Medics from American Medical Response are reminding the public that as Super Bowl Sunday approaches, they should have plans to moderate and mitigate alcohol consumption.

Studies indicate that Super Bowl Sunday can be one of the worst days for motor vehicle collisions. Researchers from the University of Toronto studied U.S. crash data from 27 Super Bowl Sundays and identified three major factors contributing to an increase in car crashes after the Super Bowl:

• Fatigue due to the late hour
• Alcohol consumption during the game
• Distraction from re-playing the game in your head

“Hosts can follow a few simple steps and take basic safety precautions to ensure a safe Super Bowl Sunday,” said Ryan Wilson, operations manager at AMR Central Mississippi. “Party hosts, bartenders and servers have a responsibility to help keep drunk drivers off the road. By keeping drunk drivers off the road, you’ll possibly save a guest’s life and the lives of others.”

Wilson advises party hosts to:

• Be a responsible host – limit your own alcohol intake so you can make proper decisions for your guests
• Serve plenty of food
• Position non-alcoholic beverages such as seltzer, soda and water alongside alcoholic beverages
• Provide non-alcoholic “mocktails,” which can be a fun alternative to alcoholic beverages
• Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter (the same as some NFL stadiums) and begin serving coffee and dessert
• Arrange for designated drivers in advance of the party
• Offer ride-share services or taxis as a safe transportation option.
• Make sure everyone is buckled up – seatbelts are the best defense against impaired drivers in other vehicles.