New Year’s celebrations commonly feature raucous and all-night parties, but it’s important to remember that some gatherings can get out of control if participants aren’t aware of simple holiday safety tips. Thieves and criminals know that people let their guard down during holiday parties because it’s so easy to have fun and relax with friends and family. However, this doesn’t mean it’s okay to forget about having good home security in Idaho that keeps revelers safe.
Be Safe with Alcohol
One of the biggest contributions to dangerous New Year’s celebrations is consumption of alcohol. Toasting with friends and popping the cork on a special bottle of wine is a great way to ring in the New Year, but for anyone who has decided to put alcohol on the menu, there are some important safety considerations to handle before the party begins.
- Designate a driver or a dry participant for the party
- Leave the cars at home or ask revelers to arrive by taxicab
- Know when to stop with alcohol and recognize intoxication in others
- Use the buddy system and party with friends
Use Fire Carefully
Setting off some backyard fireworks is a common feature at New Year’s celebrations, but this practice isn’t recommended even if a reveler has experience using fireworks and other potentially flammable toys. The combination of alcohol consumption and fireworks can have some disastrous consequences when part of the firework ends up on the roof and starts to burn.
The smoke detectors installed as part of the security system probably won’t alert residents to a fire that’s started outside the home in the backyard until the flames have overtaken the entire area. The U.S Fire Administration estimates that there are thousands of New Year’s fires every single year that result in death, injury, and property loss.
It’s also common for families to light candles and have a roaring fire in the fireplace during wintry New Year’s celebrations, and proper fire safety techniques should also be employed at this time. The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association suggests that homeowners should install carbon monoxide detectors as to further reduce the danger of open flames during New Year’s.
Ensure Safety with Security
Theft and burglary during the holidays is an unfortunate and common side-effect of parties. It’s a worthwhile investment for homeowners to speak with companies offering home security to make sure that the home is kept protected during parties, gatherings, or even when the family decides to leave home and celebrate the New Year on vacation at a far-away location.
Security cameras are an important part of security; however, hooking those cameras up to a security system is advisable, especially for any family that plans to celebrate the new year away from home. Today’s security cameras can be placed anywhere as long as they’re wireless. A homeowner can even keep tabs on his home’s interior through remote monitoring granted by smart phones or tablet computers.
New Year’s celebrations are a time to gather with friends and loved ones to be thankful for the year that was and to get excited about the year to come. Improve the safety of home and family through a strong security system, smart use of fireworks, and some planning before the consumption of alcohol begins.