Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Life Saver Pool Fence! Now it’s time to party down!
Whether you’re watching a parade or meeting old friends, the green beer and excitement will definitely be flowing. Unfortunately, so will the danger. Today, we’re not talking about swimming lessons or the importance of CPR. Instead, we’re offering some quick tips to stay safe while celebrating:
Tips for a Safe St. Patrick’s Day
Have an Exit Strategy:
Let’s assume that you may be doing a bit of drinking this weekend. That’s all well and good, but it’s important to stay safe, too. Planning ahead will help to keep you in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day and keep you out of the emergency room. Since you know you’ll be partying, it’s smart to know how you’ll be getting back home. Fortunately, with modern technology, this couldn’t be easier. Plot your return bus or train route with Google Maps. If you’re hitting the road, arrange for a cab to bring you home. If you’re really expecting to tear it up, you can make a hotel reservation. Alternately, you can arrange to stay with a friend or family member within walking distance.
Eat Drink and Be Healthy:
For experienced drinkers, this goes without saying, but… make sure you’re not consuming alcohol on an empty stomach. That’s a recipe for a joyful St. Patrick’s Day becoming very painful, very quickly. Instead, eat some hearty food to absorb some of that booze. On the plus side, there’s usually plenty of delicious corned beef and cabbage to go around.
And of course, it wouldn’t be a Life Saver Pool Fence blog without some water safety tips. This time though, we want you to get as much water in your mouth as possible. Don’t forget to stay hydrated. Water is definitely a St. Paddy’s reveler’s best friend.
Choose a Designated Driver
Don’t drink and drive. Outside of the personal danger, a drunk driver is a hazard to everyone on the road. Put simply: if you’re drinking, don’t get behind the wheel. And don’t forget that “buzzed” driving technically still is drunk driving. The roads during St. Patrick’s Day weekend will be loaded with police safety checkpoints. If you have even the least bit of doubt, don’t drive.
Instead, select a designated driver early in the day. As you can imagine, this goes hand-in-hand with planning ahead. Before the party starts, choose your driver.
If You ARE a Designated Driver: Be Careful
First of all, if you are the designated driver: thank you. You’re doing a wonderful service to your friends and helping to keep the party going. Make sure you are true to your word and don’t have anything to drink. This is especially important on holiday’s like St. Patrick’s Day. There are a lot of people on the roads, and you shouldn’t take their sobriety for granted. When on the road, expect the unexpected.
Stay reliable for those who are counting on you to stay sober. That said, be extra careful behind the wheel as well. Even though you’ll be stone sober, many other drivers will not be so responsible. As you may have guessed, many traffic accidents on St. Patrick’s Day are caused by drunk drivers. Just be careful and alert to get everyone home safe.
The Buddy System for St. Patrick’s Day
Finally, use the buddy system! Keep an eye on your friends and family. It’s pretty common to see people going way overboard at a party. As a good buddy, make sure your people stay out of trouble. This means keeping them hydrated and, above all, keeping them off the roads. Confiscate their drink if that’s what it takes. You might feel like a buzzkill in the moment, but your buddy will thank you in the morning.
