Whether you're playing on a college campus, still in high school, or going to a club, partying with friends can be a great way to blow off some steam & relieve stress. That said, over indulgence can also make you a target and put you in dangerous situations. Here are some great tips to keep you safe while having a good time! Always travel with friends – mixed gender groups are great – especially if you’re LGBTQ or a combination of orientations. Make sure your head count going in & going home is consistent. If you arrive with 6 people, you leave with the same 6 people! Always choose a Designated Driver / Dragger – Semper Fi - Never leave a friend behind. This person STAYS SOBER TONIGHT to keep you all safe. Rotate who is the DD – everyone should get a chance to have fun. (Sober friends are great wingmen!) Everyone gives their consent to your DD to drag your sorry drunken ass home & out of harm’s way – no debate, no staying behind to party or hook up! When you arrive at the party, scope out the room & find someone you know – preferably someone most people would not want to challenge – to step in if you have a problem. Always stay safe when interceding in a situation that may escalate – like seeing a couple of guys escorting a drunk person upstairs or out of a club that may be a target. Make yourself aware of the surroundings – where are the exits and designate an exit strategy with a time & location for your group. Always watch your drinks – watch them being made if possible, ask the bartender to make your drink above the bar if you can’t see them doing it – if you go to a house or dorm party & the beer is in a keg or unopened bottles are available stick with that! (If the drinks are pre-made in a huge container like a lined trash can, you should be okay but it’s always best to defer to a bottle. Watch someone pour it into a clean cup with nothing else in it!) If you have to leave your drink to hit the dance floor or the bathroom, put your designated dragger / travel buddy in charge of it to make sure no one tampers with it. Go to the bathroom with a buddy too = we have heard horror stories of slipping something in someone’s drink and following them to the bathroom to scoop them up & take them off site without their friends noticing. FRIENDS DON’T LET FRIENDS HOOK UP UNDER THE INFLUENCE! Understand that in many states, being under the influence of drugs and /or alcohol NEGATES CONSENT – MEANING YOU DO NOT HAVE THE LEGAL CAPACITY TO CONSENT TO SEX !! THAT MEANS IT’S SEXUAL ASSAULT!! If you are on antibiotics, please don’t drink – it will make the anti biotics less effective. And if you are on anti biotics & BIRTH CONTROL – THE ANTI BIOTICS CAN MAKE YOUR BIRTH CONTROL INEFFECTIVE !!! YOU MUST USE CONDOMS! Don’t take any drugs you cannot identify! A lot of them can be cut with other products that can wreak havoc on your body! BONUS TIP – DEVELOP A RESCUE ME SIGNAL OR A SAFE WORD! IF YOU’RE FEELING TRAPED OR UNCOMFORTABLE, USE THE SYMBOL, LIKE PLAYING WITH A NECKLACE, SO A MEMBER OF YOUR GROUP WILL COME RUNNING! YOU CAN THEN USE YOUR SAFE WORD – “DID YOU FIND OUT IF THEY HAVE PINEAPPLE ?” AND NO ONE OUTSIDE YOUR GROUP WILL REALIZE YOU’VE SENT OUT A SIGNAL TO BE RESCUED! OUT ALONE AND NEED HELP? ASK THE BARTENDER FOR AN ANGEL SHOT ! This should send a manager to come speak with you privately to make sure you are all right. If you ask for an Angel Shot on the Rocks , the bartender will discreetly call you an Uber or cab to get you out of there! So no matter how you choose to have a good time, remember to party with friends, keep each other safe and have each other's back! And stay tuned here for more tips on staying sexy, safe & healthy!