For many Americans, the best way to herald in the new year is with a lively party. Once darkness falls on December 31, people across the nation will be welcoming 2019 with cheer in their hearts, drinks in their hands, and feet on the dance floor. While everyone enjoys a good party, it’s still important to consider and prioritize your safety. After all, you don’t want to be an emergency room guest on January 1st.
To help you have a safe and exciting night you’ll remember for the rest of your life, our Charleston personal injury lawyers have created this list of 5 important safety tips for all New Year’s Eve party-goers:
Tip #1: Dress for the Location
Yes, dressing up for a holiday party is part of the fun, but you also need to keep your safety in mind. The winter season tends to invite chilly air, rainy weather, and, if we’re really lucky, a bit of snow. While crowded parties can get warm, you should still wear a nice and comfortable jacket to beat the outside cold. Also, a swanky set of heels might be part of your ideal New Year’s Eve ensemble, but they aren’t ideal for an outdoor party or concert. If you’re anticipating a long walk to and from the event, you may want to at least carry a pair of flat, closed-toed shoes. It’s also important to remember that icy floors aren’t your only adversary this night. Rowdy crowds tend to produce safety risks like broken glass and countless other tripping hazards. If you’re wearing heels, you might sustain preventable scrapes and sprains.
Tip #2: Drink Responsibly
If you’re hitting the party circuit, you’re likely to come across at least one open bar. It’s tempting to get your money’s worth, especially if you had to pre-purchase a ticket to the party. But remember, New Year’s Eve is a long night and a good party isn’t going to run out of alcohol. If you plan to drink, it’s important to moderate and pace yourself. It’s also a good idea to eat a solid meal before you start ordering from the bar. In fact, if the party offers snacks, make sure to periodically take food and water breaks throughout the night.
Drinking on New Year’s Eve requires a little bit of mindfulness and self-reflection. It’s not unusual for accidents and fights to happen because an irresponsible person is a belligerent drunk. It’s great to have fun, but you don’t want to be a danger to yourself and others. You can easily incur an avoidable injury just because you lack coordination or happen to anger the wrong person.
Tip #3: Prepare a Travel Plan
Despite popular misconceptions, you can still have fun and drink responsibly. You just need to take certain precautions before you start partying. For example, if you plan to drink, you absolutely need to keep your hands off the wheel.
Safe transportation options include:
- Assigning a designated driver for the night
- Asking a sober friend or family member for a ride
- Hire a rideshare driving
- Call a cab
- Take a bus or train
If you happen to know the party host, you can also ask to stay the night. We can’t recommend walking, however, because many inebriated pedestrians lack the coordination to safely cross streets and find their way home. In fact, according to the National Highway Safety Administration, nearly 2,000 inebriated pedestrians are killed in traffic accidents each year.
Tip #4: Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Unfortunately, not everyone has good intentions when they go out to party on New Year’s Eve. These unscrupulous individuals may try to take advantage of a lone partier. To avoid a tragic start to 2019, it’s important to travel with groups of friends and family members. If you get separated at the party, you can send texts to keep in contact and to make sure everyone gets home safely. Make sure that your cell phone is charged before you leave the house and carry external charges if your battery isn’t reliable. Most importantly, it’s important to realize that you’re allowed to feel uncomfortable. You don’t have to accept drinks from strangers or react to the actions of aggressive and belligerent drunks. If you feel like you’re in danger, you can find your friends or even ask other groups of people for help. Also, many public events hire security guards to prevent act of violence and sexual harassment. If you’re being threatened, don’t be afraid to locate professional help.
Tip #5: Beware of Fireworks
Many New Year’s Eve parties like to ring in the new year by lighting up the sky with fireworks. While fireworks are mostly legal in South Carolina, they are still extremely dangerous for a layman to use. In fact, simple sparklers are the nation’s leading cause of fireworks-related injuries and can cause serious burns to a person’s fingers, hands, and arms.
Injured on New Year’s Eve? Contact a Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you’re injured by the negligent actions of another person on New Year’s Eve, contact the Charleston personal injury lawyers at Pierce, Sloan, Kennedy & Early LLC. Our compassionate and experienced legal team can investigate your case and help you pursue damages that account for your injury-related expenses and legal objectives.
Call Pierce, Sloan, Kennedy & Early LLC at (843) 968-0886 to schedule a consultation.