College is an exciting time in a young adult’s life because it’s the first time they really get a taste of independence. Taking thousands of 18 year olds and throwing them together with no parents seems like a recipe for disaster, and can lead to some crazy memories. College parties are always reckless, crazy, and exciting for basically everyone who attends, but this also can add to the disaster waiting to occur. With all the excitement and intoxication at parties, it becomes much easier to take advantage of girls. According to oneinfour.org, one in every four women admit to surviving rape or attempted rape. Learning how to defend yourself in these types of situations could save yours or someone else’s life.

Before you even leave for the night

• Always have a group of people with you that you trust. Never leave for a party alone, a buddy is important to have because it’s someone who can keep an eye on you and make sure you’re safe.
• Always make sure there’s someone in your group that is going to be the ‘babysitter’ for the night and will keep all the group in check. Making these plans before the night even starts is so easy and can help immensely.

While at a college party,

• Never leave your drink alone or with someone you don’t trust implicitly. If you aren’t sure if a drink belongs to you or not, always get yourself a new one. Don’t have anyone else get you a drink or make you a drink.
• Never go to the bathroom alone. The bathroom can be a very unsafe place because it’s secluded and you can easy be trapped with someone you don’t want to be in there with.

End of the night

• Keep your buddy with you from the beginning. Otherwise, both of you are left alone and that makes situations much more dangerous.
• Walk on busier roads and sidewalks to avoid being alone at night. The people around you are witnesses to anything that might happen to you and may help you if anything may happen.
• If you ever get yourself in a situation where you feel unsafe, walk with your keys between your finger because that will do more damage than just your fist. There’s also a lot of websites that sell keychains to help fight off predators.

College can be the most fun you have in your life. You get the independence young adults have always wanted, but taking care of yourself is your number one priority. Being safe and smart in college is equally important as having fun and letting loose.