Staying Safe During New Year’s Eve

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From private parties to public celebrations in Toronto and Ottawa, Ontario has become the province New Year’s Eve revelers choose for their year-end celebrations. Parties are everywhere, but no matter whether you are a guest or a host, safety should always be a primary concern. Before the festivities begin, take note of a few tips designed to prevent accidents and keep everyone safe.

Don’t drink and drive

New Year’s Eve festivities generally involve alcohol, so plan your evening before heading out to celebrate. According to MADD Canada, four people die each day in road accidents in which alcohol is a contributing factor. Alcohol consumption at holiday parties increases the number of people driving while impaired and adds to the risk of a fatal car crash.

If you are going to a party, you should consider the following:

• Have a designated driver: When making plans with friends for New Year’s Eve, find out if one or more of them will not be drinking during the evening and would be willing to be the designated driver. Don’t assume that your non-drinking friend is going to drive you home.
• Hire a car service: Splitting the cost of a car service to get you where you are going and safely home again at the end of the night is an option when a designated driver is not available.
• Arrange for a place to stay: If going to a party at a hotel, make reservations to spend the night. A ride on an elevator to your room at the end of the festivities is much safer than getting behind the wheel and driving.
• Drinking coffee does not make you sober: Once you are impaired by alcohol, the only thing that will cause you to regain sobriety is time. Drinking coffee might make you feel more alert and awake, but it will not help eliminate the effects of the alcohol you consumed.

Keep in mind that alcohol consumption impairs your judgment and your reflexes among other effects it has on your body and mind. Foregoing the car and deciding to walk home after drinking too much at a holiday party might not be a good idea. You could fall, step into the path of a moving vehicle or become the victim of a number of mishaps related to being impaired. Be safe and call for a taxi.

Be a safety-conscious host

Hosts of holiday parties can help to ensure their guests do not become accident statistics by monitoring the consumption of alcohol. This begins by greeting your guests as they arrive to determine if any of them might have started their celebratory consumption of alcohol before arriving. Other things hosts should do include the following:

• Monitor alcohol consumption by serving drinks yourself or hiring a bartender.
• Take car keys away from any guest who appears to be intoxicated.
• Have the telephone number of a taxi or ride-share company available and use it to arrange transportation home for those guests needing it.
• Make certain there is plenty of water and non-alcoholic beverages available for guests.
• Begin serving food as soon as guests arrive and continue having food available throughout the evening.

Besides watching out for guests who might become intoxicated, you should also monitor what children at the party are consuming. It is unlawful to serve alcohol to a minor.

What to do when an accident happens?

The personal injury lawyers at Diamond & Diamondhope you have a safe New Year’s Eve, but we are there to help you obtain the compensation you need and deserve if you are injured through the negligence of another party. Our 24/7 injury hotline is available at 1-800-567-HURT or you can visit our website to speak to someone now about your claim. Consultations are free, and our offices are located throughout Ontario.