5 Ways to Celebrate a Safe and Happy New Year

Celebrating a Safe and Happy New Year’s Eve with family and friends is a great way to say goodbye to memories of the past year while looking forward to the future. Of course, the last thing you want is to end up with an injury or illness that ruins your plans.

While there are plenty of festivities to enjoy on New Year’s Eve, there are also lots of ways for things to go wrong. By planning ahead and making informed, healthy decisions, you’ll be ready to celebrate the new year worry-free.

Enjoy Drinking in Moderation

For most New Year’s Eve partiers, alcohol is almost certain to be part of the occasion. It is a fine way to enjoy the night. However, you should be mindful of your limits when enjoying your favorite adult beverages.

Amid the celebration, it can be easy to get carried away. Not only will this impair your judgment and increase your risk of getting injured, but it will also lead to a miserable morning the next day.

Be sure to celebrate a safe and happy New Year by not drinking too much alcohol too quickly. Instead, pace yourself throughout the night and be sure to alternate each alcoholic drink with water.

Practice Safe Sex to Prevent STIs

Between parties, alcohol, and celebrating a big occasion, New Year’s Eve makes it more likely for people to have sex. That’s especially true for individuals that plan on going home with someone they don’t know or just met.

If you plan on having sex to celebrate the new year, keep in mind that using protection is a positive decision that could affect the rest of your life. Using a condom can prevent STIs and help decrease the risk of unwanted pregnancies.

Avoid Driving While Impaired

Everyone knows they shouldn’t drive while drunk. However, deciding to get behind the wheel impaired can be a life-or-death moment. Not only does it put yourself at risk, it also puts everyone else on the road in danger.

If you’re planning on enjoying alcohol to celebrate the new year, plan accordingly so you don’t need to drive home. Whether that means spending the night at a friend’s house, booking a hotel within walking distance of the party you’re attending, or calling an Uber, not drinking and driving is crucial.

Keep Yourself Hydrated

Whether you’re drinking alcohol or just planning on staying up all night, it’s important to stay hydrated while celebrating New Year’s Eve. Be sure to drink water consistently throughout the night.

Doing so will help you avoid the negative effects of dehydration such as headache, fatigue, and dry mouth. If that isn’t a good enough reason, you’ll also wake up feeling more refreshed if you go to bed well-hydrated.

Protect Yourself and Others with the COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines

Given the rapid spread of COVID-19 variants around the world, large gatherings are still risky. However, protecting yourself with the COVID-19 vaccine is an easy decision to make. If you’ve already received your vaccine, getting your booster dose can help increase your immunity throughout the rest of the winter and beyond.

Although COVID-19 is taking the spotlight, we are also in the middle of flu season. As such, you should also get your annual flu vaccine to help prevent serious illness.

Velocity Urgent Care is Here for You

From all of us at Velocity Urgent Care, we hope you have a safe and happy new year. While you’re celebrating the end of 2021 and welcoming all that 2022 has to offer, remember that we are here for you if things don’t go according to plan.

Whether you are experiencing dehydration, a sprain, a broken bone, a headache, or something more serious, our providers are standing by and ready to help.

We can perform on-site x-rays and lab work and prescribe medications to get you back on your feet. If you need more intense care, we can even refer you to a specialist.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are taking serious safety precautions to ensure that our locations are as clean as possible. We’ve put strict sterilization protocols into place and are carefully handling patients who may be contagious to ensure that each one of our clinics is safe for those who need urgent medical care or occupational health services.

Velocity Urgent Care offers convenient online registration that helps you limit your contact with others during a visit. You can sign up for an appointment online ahead of time and arrive when it’s time to be seen to skip the waiting room. We even offer text message updates so you can wait in the car (if you prefer) until it’s time for your appointment.

Velocity Urgent Care is an in-network provider for most major insurance plans, meaning you can be seen for the cost of your co-pay and deductible. All of our locations also accept Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare. Veterans Administration beneficiaries are also welcome. To find out more about our services, locations, hours, and more, visit www.velocityuc.com.