It would be a shame to say that the new year started off with severe injury or death, so during the festivities keep in mind personal safety and recognize hazardous situations.  Alcohol and holiday spirit can prove to be a disastrous combination, causing incidents that may not be easily forgotten in the new year.      The following are tips to stay safe during this dangerous time.

Stay sober. It is obvious that alcohol plays a major role in New Years’ accidents, such as blackouts, alcohol poisoning, or DUIs.

Be aware of people under the influence.  People impaired by alcohol or drugs are prone to careless or violent decision making.  Don’t let friends or family drive if they have been drinking.

Recognize suspicious people.  Drinks laced with Rohypnol and other drugs can be a common occurrence during new year festivities, so don’t accept drinks or food from anyone you don’t know.  Also, keep an eye out for friends.

Celebratory gunfire can be dangerous. Even if the intention is not to harm other people, celebratory gunfire often results in injury. Bullets that are shot into the air come back down at a terminal speed. A study by the Center of Disease and Control Center found that 80 percent of celebratory gunfire injuries were to the head, feet and shoulders, and some resulted in fatalities.

Know when to leave the party. If there comes a point where illegal activity is taking place, that should be the cue to leave. For drinking underage or possession of alcohol, the fines can be steep and can have a driver’s license suspended.

Be careful when driving or walking home.  Snow and icy conditions cause roads to be slippery and poor vision of the road.  Drive with caution, obey the speed limit and be aware of the surroundings and the road.  Also watch for drunk drivers. According to the Moms Against Drunk Driving, alcohol is involved in 50 percent of fatal vehicle collisions on new years day. It also has one of the highest pedestrian death rates of the year. According to data from the National Highway Safety Administration crash fatalities are 150 percent on New Years Eve than any other day during the holiday season.

Although New Year’s is filled with potential hazards, hopefully with some common sense they can still be enjoyable and safe.  Have fun, but not too much fun.