With December almost upon us many South Africans take this time to enjoy short get-aways and spend time with family and loved ones and this means that safety, especially on the roads, becomes a big issue. With the festive season being the time of the year where countless lives are loss on our roads, Xander Loubser of Best Care Ambulance Services gives some advice for using alcohol responsibly.
Important questions that you should ask yourself before going out:
– Will I be drinking?
– If yes, who will be driving me home?
– Or, will I be able to sleep over?
“People tend to ignore the important factor of drinking and driving and this is why we as emergency personnel can allocate 90% of accident statistics to ‘Alcohol-Involved Accidents’ over weekends. With this article, I would like to change your way of thinking when it comes to having fun involving alcohol,” he said.
Loubser urged everyone to start by being the responsible person that sets the example. “Do not drink and drive at all, regardless whether you believe you are not over the legal limit or not,” he said.
You can still enjoy an evening out or a braai with friends by considering the following options:
– Arrange a sleepover at the location of the event
– Select a designated driver for the night
– Make use of ‘take-me-home’ services
Always take note of the following when you are going to drink:
– Keep an emergency text/dial ready in case of a sudden unpredicted event.
– Make sure you are drinking with trustworthy people and a person that can limit your drinking.
– Keep a friend or family member informed of your whereabouts.
– Keep your details available in a booklet or medical bracelet at all times.
– Fear the law
– Know and take responsibility for your actions and the risks associated with it.
With regard to quick-fix solutions for alcohol consumption, Loubser says that drinking coffee to get sober is a myth, as is taking a cold shower or drinking a litre of water. Once the alcohol is in your system your liver is going to need time to process it, and restricting yourself to only one unit per hour will give your body the time it needs to stay sober in the eyes of the law.
“Let us be responsible citizens and learn from previous tragedies and prevent them in the future.”
