As we are in yet another season of cheer and merriment, take a moment to remind us all that while we can enjoy the festivities, we need to be responsible to ourselves, to each other, and to those with whom we share the road or airways. Follow these suggestions to make your holiday celebration fun and safe.

Some of us this year are new parents (or grandparents) – take care in how you place the tree and decorations; the view from your 9-month old’s perspective is much different than yours. Take those extra precautions, such as anchoring the tree, guarding or repositioning any plugged-in cords on the floor, keeping those pretty lights with their “chewable” cord beyond the reach of small fingers and small teeth or gums, placing glass ornaments somewhere other than the lower branches, using your fireplace with a screen, and others.

As we put on the additional 10 pounds of holiday cheer, be careful in how you prepare and for how long you leave food out and unattended. I’d rather fight the extra 10 pounds in January than lose an additional 10 pounds to the “gastro-intestinal disorders” of disagreeable bacteria that also feel festive during or after the party.

Parties can be a great time of family and friends celebrating the season and the new year. But, don’t drink alcohol on an empty stomach and don’t drink and drive. In addition to the dangers of innocent people being hurt or killed due to our negligence, did you also know that many states have very strict enforcement of DUI laws, particularly during the holidays. In Virginia, for example, if you are stopped for DUI (whether involved in an accident or not), you will:

1. Likely get chafed wrists, since you will be arrested, hand-cuffed, and taken to jail;

2. Be fingerprinted, photographed, and locked up;

3. Spend a minimum of 8 hours in jail and not released until guaranteed sober;

4. Automatically have your license suspended for 7 days;

5. If convicted by a judge in court, have license suspended for up to 12 months, depending on the current “holiday spirit” of the judge;

6. Have DUI conviction on DMV record for 10 years, which will also cause your insurance rates to go up.

Keep in mind, one 1-oz shot of whiskey equals one 5-oz glass of wine, which equals one 12-oz glass of beer. They are all equal in alcohol content. Any one of these drinks will raise the average blood-alcohol content (BAC) by 0.02, meaning an average sized person only needs 4 drinks in one hour to be at a 0.08 BAC. This level, in many states, makes you legally intoxicated!

The key to merriment this season is to enjoy it responsibly – to yourself, your family, your friends, and to all others with whom you share the planet.

Have a great holiday as we enter the new year continuing to hope for Peace on Earth, Goodwill Toward Men!