ESS Global Corp would like to take a moment and wish all our employees, associates, clients and good friends a happy (and safe) 2022.
Happy New Year! (and Safety Tips)- From ESS Global
And with that thought, and our concentration on safety, here are 5 important tips to keep you safe when celebrating the New Year (or any other party or event for that matter).
Transportation
Don’t drink and drive. Unless you’re hosting the party, you’ll most likely be heading to a friend’s home or a venue such as a club or bar to celebrate the end of the year. The Golden Rule. Don’t be afraid to ask to spend the night. A rough night’s sleep on a sofa is far better than a DUI, or worse, a needless accident.
If sleeping away from home isn’t an option, you must plan ahead and assign a designated (and sober) driver. Also, write down the numbers of a few local cab companies and keep that information on you all night. Alternatively, Uber and Lyft will likely have surge pricing on New Year’s Eve, but they are well worth it to get yourself (and your loved ones) home safely.
- The later it gets in the evening, the higher incidence of drunk driving related accidents.
- If you do elect to drive home, let someone know you are heading home, and keep them posted when you arrive home safely.
- Never drink and drive.
- If in doubt about your own ability to drive, have a sober friend take you home, or take other safe means of transportation home (Taxi, Uber, Lyft).
- Drive extra carefully when heading home and leave extra space between you and other cars just to be safe.
There’s simply no excuse for drinking and getting behind the wheel, so make sure you’ve got a plan in place well before the festivities begin.
Keep Your Phone Fully Charged
Stay in contact with family and friends. New Year’s Eve is not the night to ignore phone call and messages either. Nor is it the night to rely on the kindness of total strangers. Alcohol impairs judgement and that goes beyond driving. Be aware of your surroundings. Do not leave drinks unattended. Speaking of drinks, it’s a good night to reacquaint yourself with something called water. Keeps you hydrated.
And bring a cell phone charger.
It’s Good to Have a Plan – It’s Better to Have a Back-Up Plan – Best to be Prepared
The best laid plans can suddenly go awry. Things can take an unexpected turn. Have a back-up plan just in case. And if you do not feel safe, for any reason, leave. If something feels off or unsafe, leave. What if someone in your group wants a stranger to drive them home? What if your designated driver has to leave due to an unforeseen emergency? What if you get separated from your group? There is safety in numbers. Try your best not to get separated. And have a back-up plan.
Safety in Numbers
Everything is better with friends anyway, so make sure you suddenly don’t find yourself alone on New Year’s Eve, or more likely New Year’s Day. A good portion of the population will be drinking, and therefore the streets are inherently more dangerous. Traveling in a group can help ensure that nothing bad happens to you or those you care about. In addition, always know where you’re going. Some parties, especially on New Year’s Eve, tend to “drift” to another location. Know where you are and where you are going. Use a map application on your smartphone or plan your night ahead of time to ensure that you’re spending the least amount of time possible walking outside. Above all, go with your gut. If a home or a street or a venue or a bar, or anything else feels unsafe, leave.
Public Events
When attending public events, beware of your surroundings at all times. This is extremely important since you may be drinking around people you don’t know, who are drinking as much or even more than you, in a place you may have never been to. And keep a sharp eye on your drink! Also, when at public events make sure you have a fully charged cell phone. Be prepared!
Lastly, a word about fireworks. Tonight, let the experts do that. We are all adults. Getting drunk and watching professional fireworks is OK. Getting drunk and having something explode in your hand or face, is not OK. And Firearms? Please don’t be the idiot who is arrested for firing a weapon into the air.
You’ve seen the post on Facebook: A friend at the airport, pictures of the departure board. She posts a selfie, all excited for a family reunion over the holidays with the text, “Heading off for Thanksgiving! See you next week!”
We get it. You are having a blast and you want the world to know it, but you will settle for your friends and family and post away on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and more…. but here at ESS Global, we strongly suggest against sharing your activity outside your home in real time.
If you use mobile apps that include location sharing features, such as Facebook, get to know the privacy features and use them. Make sure your phone isn’t syncing up with other social networks that aren’t as private. If they do, you might be broadcasting your location to people you don’t even know.
So perhaps you have decided a blog is a better way to go. You can use a different name and have some anonymity. But maybe you post the same image in a different post on Twitter….or Facebook.
Even if your profiles are private, you still need to be careful about what you post. Not every person on your friends list is someone you can necessarily trust, especially if you “friend” people who you don’t know in real life.
What is Executive Protection and how does it differ from hiring a bodyguard?
Traffic
Executive Protection Specialists that are responsible for the safety and security of VIPs, corporate executives, politicians, celebrities and others are facing new challenges. These challenges are created by a shift in how these principals are viewed by society at large. Now, in the age of social media, VIPs can face near instant criticism and scorn for what others may deem a controversial position or statement, and in mere minutes, that criticism can reach hundreds of thousands of people. With a negative message getting vaulted into cyberspace, a principal can be confronted with a serious risk from lone activists and fringe groups who are determined to use extreme means to make an example of corporations, political beliefs, or celebrities which they suddenly perceive in a negative light.
The first step in hiring an Executive Protection Firm is a Risk Assessment. This assessment process gauges the Threat/Vulnerability/Risk issues, factoring in such priorities as the type of industry that the principal is in, the notoriety, and the opposition groups/people they may encounter. This is a time-intensive and in-depth process that should be managed by a professional with experience in VIP risk assessment. Very often, an outside consultation firm like ESS Global Corp, is the best option for managing this process. ESS will give you an objective assessment of the most pertinent issues that your Executive Protection program will need to focus on.
When it comes to your security and the safety of your family, never accept “security” that compromises your protection by putting you in the hands of untrained personnel. Our close protection personnel are ideal for executives, executive teams, celebrities, athletes, politicians, musicians, dignitaries, and other individuals and families that need protection for an event, a venue, travel, a meeting, or 24/7, to protect privacy, family, careers and overall safety and well-being.
