Matrics celebrating must keep personal safety top of mind

Local teenagers will start celebrating the end of their academic year by partying locally or travelling to one of the local hotspots.

The Fidelity Services Group called for these festivities to be done safely and responsibly.

Charnel Hattingh, the group head of marketing and communications, says that while safety is a priority for event organisers at many of these events, all who attend should take responsibility for their safety.

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She offers these safety tips for Grade 12 learners who will celebrate away from home in a possibly unfamiliar area:

• If driving, consider installing a tracking app like Secure Drive, where your location is updated on mobile applications every two seconds, providing real-time live tracking. Knowing exactly where you are means accident alerts can be received in real-time, resulting in faster emergency dispatches when every second counts.

• Theft alerts or panic button activations will save lives when response units get dispatched without delay.

• Before leaving your accommodation for the day or night, ensure that anything valuable is locked away in a drawer or safe.

• Never carry large amounts of cash or wear flashy or expensive jewellery when going out.

• If your accommodation is a holiday house or flat, ensure all the doors are locked, the windows are properly closed, and the alarm is activated if installed.

• When out at events and activities, be aware of your surroundings and arrange with your friends to watch each other and your belongings.

• If a suspicious individual approaches you, walk away and report it to the closest security or the police.

• Do not accept drinks from strangers or leave your drinks unattended. Spiking drinks is still rife.

• If you leave where you are staying, tell someone where you are going and the time you expect to return. Save their number to your cellphone or memorise the details of the person to be contacted in the event of an emergency and save them as one of your ICE (in case of emergency) contacts.

Returning to your accommodation:

• Never leave without your friends.

• Do not accept a lift from a stranger. Use transport provided by the event organisers.

• Driving after a few drinks is never an option. Call a cab or use event shuttles if they are available.

• Consider appointing a designated driver or someone who agrees not to drink as responsible for getting everyone home safely.

Hattingh urges parents and caregivers to talk to their kids about these safety tips to help prepare them.

“The reality is that matrics will be partying, and they have earned the chance to blow off some steam. Let us encourage them to do it as responsibly as possible. It could be worth speaking to your security provider about personal safety apps available and services such as meet-and-greets to ensure peace of mind,” she concludes.

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