Tips to Staying Safe

• Carry a cell phone
• Carry a cab company phone number
• Make agreements with friends before going out about where you are going and when you will return.
• Make a signal between friends for when you feel uncomfortable
• Never remain in a place or situation that makes you feel "strange." Instincts are a natural form of defense. You have the right to leave.Meet in a public place especially on a first date.
• Remain control of your drink from the moment it is opened
• Be aware of your surroundings and avoid being isolated
• Walk with confidence, standing straight and looking forward rather than down. Act like you know where you are going.
• When asking for directions, ask a shop owner and do so in a public place
• Avoid dark, abandoned places
• Listen for footsteps. If you think you are being followed it is okay to yell or walk briskly but calmly to a well lit area. (Your personal safety should be considered before your fears of what others may think of you.)
• Avoid walking alone if you are distracted, upset, or under the influence