Stay Safe at Social Events

I was watching last Thursday’s episode of Rookie Blue, and the story line involved a perp (like my lingo?) dosing girls with, you guessed it, Roofies. Now, for the past couple of weeks, I had this idea to put a blog post together about staying safe at school parties and other functions (football games, Homecoming, etc.) You guys are starting out a new year, and there will inevitably be a lot of back to school functions coming up.

With the episode of Rookie Blue fresh in my mind, I decided to put together some tips for staying safe at social events. Many of these involve drinking, so I'm aiming this post toward my college-aged readers. Underage drinking is illegal and I do not condone it. However, in the case that some of my under-21-aged readers might have a drink at the party, read on.

1. Sign a Contract with Your Parents

Talk to your parents about setting up a contract before you start attending parties. You can come up with an agreement about what to do if you or your friends start drinking at parties. A simple contract outlines guidelines you and your parents agree to in the event that you need to call them for a ride home. You should sit down with your parents and discuss your thoughts and feelings about what the contract should say, for both you and them.

2. Use the Buddy System

Plan to go to school events with a group of friends. Stick together and watch out for one another. Groups are less likely to be approached by predators, and can ensure that if one person is having an issue, they won't be left alone while another goes for help.

3. Designate a Driver

If you're attending a party where alcohol will be served (and you're 21, of course), designate a driver. Choose someone from your party who will stick to non-alcholic beverages throughout the event and drive everyone else home safely. You can start a pool, and alternate drivers at events throughout the year.

4. Don't Binge Drink

Again, for my college-age readers, if you're not the designated driver, be careful of how much you drink. Binge drinking can be very dangerous, and is associated with many health problems.

5. Avoid Open Drinks

Do not accept a drink from an open container, punch bowl, soda bottle, or other open container. Stick with drinks from a fresh unopened can or bottle. Open drinks are too easy for someone to spike with any number of substances.

6. Don't Accept Drink from a Stranger

Accepting a drink from a stranger can cause the same dangerous issues as accepting an open-container drink. Either choose your own drink, or have a trusted friend bring one back for you.

7. Eat Before the Event

This may sound silly considering you'll be eating snacks and munchies at the party, but make sure you eat something sustainable before you leave. Either eat dinner first, have a sandwich, a piece of fruit...something that will fill your belly before you start drinking at the party.

8. Avoid Drinking Games

Drinking games make it too easy to lose track of how much you drank. 

School events can be a lot of fun, and are a big part of the social side of school. Make sure you are safe at the events so you can enjoy them all year through.

5 Steps to Prepare Yourself for School

Image via flickr by CollegeDegrees360

It's hard to believe that school is starting already. It seems like summer just began. There are still plenty of days to soak up the sun and head to the pool or beach on the weekends, so you'll need to make sure you're organized and have a study plan set up so you can be free to enjoy the final days of summer.

But don't fret: With a few tips and tricks, you can make the transition easily, and keep the weekends free and clear.

1. Make a Plan

Grab a notebook and pen and start jotting down notes about what you'll need for the upcoming school year. Write down your classes and what you'll need for each class and how much study time you estimate needing each week per class.

Take a look around your room and determine where you'll study. Is your study space sufficient? Does it need cleaning? Do you need to stock up on study supplies? Add these items to your notes.

Go through your closet. How is your wardrobe? Do you need to replace anything or buy new clothes for school? Add them to your notes.

Determine your back-to-school budget. Write down how much you have to spend on supplies and clothes.


2. Write a Shopping List

Grab two fresh sheets of paper and write out your shopping list. You'll want to make two lists: One for supplies, and one for clothes.

Look through your notes to determine what school and study items you'll need. Add them to your supply list.

Look through your notes from your closet. Write a list for the clothes, shoes, and accessories you'll need to buy for the new school year.

Now look at your budget, and determine how to split it. If you have a long list of clothes you need to buy, you'll want to spend most of it on that list. Write down how much you can spend for clothes and shoes on your clothes list, and how much you can spend on supplies on your supply list.

3. Buy Your Supplies

Time to go shopping! Depending on what stores you like to shop at, you can do it all in one day, or plan one day for supplies and one day for clothes. Take your shopping lists with you, and check off each item as you add them to the cart. You will probably come across extra items you'll want to grab. Just be sure they fit into your budget before you buy them.

4. Get Organized

When you're done shopping, it's time to organize all of your items.

Clean off your desk and make room for your new supplies. Store them on the shelves and in the drawers of your desk. Keep everything organized so you know where to find everything. The cleaner you keep your desk, the easier it will be to study.

Clean out your closet. Remove all of the old clothes you're replacing and set them aside to take to the thrift store. Hang up your new clothes neatly, and in order. Keep outfits together, or create sections for your pants, shirts, etc. Line your shoes up on a rack or the closet floor so you can see them easily. The cleaner you keep your closet, the easier it will be to get ready in the mornings.

5. Create a Schedule

Look at your class list and the notes you wrote about study time. Use a calendar to block off specific study times for each class every day. Block off times you have other commitments, such as after-school activities and family obligations. Follow this schedule throughout the semester. It will help you get your studying and homework done on time during the week, and allow you to take the weekends off.

By planning and organizing your school year before it starts, you'll save yourself time and frustration later. Follow your plan and keep your room organized so that you will have more time to spend on the activities you love.

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