Staying Safe On a Night Out

Whether it's date night at a restaurant or grabbing drinks at a local bar, safety should always be your number one priority. Unfortunately, we live in a world where danger can lurk around every corner.

Check out some tips for staying safe on a night out: 

1. Stick Together
2. Be Aware of Your Surroundings
3. Guard Your Drink
4. Drink Responsibly 
5. Be Careful when Using Rideshare Services
6. Consider a Personal Safety App
7. Watch What You Post Online

Stick Together 

You’ve probably heard the saying that there’s strength in numbers. This is especially true when it comes to your safety. When you're alone, you're more vulnerable than if you're with a group of friends. An assailant is much more likely to attack a single target than a group of people. 

Don't be naive, though; you can still run into problems as a group.

1. Fully charge your cellphone – before you head out for the night, make sure your phone is fully charged. In case of an emergency, you’ll want to be able to call for help. It’s always a good idea to have a spare charger in your car, or better yet consider purchasing an on-the-go portable charger.
2. Let someone know where you’re going – it’s always a good idea to let your family or friends know where you’re going and when you plan to return home. 
3. Have a plan – in the event you get separated from your group, have a plan of where to meet and what to do in the event of an emergency.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

When you're out at night, it's important to be aware of your surroundings. Practicing good situational awareness is key to ensuring your night out is full of fun and not hardship. 

1. Be aware of who is around you - if someone makes you feel uncomfortable, move away, or leave the area. Trust your instincts.
2. Have an exit plan – when you arrive somewhere, take a few minutes to look around and identify possible exit routes or safe places to hide in the event of an emergency.
3. Stay in well-lit areas – avoid dark alleyways or deserted streets.
4. See something, say something – if you see anything that makes you uncomfortable, don’t be afraid to tell someone who can do something about it, such as a security guard or manager.

Guard Your Drink

While it can happen to anyone, nearly 18% of women will experience date rape at some point in their lives, 25% of which are assaulted by someone they are familiar with. Most victims of date rape unknowingly ingest drugs dissolved in their drink. 

1. Always keep an eye on your drink and never let anyone else handle it.
2. If you leave your drink unattended, make sure to get a new one directly from the bartender.
3. Hold your drink close to your body, preferably near your chest.
4. If you have an open drink, always cover the top with your hand to block someone from easily slipping drugs into it.
5. Be cautious of accepting drinks from strangers.
6. Never let someone, even if you know them, get you a drink from the bar. Go with them and watch the bartender mix your open drink or remove the top from a bottle and take it directly from them.
7. If you start to feel ill or dizzy, tell a friend or staff member and get help immediately.

Michelle, Premier Body Armor's graphic designer, says she likes to use a napkin. "I pop a napkin over my straw/drink to keep people from dropping anything in it".

Drink Responsibly

When it comes to alcohol, moderation is key. Overindulging can lead to making poor decisions, like getting behind the wheel of a car or engaging in risky behavior. 

1. Know your limits and stick to them. 
2. Don’t drink too much too fast and stay well hydrated with water.
3. Have a designated driver or transportation plan in place to ensure you arrive home safely.

Be Careful When Using Rideshare Services

Rideshare services, such as Uber and Lyft, are a great way to ensure you don’t overindulge and then get behind the wheel of a car. With a rideshare service, there is no need to find and pay for parking or worry about your car. However, it is important that you utilize caution when using rideshare or public transportation.

1. Never get into a car without knowing your driver. If you’re using a service like Uber or Lyft, you can view the driver’s information in the app before getting into the vehicle.
2. Know where you’re going before you get into the car. That way you’ll know if your driver is veering off your expected route.
3. Don't use the carpool feature, especially alone. It may save money, but will put you in a car with other people you don't know.
4. Share your trip details with a friend or family member. This is a newer feature on the apps, and it allows you to alert someone that you are in a rideshare car, and gives your location. It will also alert the person when you've arrived at your destination.
5. Ask your driver to use a route that will take you through well-lit and populated areas, even if it takes a bit longer to get there.

Once you're in the car, be aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on the driver. If you feel unsafe at any time, don't hesitate to speak up or ask to be let out of the car. Trust your gut instinct.

Consider a Personal Safety App

One of the best ways to stay safe on a night out is to consider using a personal safety app. Personal safety apps make it easy to utilize emergency services, track your location, and alert someone if anything unexpected happens. Many phones already have some sort of personal safety features, so it’s a good idea to check out what you already have before installing an additional personal safety app. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a personal safety app:

1. The app should be easy to use so that you can quickly access it if needed.
2. Look for an app that offers the features that you feel are most important. For example, some apps allow you to share your location with contacts in real time, while others provide a panic button.
3. Make sure the app you choose does not share your data without your permission.
4. Some personal safety apps have a one-time fee or subscription service so be aware.

Watch What You Post Online

It’s a lot of fun to document a great time and then share it on social media. But social media can be a dangerous place. With the ability to share in real-time with a click of a button, it’s possible to inadvertently broadcast your exact location to the world wide web, potentially putting you and your friends in danger. 

1. Consider posting pictures after you return home.
2. Avoid posting easily identifiable images or locations and never publish where you are at any given time.
3. Use privacy settings and limit your posts to only an approved group of friends.
4. Watch what you share about others. Just because you’re ok with using social media to document the evening, doesn’t mean everyone feels the same. 

Staying safe on a night out doesn't have to be hard. By following the tips in this article, you can make sure that you're looking out for yourself and your friends while having a safe and enjoyable night! 

Check out our complete safety guide to learn more tips for other everyday locations!

Written by Emily Johnson