Staying safe on a night out

We all love a good party, but it’s important to remember staying safe, especially on a night out. It might sound dull, but it’s important to ensure you’re safe so the fun times can keep rolling.

The devastating attacks upon Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa has pushed the issue of women’s safety to the forefront of public attention. But when we speak about safety on a night out, it’s safety for everyone. Men are victims of crime and violent assault too.

So, we’ve put together what we think are some key tips on keeping safe on your next night out.

Stay together

If you can, go out in groups and look out for each other. Stay together and make sure everyone gets home safe. If you do go out alone make sure someone knows where you are going and when you will be back. You can try the Parachute app which is an incredibly powerful tool that shares live location details including audio, video and location with your emergency contacts at a click of a button.

Don’t get so drunk you leave yourself vulnerable

Easier said than done in the heat of the moment, as when the drinks are flowing at the student bar getting drunk can catch you out. Do your best to stay aware, and keep in control. We say this as the best way to keep yourself safe is to be aware of your surroundings and be able to make sound decisions.

Know what is in your drink

Never accept a drink if you haven’t seen it poured, as it could have been spiked with something nasty. Leave the drink well alone if you left it unattended, for the same reason. We advise to never accept a drink from a stranger, no matter how tempting it seems. Why not try Nightcap – this is a cool little product that looks like a hairband and can be used to sit over the mouth of your drink: it’s super discreet and gives you a level of protection against spiked drinks.

Keep cash and valuables out of sight  

Only carry what you need and make sure it’s in a zipped pocket or bag. Always make sure your phone is charged before you leave. Never flash the cash.

Only use licensed taxis

That way you know they are reputable and reliable. The risks of using an unlicensed cab even though it may be quicker and cheaper, especially on a rainy night, are just not worth it. If you have it, Uber has lots of new safety features. Why not try sharing your location on the app?

Share your location

Find My Friends, Google Maps and Glympse are all powerful tools to safely share your location with your friends or family, and there are tons of options out there. Make use of location sharing, and be sure to let someone know where you are.

Don’t listen to music on your phone

If you do decide to go it alone, we strongly advise not to listen to headphones. Although it’s super tempting to keep the party going, you are not aware of your surroundings with music playing and can’t pick up if someone is coming towards you. Save the tunes for when you’re back in the safety of your own home.

By taking a few extra precautions can help keep you safe and make the most of all the opportunities to enjoy the social aspect of University, without so much of the risk.

Stay safe, look out for each other and most importantly HAVE FUN!

If you have any concerns at all or would like to know more about enjoying student life safely then get in contact: enquiries@glsh.co.uk or you can visit www.safeline.org.uk for more information.