The Effingham County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help to make sure guns won't be fired off as part of New Year's Eve festivities.

Firing a gun in the air for any reason can have deadly consequences, the ECSO warns. The projectile that goes into the air must come down. Sometimes bullets will come down at a speed that can penetrate buildings and the human skull. Through the years, there have been several accidents as a result.

The sheriff's office wants celebratory gunfire to stop.

"This year for us with the new year season coming around, usually everyone likes to party and have a little get together and cook out. A lot of times, that does involve alcohol and guns. We just want to stress to the public that does not mix," said Effingham County Sheriff's Office spokesman David Ehsanipoor.

ECSO also will have increased patrols out over the holiday weekend in order to crack down on drunk driving.