DID YOU KNOW?
While preparing for New Year’s celebrations, many people overlook the importance of prioritizing their safety, as well as the safety of others. Injury prevention shouldn’t be an afterthought; this New Year’s Eve, commit to protecting yourself and those around you—then turn that commitment into a year-round habit of awareness and injury prevention.
ALCOHOL-RELATED DRIVING FATALITIES
New Year’s Eve & Day often sees a spike in impaired driving, as well as alcohol-related traffic fatalities throughout our vast country. So, before you head out to ring in 2026 … it’s imperative to to embrace and practice the following safety tips:
- PLAN A RIDE: There are all kinds of options available such as arranging a designated driver, calling a family member or friend, booking a taxi or if available an Uber ahead of time, if available, using public transit, as well as staying overnight.
- DRINK RESPONSIBLY: Never leave your drink unattended or accept drinks from strangers; always keep it in your sight.
- DON’T DRINK & WALK LONG DISTANCES: Alcohol severely impairs judgment, coordination, reflex, making walking long distances extremely dangerous. In addition, alcohol impairs the ability to notice hazards and increases the risk of people who consume alcohol to falls (especially during the winter season), collisions with vehicles and getting lost.
DON’T DRIVE HIGH—CANNABIS & DRIVING DON’T MIX
Impaired driving is never worth the risk. Here are some tips from various experts on planning ahead and keeping our roads safe:
- DON’T DRIVE HIGH: Drug-impaired driving is illegal.
- STAY ALERT & SKIP THE DRIVE: Cannabis can impair your ability to drive safely—even hours after consumption; it causes drowsiness, slows your reaction time, and impairs your ability to watch and respond to multiple things at once.
- PLAN FOR LINGERING EFFECTS: How long the effects of cannabis can last varies by product, dose and your body; DON’T GUESS—PLAN AHEAD!
- MAKE A PLAN TO GET HOME SAFELY: The same options available for alcohol consumption apply to Cannabis use.
ICE & SNOW—TAKE IT SLOW!
If you’re driving this New Year’s Eve—keep your eyes on the road—stow your phone and stay alert. Give yourself plenty of extra travel time—drive slower and increase following distances by leaving more room between your vehicle and others. Before driving—especially in winter conditions—take the time to clear SNOW and ICE from the following areas:
- Brush off the roof, hood, and trunk.
- Clear off all windows, mirrors, and cameras.
- Ensure headlights, taillights, and turn signals are fully visible.
- Check that your windshield washer reservoir is full of winter-rated fluid.
SLIPS, TRIPS & FALLS ARE PREVENTABLE
Hosting a New Year’s Eve party? Keep all entry points—including the driveway, stairs, and walkways—well-lit and clear of snow and ice. Additionally, here some other tips to implement:
- Ensure outside areas are clear of clutter, decorations, and loose cords etc.
- TRAILER HITCHES POSE SEVERE HAZARDS: Remember to REMOVE your TRAILER HITCH when you aren’t towing; they are difficult to see and pose a major risk to yourself and others who walk nearby.
- Place non-slip mats or rugs at inside entryways; make sure they lie flat, as curled edges can present a tripping hazard.
- Ensure areas near all stairs inside the home are well-lit and free of clutter and loose cords etc.
MEANS OF EGRESS MUST BE MAINTAINED
The ability for people to evacuate a home in the event of a fire must be adequately provided and maintained. As well, if you will be celebrating New Year’s Eve at a restaurant, banquet, or resort facility etc. the ability for people to evacuate the facility in the event of a fire must be adequately provided and maintained.
MEANS OF EGRESS: Simplified, “means of egress” is the entire, clear, and unobstructed path from any point in a building to the outdoors, including corridors, stairs, and exits, designed for safe, quick evacuation without tools, keys or special knowledge.
MOST FATAL-FIRES—NO WORKING SMOKE ALARMS
In Canada, most fatal fires occur at night while people are sleeping. Tragically, many victims never wake up. Remember, when you’re asleep … your NOSE IS ASLEEP. Working Smoke Alarms gives you the critical time needed to escape a fire. Here’s what everyone needs to know:
- From the moment a Smoke Alarm sounds … you may have as little as one minute or less time to safely escape a fire in your home.
- SMOKE—which is the real killer—can engulf your home or cabin/cottage/camp in 2 minutes or less, giving occupants very little time to escape.
- Smoke is quiet and deadly … it will cover you and your loved ones like a blanket!
- Fatal-fires are preventable—BE ON THE BALL & INSTALL.
- Install Working Smoke Alarms on each level, (including the basement) of your home or cabin/cottage/camp, and outside all sleeping areas (like a hallway).
- For added protection, install Working Smoke Alarms in all bedrooms.
- When possible, install Interconnected-Smoke-Alarms; when one sounds, they all sound alerting people on each level of the home.
- Some Smoke Alarms have smart features that will send out an alert to your mobile phone if smoke is detected in your home.
*To learn more about how to protect yourself and your loved ones from fire visit: Ontario.ca/page/fire-safety-home
ONTARIO’S NEW CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) ALARM REQUIREMENTS
New Carbon Monoxide Alarm rules take effect tomorrow throughout Ontario. Don’t wait to protect your family from the “silent killer.” Take the time to understand the new CO Alarm rules: Ontario.ca/COSafety
Remember, taking the time to learn and practice injury prevention costs you nothing. Failing to do so, could lead to the unthinkable … the loss of your life and the lives of those you hold dear.
Wishing everyone a SAFE and Happy New Year!
