6 Safety Tips to Help Ring the New Year from SABRE

There are many reasons to celebrate New Year’s Eve. It’s the opportunity to celebrate making it through 2021, a time to reflect on what the previous 365 days meant to you, and a chance to set new goals and start fresh in 2022. While celebrating the arrival of 2022 is at the forefront of the evening, it’s important to keep safety in mind. Here are 6 tips to help keep you safe as you ring in the new year.

Choose Your Party Wisely

Not all New Year's Eve parties are created equally. Vet your party options and attend a party hosted by someone you know or at a venue with a good reputation. Don’t let ticket requirements keep you from attending. This shows the organizer is taking extra safety precautions to know how many people are coming and can avoid overcrowding. Once you arrive, make sure you know where the exits and stairways are in case of an emergency. In general, take precautions and pay attention. If you see something that causes concern, take steps to protect yourself. Be aware of your surroundings instead of focusing your attention on your phone.

Be Prepared for Anything

Anything can happen on New Year’s Eve. Ensure you, your family, and your friends are safe by sharing your plans for the night and communicating your whereabouts if those plans change. Charge your cell phone before heading out for a night on the town so you don’t find yourself in an emergency with no way to let someone know. Always stay hydrated and be mindful of what you are eating and drinking, and lastly, carry personal protection with you. A personal alarm or pepper spray can help protect you in a dangerous situation. (SABRE Mighty Discreet Pepper Spray is small enough to fit in almost any purse you carry on New Year’s Eve!)

Plan Transportation Ahead of Time

Before the night begins, plan a safe way to get home to help avoid any problems. Whether you’re a passenger or the driver, roads on New Year’s Eve can be particularly dangerous. Winter weather can make it unsafe to drive if the roads are icy, especially if people decide to drink and drive on New Year’s Eve. Before you go out, designate a sober driver or schedule a rideshare or taxi service to pick you up at a set time. Some venues even partner with rideshare services on New Year’s Eve that can help lower the cost of the service. If you’re celebrating at a friend’s house, ask to spend the night or book a hotel room within walking distance. It’s always better to err on the side of caution.

Stay Visible in the Winter

If you don’t live somewhere where it gets very cold, your New Year’s Eve festivities may involve outdoor concerts or performances. Shorter days and longer nights mean you need to take extra steps to be seen in the dark. In the spirit of New Year’s Eve, choose an outfit with sparkles from head to toe, or wear light and bright colors so drivers can see you from a distance.

Plan for Everyone’s Safety

If you're hosting a New Year’s Eve party, be sure that your guests get home safely. Consider hosting an earlier dinner celebration, so guests can get home safely to watch the ball drop on their own. You could also host a virtual party if social distancing is a priority. As always, you want to ensure your guests are drinking responsibly. Offer plenty of food and water to slow the absorption of alcohol. If you have children, set a curfew for their festivities. Encourage them to stay in one location instead of hopping from party to party. If they need a ride somewhere, offer to give them a lift or pay for their transportation to avoid unsafe situations.

Most Importantly, Have Fun!

A safe celebration is a fun celebration, and after the past few years, we all deserve to have fun. Take a night off and celebrate new beginnings. Here’s to you, 2022!

SABRE wishes you a Happy New Year!

Check out some of our  safety products you can use to help Make It Safe this New Year!