Written by Kara Rhian Pugh (Swansea Student) & Georgia Hathaway (Cardiff Student)

Going out in new places can be a daunting experience for even the biggest party animal. You might be having the time of your life but it can all be ruined if you don’t stay safe. So to have a great night out and be aware of the dangers, just remember these helpful tips:

Travelling Safely

Travel in groups - Always make sure you go out (and come home!) in groups. Students travelling home alone are prime targets for robbery and sexual assault. Always stay on well-lit paths and don’t walk in unfamiliar areas. Girls, it might be worth stuffing some cheap flip-flops or pumps in your bag to change into if you plan on walking home from a might in those killer heels. Some clubs even have vending machines which stock shoes that you can roll up into your bag. Check out: http://www.rollasole.com/uk/shop.php

Travelling by taxi or bus? - Never get into an unlicensed cab on your own. When arranging a journey make sure you use a licensed private hire vehicle or organised bus. It is advisable to arrange a fare with the operator at the time of booking and ask the length of wait. Some companies also offer a ring or a text-back service.

Set aside travelling money - Make sure you put enough money aside for the taxi into town and to go home. Keep it separate from your wallet or purse so you don't accidentally spend it in town and so you'll always have something even if you lose your purse/wallet!

Drinking Safely

Playing Safe: Everyone reacts differently to alcohol. Your height, weight and gender are just some of the factors that play a part in how alcohol can affect you. If you want to enjoy a drink and stay safe, your best bet is to stick to the government recommended guidelines. You can find them here at: http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/features/health/how-much-is-too-much

Drink - Spiking

Drink-Spiking  - This is when mind-altering substances, such as drugs or alcohol are added to your drink without your knowledge. Remember - anyone can be affected by drink-spikes.

Keep control of your drink - According to the Home Office, there are nearly 12,000 reported cases of drinks being spiked. http://www.drinkspikedetector.com/statistics.html. Don’t let yourself become another statistic and make sure you watch your drink all night.

Prevention - If someone offers to buy you a drink, make sure you witness them buying it and giving it to you, even if you know who they are. Bottles are alse safer than glasses. You can cover the lid on bottles or use bottle stoppers to prevent any potential spiking called "Spikey’s". They can be purchased at http://www.spikey.co.uk/Spikey-Order.asp Certain drugs can also be less visible in certain colours. Blue is the most notorious of these so take extra care and avoid those sugary blue alcopops if you can!

Stay by your drink - A common mistake students make when going on the dance floor or outside to smoke is to leave their drink unattended. This could allow other people to spike your drink and return it without you even noticing.

Protect Your Valuables

Protect your mobile phone and wallet: Try to keep your phone on you and don’t keep it in your back pocket. Girls, try and put it in the inner pockets of your handbag so that it’s out of sight. Dropping it, losing it or getting it stolen is sadly extremely common and so the best protection you can get is decent mobile phone insurance. Remember to claim straight away as several policies have a 48hr only claim period and get one that includes any excessive call charges too!. As for purses and wallets, only take the money and cards you absolutely need and keep it on you at all times. Ideally, leave the bank cards somewhere safe at home and just take the cash and I.D you'll need.

Protect your handbag - Try to wear a bag with a strap if you can, ones you can wear across your body are ideal. If you can’t resist the clutch bag, always hold it firmly or on a wrist strap. Wedge it under your arm when dancing and ask a reliable friend to take care of it if really necessary.

Fighting

Don’t get baited into fights - If someone is looking for trouble then walk away. If someone you know is in a fight, it can be tempting to jump in and protect them but this could just make matters worse. Even if you are involved in a fight, apologise, back away and find the nearest security staff or police. Don’t let fighting ruin your night.

If you take these tips into consideration, then you can have a fun and safe night out at university. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!