Have a happy - and safe - new year!

While staying safe on the road must be a high priority for New Year's Eve revelers, it's certainly not the only safety issue that you may confront as you ring in 2007. However, with a little care and foresight, you can protect yourself from some of the more common New Year's risks. Follow the tips below, and your biggest challenge on New Year's Eve may be remembering all the words to "Auld Lang Syne."

Champagne Corks - You can avoid eye injuries — and broken windows — if you follow the advice of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and remember the number 45. That is, you should chill your champagne to at least 45°F, as this will make the cork less likely to pop out unexpectedly, and you should hold the bottle at a 45-degree angle, pointing it away from yourself and others. Then, after removing the wire hood, place a towel over the top of the bottle and grasp the cork. With the bottle in one hand, slowly twist the cork, applying gentle upward pressure. When you feel the cork about to pop out, reverse pressure to a slight downward tilt. If all goes well, you'll have a cork in one hand, a full bottle in the other, and no injuries in sight.

Fireworks - When it comes to explosives, follow the same rules on New Year's Eve that you would any other time of the year: Leave it to the experts. The best way to enjoy fireworks is to watch a public exhibition from a safe distance. If you feel you must light your own fireworks, make sure to follow local laws (several states, including New York and New Jersey have a total ban on private use of fireworks), check for recalls and never allow children to handle or light any kind of fireworks — including sparklers. You can find some more tips on fireworks safety here.

Crowds - On New Year's Eve 1993, 21 people were trampled to death as a celebration on cramped, rain-soaked streets in Hong Kong turned into a melee. While such incidents aren't the norm, you can avoid injuries by following the instructions of local officials and avoiding alcohol (some popular destinations, including New York's Times Square, ban alcohol on New Year's Eve). Also, remember that there's safety in numbers. When going to a large public event, plan to travel with friends and stick with them. You should also check weather forecasts and dress accordingly — and consider staying away if conditions are poor. While government officials have periodically issued warnings about terrorism threats related to New Year's Eve, they expect no such issues this year. Officials "don't see a particular threat" related to New Year's Eve, said White House homeland security advisor Frances Fragos Townsend. You can find some more safety tips from the Mayor of London (a city that attracts over 200,000 people to its annual New Year's Eve bash) here.