College is often depicted as a time when students stretch their boundaries, form new social groups, and enjoy their newfound freedom as adults. This often means attending parties.
But these depictions of carefree nights out often minimize the risks involved with college partying. If you’re not careful, you can put your physical and mental health in danger when you go out.
To avoid risky situations, consider using the following tips to create safety plans for yourself and your friends before leaving home.
Take Narcan with you!!!!
- Contact Gauchos for Recovery Program (adp.sa.ucsb.edu/gfr)
- It is free and anonymous
- Takes 3 min to be trained
- It could save someone's life
Eat Food and Drink Water Before You Go Out
Take time to eat food and drink lots of water before you go out. This will help mitigate the negative side effects of alcohol if you decide to have some drinks.
Use the Buddy System
Sticking together helps ensure no one is left behind and that everyone has a safe way home. Pair up before you go to avoid confusion later.
Make Sure Your Phone Is Charged
Keep your phone fully charged and add the campus safety phone number to your contacts list. If you need to make an emergency call, your phone will be charged and you can quickly call for help.
Don’t Leave Your Drinks Unattended
Many date rape drugs are odorless, colorless, and tasteless. If you leave your drink unattended, someone could slip something into it and you might not be able to tell. The best way to make sure you don’t ingest a foreign substance is to keep your drink close at hand.
Don’t Accept Drinks From Someone You Don’t Trust
Don’t accept a drink from someone you don’t trust — especially if it’s in an open container. Consider bringing a water bottle to the party. Showing that you already have a drink may make it easier to decline an offer from someone you don’t know.
Carry the Essentials With You
If you’re going out, make sure to bring your ID, your phone, your keys, and any cash or credit cards that will fit snugly in a pocket. You don’t want to get stuck somewhere without the money needed to get home or a way to contact help.
Know Your Limits
Make sure you know your limits before you go out. It doesn’t take much to register above the legal limit on a blood alcohol test if you’re driving. And it’s essential to know how many drinks are too many so you can avoid putting yourself in an unsafe situation.
Be Aware Of Your Surroundings
If you’re going to an unfamiliar area, take time to check it out before you go. Look for various routes to get to the destination, and make sure you know how to get back home. Many campuses have blue safety lights installed throughout campus, so be mindful of their locations before going out.
Don’t Give In to Peer Pressure
A good way to stay safe is to stop and think about what you’re doing or what you’re being asked to do, and make sure that those actions align with your core values. If not, don’t be persuaded by others. Don’t be afraid to firmly say no if something is making you feel uncomfortable.
Don’t Walk By Yourself After Dark
Avoid placing yourself in a compromising positions by sticking close to your trusted friends. If needed while on campus, call the campus SSP's (Student Safety Partners) for an escort 805-893-2000.
Don’t Leave With Someone You Don’t Trust
It’s a good habit to leave a party with the same people you arrived with — this ensures that no one gets left behind.
Use Uber or Lyft to Get Home
If you get separated from your friends and can’t contact them, leave them a message and then call for an Uber or Lyft ride home. This may be safer than accepting a ride from someone you don’t know well.
