The closer we get to the holidays, the more we like to unwind and gather with friends and family members, but it’s important to stay safe during this time of year. Did you know that this is the time of year when alcohol-related crashes are at their highest? Scary stuff to think about, but the more we talk about it, the more aware we’ll be. The tips listed below were submitted to me by Martha Espiritu, who works for CSP, Inc. and I definitely thought it would make a great post this week. So, at the risk of sounding preachy, please take a look at CSP, Inc.’s tips and keep them in mind in the midst of the holiday hustle and bustle. Let’s keep our community safe!
Be a Responsible Host
- Provide plenty of food to keep your guests from drinking on an empty stomach.
- Offer non-alcoholic drinks such as water, soda or sparkling apple cider.
- If a guest has had too much to drink, arrange an alternate ride for them or have them spend the night.
Be a Responsible Guest
Before you head out to your next celebration, make sure you know how you’re getting home at the end of the night.
- Designate a driver.
- Keep enough cash for a taxi. (Or sign up for Uber, one of my favorite mobile apps, makes taxi’ing easy, fun and safe)
- Make arrangements with a friend or family member for a ride home.
- NEVER ride with an impaired driver.
Do Your Part
If you come across an impaired driver while driving, you can call 911 to make an anonymous report.
- Provide a complete description of the car and its exact location.
- Describe how the car is being driven.
- And please, do not try to follow or stop the car yourself.
CSP-Project PATH (Positive Action Toward Health) is committed to reducing alcohol and other drug (AOD) impaired driving in the city of Orange through education, training and community collaboration. Community Service Programs, Inc. is mostly known for their domestic violence and sexual assault prevention programs as well as their youth shelters in Orange County. Project PATH focuses on preventing impaired driving in the community. They have been working in the city of Orange for over five years and receive grant funding through the Orange County Health Care Agency. For more information, please contact Martha Espiritu, PATH Health Educator, at [email protected].
Stay safe, be responsible, never drink and drive, and happy holidays to you all!
