Now that the holidays have come and gone, it’s time to gear up for the next big party: New Year’s Eve. We’ve already given you some Christmas-specific holiday safety tips, but now it’s time for the main event. At Child Safety Store, we love a good time, but we always keep safety top of mind.

Here are Our Tips for a Happy and Safe New Year’s Eve!

Safety Behind the Wheel

We’ve discussed the proper use of car safety seats in the past, but today let’s focus on some more adult issues:

Don’t Drink and Drive

Let’s start with the most obvious point. Most adult New Year’s Eve parties tend to involve some form of drinking. That’s all well and good, as long as you’re taking the proper precautions.

First and foremost, don’t get behind the wheel of a car if you’ve been drinking. Each year, drunk driving kills 10,000 people in the United States. On average, the holidays are even more dangerous.

The best solution for a happy and safe New Year’s Eve is to plan ahead. Before heading out for the evening, know how you’ll get home. Don't simply assume that you'll find a ride. Choosing a designated driver early, or preparing to take a cab, will reduce your risk on the New Year’s Eve roads.

That said, even though you’ve made sure you’re safe behind the wheel, that doesn’t mean that everyone else will follow suit. Beware of other intoxicated people. This includes drunken pedestrians and bicyclists. People can behave rather erratically on New Year’s Eve, especially late at night. If possible, try to avoid traveling between the hours of 8pm and 2am. Alcohol-related auto accidents tend to be higher during these times.

Hosting the Party? Take Care of Your Guests

If you’re the person hosting the New Year’s Eve party, you’ve got some extra responsibilities. Clearly you’ll want all of your guests to arrive home safe and sound. To ensure a safe New Year’s Eve extravaganza, consider hiring a driver just for the occasion. This will take some of the burden off of your loved ones. To be extra safe, ask guests who will be imbibing to turn in their keys when they arrive. This can eliminate arguments or dangerous situations after the ball drops. 

Be sure to keep an eye on how much everyone is drinking. A good tip is to offer different but distinct cups for beverages. One for alcoholic drinks, and another for non-alcoholic beverages. This will help you track who is drinking and also to keep booze away from the kids. It should go without saying, but obviously you should keep minors away from alcohol. 

Fireworks and Alcohol are a Dangerous Mix 

Fireworks tend to be a big draw during major celebrations. That said, leave it to the professionals! As we’ve discussed, New Year's Eve parties tend to include a lot of drinking. In addition to being illegal in many states, fireworks can be extremely dangerous. That goes double when they’re being lit by an intoxicated reveler. For further information about fire hazards, please read our Child Safety Store Guide to Burn Safety. 

Finally, don’t forget your pets. Fireworks can be terrifying for poor pups and kitties. Keep them inside and as far away from any loud noises as possible.

That’s about it for our safe New Year’s Eve tips! Good luck with the parties and we’ll see you in 2019!