The biggest party night of the year is almost here. No matter how you choose to celebrate New Year’s Eve, make an early resolution to put safety first.

Celebrating the advent of the new year is a tradition that goes back centuries. Special foods, ceremonies and symbols give us an opportunity to reflect on the passage of time and what that means.

Here in the Western hemisphere, we celebrate the new year during the cold of winter, lighting candles and bonfires to illuminate the long days and nights of darkness. We note the passage of time on New Year’s Eve in the symbols of Father Time, a modern embodiment of ancient deities like the Celtic Holly King and Greek god Chronos, who passes the baton of time to chubby Baby New Year in his sash, whose familiar image dates back to 14^th century Germany.

But for many of us, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day revolve around the rich food and drink that overflows in our homes and at the parties we attend. If you’re planning on a night out, the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District offers several NYE safety tips, including:

• Point that champagne cork away from people when opening the bubbly.
• If you’re out in a big crowd, always be aware of your surroundings. Don’t go to an event alone and keep a fully charged cell phone at the ready in your pocket so you can “say something if you see something.”
• If your jurisdiction does not allow fireworks on New Year’s Eve, be responsible and enjoy them at a venue where pyrotechnic displays are permitted and run by professionals. If your neighborhood permits fireworks, be mindful of frightened pets who may escape from houses or yards and dash into the street. Keep your own pets safe by keeping them indoors and ensuring they have an I.D. tag with your contact information.
• Above all, don’t drink and drive. Don’t make your new year a tragedy for your family or someone else’s. Let the designated driver be the hero of your festivities.

At HSI, it’s our honor to assist you with your workplace safety, chemical compliance and emergency care training needs, and we’re looking forward to bringing you more products, more services and more solutions in 2018.

Happy New Year!

Holiday Hours: The HSI offices and warehouse will be closed on Monday, January 1, 2018. The warehouse will also be closed January 2, 2018 for inventory work. Orders placed after noon (Pacific Time) on Friday, December 29, 2017, will be shipped on Wednesday, January 3, 2018.