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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

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Have A Safe New Year’s Celebration

By Florida Department of Health, Office of Communications

December 30, 2015

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Dec. 30, 2015

HAVE A SAFE NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION

Don't Drink and Drive

Contact:
Communications Office
NewsMedia@flhealth.gov
(850) 245-4111

Tallahassee, Fla.—The Florida Department of Health reminds all Florida residents and visitors to plan ahead for a safe and fun New Year’s celebration. Take the time to talk about safety measures with your loved ones before the fun begins. Almost 9,000 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in Florida from 2003-2012.

“We all want to ring in the New Year with fun and celebration,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. “I urge everyone to plan for safe travel – let’s start 2016 without the tragedy of deaths from drunk driving.”

A few tips to ring in the New Year with safety in mind:

Don’t Drink and Drive

  • Before you head out for the night, plan your transportation to ensure no one drives impaired;
  • If you are a designated driver, do not drink. One drink is one too many; and
  • If you see an impaired driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact local law enforcement or dial *FHP (*347). This call could save a life.

Use Fireworks Responsibly

  • Know and follow all county and city fireworks laws for your area;
  • Always have a water source (full bucket of water or hose) and a fire extinguisher close at hand;
  • Do not allow children to play with or light fireworks; and
  • If a firework does not light or fire, let it sit for at least 20 minutes then carefully place it in a bucket of water.

For additional information on preventing drunk driving, please visit the Florida Highway Patrol Safety Center website.

For more tips and resources regarding firework safety, please visit the National Council on Fireworks Safety's website at fireworksafety.com.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

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