Avoiding Injury During New Year’s Celebrations

2016 is nearly over. As we move forward into the new year, it is important to remember safety. Every year, as January 1 approaches, police, firefighters and hospital workers brace for the inevitable influx of personal injury victims coming in from New Year’s celebrations.

The Top 4 Dangers of New Year’s Eve

1. Drinking and driving, unsurprisingly, tops the list. In the United States, 10,000 people die from drunk driving accidents every year, and the holiday season is one of the most dangerous times of year for this reason. From Thanksgiving through New Year’s, two to three times more people die in drunk driving crashes than the average. If you plan to embrace the spirit of New Year’s with some alcohol, be safe. Pre-download ridesharing apps like Fasten on your phone, designate a sober driver and remember – you’re not the only person on the road. Stay vigilant, know your limits and call the police if you suspect another driver is drunk.
2. Alcohol poisoning is another big problem during the holidays. Many view alcohol as a quintessential element of New Year’s celebrations. To avoid drinking too much, pace yourself, count your drinks, alternate alcoholic beverages with water to stay hydrated and don’t drink anything a stranger brings you.
3. Celebratory gunfire. Some like to kick off the New Year by shooting into the air – but this is illegal, not to mention dangerous. Bullets fired into the air can go as high as two miles before returning to the ground at lethal speeds. Dozens die every year because of stray bullets.
4. And the grand finale – fireworks! The popular New Year’s activity injures more than 11,000 people per year. When used properly, fireworks are a great source of entertainment, but don’t lose sight of the fact that they are literally explosive devices. The safest way to handle fireworks is to leave it to the professionals, but if you do decide to do your own (and many people do), don’t give any fireworks to children and make sure you read the instructions carefully.