Every year the New Year's bashes are becoming bigger and bigger. Organizers are innovating to the hilt to pull in the crowds. The crowd itself is getting increasingly eclectic because the travel is often included in the party charges. People from all over the world converge onto places like New York, Australia and Bali for New Year’s Eve. Amongst all the fun and noise it is important to ensure that the proceedings are engulfed in a net of safety. New Year’s Eve is a night that is ripe for the occurrence of any untoward event. It should not only be left to the law to take care that nothing bad happens. There are a host of safety measures that people can take for their own good on the big night.
The common sense tactics include not drinking and driving. A driver has to be designated before having that first drink. Public transportation is another safe option. If traveling in the back of a cab sounds unappealing then spend the night at a friend's place. If you are the host of the party please ensure that nonalcoholic drinks are also served. A close friend could become a drunken lout; have the strength to refuse him/her a drink if he/she is finding it difficult to keep their emotions in check.
A pet at home could be a problem because pets can easily get scared with the fireworks and large crowd. If enough pre-planning is done, the pet can be desensitized to sound, but if that is not possible, the pet can be reassured by the tone of the owner’s voice time and again. Make sure that your pet has ID tags with current information on them, and that they are safely secured both before and through the holiday period. Candles, kids and pets don’t mix. Keep them away from each other.
The onus of a safe party lies with the host. The host should know a few things about the liquor that is being served. Beer and wine are just as intoxicating as hard liquor. A 12-ounce can of beer, a five-ounce glass of wine, a 12-ounce wine cooler and an ounce and a half of liquor contain the same amount of alcohol. Mixers won't help dilute alcohol. Carbonated mixers like club soda or tonic water cause alcohol to be absorbed into a person's system more quickly. Fruit juice and other sweet mixers mask the taste of alcohol and may cause people to drink more. Fatty food provided with the alcohol will help because it will create a lining around the stomach that will prevent the alcohol from getting inside. This will ensure that the drinker is not overly dehydrated. There is a tendency to rely on someone’s physical appearance to determine his/her state of drunkenness, this must be avoided at all costs.
Lighting fireworks can create the desired visual and psychological effect but water must be kept at hand at all times. There is a temptation to ignore this because it will be snowing and a snowball can douse a firework gone awry. Snow is not the same thing as water!
Have your chimney checked each year. Install a carbon monoxide detector. Fireplace ashes should be disposed of in a metal container with a tight fitting lid not in paper sacks, cardboard boxes or plastic trashcans. Seventy percent of all home fire fatalities occur in homes where there are no smoke alarms or alarms that work. Nearly one quarter of home smoke alarms are not working. Buy special smoke alarms for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. Develop an exit plan with the whole family.
If New Year’s is going to be spent with work place colleagues then hire a shuttle or limousine service to provide transportation for those that have been drinking. If you provide an open bar, be sure the bartender has had server training to prevent overserving and serving guests under the legal drinking age. Do not push drinks and don’t let anyone else do so either.
If boating is the preferred mode of celebration on New Year’s Eve then enjoy the fire in the sky by keeping it safe. Make the most of your boating experience this New Year's Eve by being prepared and safe. If you're on the water, ensure a life jacket is available for each person on board. Do a thorough check of the boats safety gear. Switch on your navigation lights. If you are the master of the vessel then drink very judiciously. Don't set off flares. It's illegal and dangerous. Be patient at the end of the midnight fireworks. Event organizers need to check all fireworks have exploded before traffic can be allowed under the bridge.
Here's hoping you and yours have a safe and happy new year!
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