Health Departments share tips for a safe holiday season

The holiday season is about spending time with family and friends and usually involves parties, good food and merriment. Another aspect of the holidays is the additional amount of travel that comes along with attending various functions coupled with the increased amount of holiday shoppers on the road. So while the holidays can be an exciting time, the staff of the Henry and Stark County Health Departments and their First Choice Healthcare Clinics remind everyone there are some important things to consider to help keep you and your guests safe this season.

Holiday parties often involve alcohol, and while you want your guests to enjoy themselves, it’s also important to make sure they are being responsible. This involves keeping an eye out for anyone who may be drinking too much, and either providing a place to stay or a means to get home with a designated driver.

Here are a few steps you can take to prevent holiday drinking and driving. Encourage area residents to celebrate safely. During the holiday season, and year-round, take steps to make sure that you and everyone you celebrate with avoids driving under the influence of alcohol. Following these tips can help you stay safe:

● Plan ahead. Always designate a non-drinking driver before any holiday party or celebration begins.

● Take the keys. Don’t let friends drive if they are impaired.

● Have cab/driver options and apps on hand. If someone should not be driving, but they insist on going home, call or arrange a driver for them instead of allowing them to take the risk of driving home.

● Offer plenty of non-alcoholic drinks. While many guests may want to enjoy the holidays with an alcoholic drink, offer non-alcoholic drinks as an option.

● Offer food if you’re offering alcohol. Drinking on an empty stomach can cause a person to become intoxicated faster. Offering food along with drinks may help prevent guests from over-indulging on alcohol alone.

In addition, they offer some driving tips: If possible, drivers should try to stay off the road between the hours of midnight and 3 a.m., when drunk driving accidents are most likely, according to research from the U.S. Department of Transportation. And if the weather is bad, which can easily happen in the northern and central states, consider revising your plans so you won’t have to travel on icy or snowy roads. With a little foresight and by taking precautions, you can enjoy your holiday season and stay safe as well.

Henry and Stark County Health Department offices announce New Year’s closure

The Henry and Stark County Health Departments would like to inform area residents that their offices and First Choice Healthcare Clinics in Kewanee at 110 N. Burr Blvd.; Colona at 103 1st St.; and Toulon at 120 E. Court St. will be closed Thursday, Jan. 1 & Friday, Jan. 2 in observance of the New Year’s Holiday.

However, limited home services staff will be working on those days to provide necessary in-home care.

For more information, call the Health Department or First Choice Healthcare Clinic nearest you: Kewanee 309-852-0197; Colona 309-792-4011; or Toulon 309-852-3115; or visit their website at www.henrystarkhealth.com or find them on Facebook at Henry and Stark County Health Departments or follow them on Twitter and Instagram.