if someone in your group wants to go home with a stranger? What if your driver has to leave due to an emergency? What if you get separated from your group? All of these problems can be easily fixed by staying in contact with your friends or family. Smartphones allow you to keep in constant contact using email, text, phone and communication applications like BBM Messenger, Twitter, Facebook, FaceTime and WhatsApp. Note make sure your not glued to your phone all night and enjoy the people your with.

Be Careful Opening Champagne

Champagne is a popular drink on New Year’s Eve. Yet for all its ability to elevate a celebration, opening bubbly is not without risks. A champagne cork can fly up to 50 mph as it leaves the bottle – fast enough to shatter glass. If the cork hits an eye, it can cause bleeding, abrasions and even glaucoma. Check out this article to prevent getting corked and to minimize this from happening to your eye.

There is always risk with New Year’s Eve but following these seven steps will help reduce it and make sure your 2017 New Year’s Eve is memorable. The Excalibur Insurance Group would like to thank everyone for a great 2017, and we wish all our clients, friends and followers all the best in 2018.