Safety Tips for New Year's Eve in North Carolina

As we say good bye to 2011 and welcome in 2012, there is no doubt the folks of North Carolina, from Murphy to Manteo, will be ringing in the New Year with small gatherings, big house parties and even block parties like Raleigh’s “First Night

New Year’s Eve is a time of celebration, but like any celebration, if precautions aren’t taken, it can turn into a tragedy in seconds. We want your last hours of 2011 and your first hours of 2012 to be great, so today on the blog, we’re offering New Year’s Eve tips to make sure you’re being safe while having a good time with friends and family.

If you are hosting a New Year’s Eve Party:

• Hire or find someone who will be designated driver for everyone at the party. If you can, hire two people. One to take the party goers car home and one to follow to pick up the other sober person driving. Your guests will appreciate you looking out for them.
• If you can’t hire or find anyone to be the designated driver, call a cab company in your city today and set up a time for a fleet of cabs to come pick your guests up.
• If you have enough room, turn you New Year’s Eve party into a slumber party. Have all your guests stay over for the night. When everyone wakes up in the morning, turn it into a “clean the house up” party.

If you are going to a New Year’s Eve Party:

• Do not wait for the party host to set up a designated driver for you, do it yourself days before (like today) Dec. 31st.
• If you’re going to a big party with friends, make sure everyone stays together. This way no one gets out of the loop of what is happening. You don’t want one friend getting away from the group and saying, “Awwww, where are my friends? I’m just going to drive back home.” That’s no good. Keep up with you buddies and make sure they are safe.
• Be observant. If you see someone who is very intoxicated, ask them how they are getting home. If they have no way home, help them out in any way you can. You may not have went to the party with the thought of looking out for others, but you’re saving a life, maybe even lives, if you go above and beyond to make sure people around you are safe. When you wake up on Jan. 1st, you can go ahead and order one of these to remember what you did.

Guys, have some fun this New Year’s Eve. For all your hard work in 2011, you have earned it, but be smart about your fun. Don’t drink and drive. Nobody wins. Ever. Also, look out for your friends. One day, they’ll be there to look out for you.