If you read my blog and followed my suggestions for the holidays, you most likely have a good start for your New Year’s Eve. Ring in the New Year keeping safety in mind when participating in the festivities. No matter if you are staying at home celebrating with family and friends, or headed out on the town, here are a few safety tips to help make ringing in the New Year a great experience!

• Driving: New Year’s Eve is “rookie night” and notorious for drunk driving.  Be alert and aware of your surroundings while you are driving.

•  Drinking: Take a taxi or have a designated driver. If you are the host or hostess monitor your guests.  It’s cliché but “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk (impaired).” Make sure no one leaves your party impaired.  Also remember: buzz driving is drunk driving.  You don’t have to blow the legal limit if officers believe you to be impaired.  DUII is a terrible start to the New Year.

• Pet Safety Tips: CLICK HERE to read more about tips to keep your pets safe this New Year’s Eve.  Basically, don’t stress your pets.  There may be strangers in your house, loud noises and things that we may not even be aware of which could contribute to creating an unpleasant experience for your pets.  Help them enjoy the evening too!

• Smoke Alarms: Test them to make sure they are working and install fresh batteries. Candles add ambiance but make sure they are extinguished prior to going to bed.  Also make sure that you don’t have them near other combustibles and out of children’s reach.

• Fireworks:  Be sure pets and children are safely removed from the fireworks area. Practice safety precautions when lighting them off in a residential area. Move to a field, parking lot or other open area. Keep a fire extinguisher close.  NEVER attempt to re-light a firework that did not go off the first time. Always light fireworks with adult supervision.

Have a great New Year’s Eve celebration and I’ll see you next year!

Be safe!