4 New Year’s Emergencies and How to Handle Them as a Young Adult

New Year’s Eve is one of the most celebrated nights of the year. People from all walks of life get dressed up to go out and count down the New Year with friends, family, and complete strangers. Although it is a night of fun, there are safety risks and legal issues that many young adults experience. As a college student, it may be your first time being out on your own on New Year’s Eve. Whether that’s the case or not, it’s important to understand basic rules for handling emergencies. Use the tips below to increase your odds of having a fun, safe, and memorable night.

Travel in Groups

Going out alone on New Year’s Eve can be dangerous and lead to life-threatening incidents. Therefore, you should travel in groups of three or more, to increase safety. When choosing events or activities for the night, make sure they are located in a safe area and try to learn as much about the location as possible. If you have time, scope out the neighborhood before the event, specifically in the day time. This allows you to see escape routes and determine what businesses you could turn to if you and your friends experience harassment or other issues. Better safe than sorry.

Use Transportation Apps

If no one in your group is committed to being a designated driver throughout the night, consider using transportation apps like Uber and Lyft. Many of these services offer discounted or free rides on New Year’s Eve to prevent drunk driving accidents. Be sure to follow safety tips and don’t give out your name to the drivers until they identify you to ensure you don’t get in the wrong car. If you and your friends decide to drive and experience an emergency, be sure to contact a 24-hour bail bond agent as soon as possible to prevent anyone from spending the rest of their New Year’s night in a holding cell.

Know Your Limits

This applies to alcohol, food, and partying. If you are not a night-owl, try to take a long nap during the day to remain awake and alert that night. It would be best if you also drank responsibly to prevent physical and mental issues. Knowing your limits could prevent you from ending up in the emergency room on New Year’s Eve. Although this is a night for partying, it is still important to watch yourself so that you don’t end up in a bad situation.

Watch Your Surroundings

Regardless if you are in gym shoes, high heels, flats, or dressy shoes, you should always watch your step when going into buildings, crossing the street, or moving across the dance floor. Being aware of your surroundings could lower the risk of a slip or fall, amongst other dangerous accidents. Keep in mind that even the simplest incident could lead to broken bones and require surgery. Be sure to also keep an eye out for unsavory individuals who may try to drug or harass you. You can still have a fun night while staying safe.

Ringing in the New Year should be fun, but you must remember to be safe and responsible. The objective is to limit the number of accidents you encounter and increase the fun activities you take on throughout the night.

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan

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