For many students, going to university means taking on certain responsibilities for the very first time. It’s an exciting prospect, and a very important moment in any young person’s life. However, there’re also a few things to be aware of when it comes to staying safe:
1. Stay Together
Nights out are great fun and a big part of the university lifestyle, but it’s important to respect the dangers of these situations as well.
No matter if you’re a guy or a girl, you should always try to stay with at least one of your friends. Nights out can be unpredictable, so be sure to have someone around just in case. This is most important when it comes to getting home, try to know everyone’s plans before it’s time to grab a taxi and don’t hang around in the streets for hours on end. You’re probably either going to wind up in trouble or really, really cold.
At the end of the day, if you’re all together not only are you going to be safe, but you’re going to have some of the best nights of your life, it just makes sense.
2. Know your limits
Most people are going to enjoy some drinks on a night out, and rightfully so. However, a great night out can soon become one to forget after a few too many.
Try to be aware of your limits. It doesn’t make you boring or a lightweight if you’ve decided you’ve had enough for the night, it just makes you smart. Don’t be that person sitting in the gutter at the end of the night covered in what they had for dinner. No one likes that person, they smell and are a nightmare to get home.
And remember, eating is definitely not cheating!
3. Take care of your valuables
Depending on your living situation, you might find that the contents of your room or home are easily visible. If this is the case, be sure to keep valuables, such as laptops and tablets, out of sight when you go out. It really can make all the difference.
It may also be worth investing in a lock box, just in case of emergencies. You can keep your passport, banking information and other important documents inside. It’ll do your peace of mind wonders, if nothing else.
4. Don’t be a target
Sounds obvious but it’s easy to forget when you’re out and about, having fun and being a bit care-free.
Don’t allow yourself to become an easy target. Little things like keeping only the necessary amount of cash you need on you, not leaving valuable items lying around and trying not to use your phone for extensive periods, can make a huge difference.
There’s no need to be on guard all day and night, but be aware of where you are, the situation you’re in and the unfortunate fact that not everyone is as nice as you are.
5. Protect your personal information
These days we all have to be careful when it comes to taking care of our finances and personal info online; identity theft is no joke.
Firstly, make sure you have strong passwords for things like online banking and online shopping accounts… Actually, anything that requires you to put in your personal details (including your social media accounts). They’re all sources of information that hackers would love to get a hold of.
While you’re at it, get a good security package for your computer. At a bare minimum you need to download a free virus protection and malware protection package, but it really is worth investing in the full thing. If you’re buying a new laptop you can usually get a pretty good deal on antivirus software with it.
It’s also important to take care of the financial stuff in the real world. If you’re getting rid of important documents with your personal information on them, remember to shred them first.
