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New Year’s Eve is known for having more alcohol-related car crashes than any other night of the year.
Fireworks injuries also rise dramatically on this night, thought that trend might be tempered in Southern California this year due to rain.
Doctors who’ve seen it all say you can avoid an emergency room visit with a little planning.
The last day of 2025 at Dignity Health California Hospital Medical Center in downtown Los Angeles. And the emergency department is already filled.
From 10pm through 4am, Emergency Medicine physician Dr. Joshua Partnow predicts the ER will be five times busier.
“So we’re going to see a lot of fractures tonight. A lot of lacerations. We’ll see intoxication with alcohol or drug poisoning. We are going to see folks that are hit by cars. People that are drinking and driving are getting into automobile accidents. We see major fireworks injuries. And it’s mainly to the face and to their hands,” he said.
Besides the onslaught of heart attacks, strokes and injuries. On New Year’s Eve, doctors said they also see a lot of psychiatric illnesses.
“If you’re feeling sad or hopeless or helpless, reach out to your loved ones or a healthcare professional. We’re always here to help out as well. During the holidays we will see a huge spike.
Partnow has witnessed far too many tragedies and offers this advice.
“Avoid excessive use of alcohol, avoid drugs obviously. Being off the road is best, if you’re on the road you want to make sure you’re sober you have to anticipate that other folks around you may not be sober,” he said.
The ER is the one place you don’t want to be on New Year’s Eve. Doctors say a little planning now can help you avoid a lot of pain in the new year.
“The major, major focus in life is preventing injuries by just taking care of yourself and being aware of your surroundings,” Partnow said.
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