For every 21st century teen, your mobile phone might seem like a natural extension of your hand. While it might not be appropriate around the family dinner table, there’s one place that a phone is your most important accessory: when you’re out partying.
A mobile phone is the most important thing to carry in your bag or pocket when you’re planning to go to a party. It’s integral in getting there and getting home, but will be immensely important if you find yourself in a troublesome situation.
Here are U-Nome Security’s reasons why your phone should always be a staple item at a party, and how to ensure you’re using it to it’s full potential.
- Apps: There are so many incredibly useful apps that you can use to ensure your safety at parties. Some of our favourites are:
- Thread: A personal safety app that allows users to check-in to preset deadlines or send updates to their loved ones on their whereabouts. If a preset deadline is missed, an alert is sent that immediately notifies their emergency contact of their last known location. Thread also has an in-built personal safety alarm that calls Triple 000 and notifies emergency contacts of their location in the event of an emergency. Thread can be downloaded for free on the App Store and on Android.
- Reminder apps: reminder apps can send you a notification to ensure that you send a text or call a loved one to let them know you’ve arrived safely, or that you’re on your way home. Perfect for the person who’s having fun with their friends, and might accidentally forget to call their mum!
2. Transport: Your phone has a number of apps that are important in ensuring your safety while getting to and from the party venue.Train Tracker: free from the app store, train tracker will give you a list of all the train services to and from your desired station.
- PTV Journey Planner: also free, you can plan your public transport journeys before you leave for a party, so you know exactly where you’re headed. This gives you approximate waiting times and walking directions, to get you to and from station platforms, bus shelters and tram stops.
- Taxi apps: The 13 CABS app is incredibly reliable, and you can book a credited ride home within minutes. This app asks how many people will be taking the taxi home, where your final destination is, and then gives you a countdown and map of how far away your taxi is.
3. Emergency contacts: make sure all your important numbers (parents, guardians, friends and siblings) are saved in your phone, with your emergency contact in an easily accessible place. You can use the acronym ‘ICE’ (In Case of Emergency) next to the name of someone trustworthy and reliable in your phone, so that emergency services or other people can contact the relevant people in your life in a dangerous situation.
4. Torch: Your phone has a torch on it! This can be super helpful when you need a bit of extra light late at night, or to help you see on a walk home.
5. Maps: the Maps function on our phones can be incredibly helpful in providing step by step directions on how to get from A to B. With approximate walking and driving times provided, this will help you avoid getting lost and being late!
6. Weather: The weather app can also be useful, as you can bring an umbrella or some sunscreen with you, to be prepared in rain, hail or shine.
7. Your phone is a valuable point of contact. You should always let someone know of your plans prior to going to a party, and you can message them the address or location via text. Your phone can be used to keep track of your friends throughout the night, and to ensure they also get home safely. Most importantly, your phone can be used to dial triple 000 in the case of an emergency. All phones can perform this function on the lock screen, regardless as to whether the phone is locked by a pin. Emergency services are always just a phone call away, 24 hours of the day.
Other important things to bring with on a night out include your ID (never ever leave this at home!), enough cash in small denominations to pay for a taxi, your debit or credit card, and maybe even some band-aids for when your shoes start hurting.
It’s best to carry around a small purse or bag, rather than a backpack or larger bag, so that you can carry it around easily at events. If you’re just using the pockets of your jeans, make sure everything is in them securely so you don’t lose your belongings or have things stolen.
Go forth, have fun, but most of all, be safe. Do what feels right for you, and don’t let anyone pressure you into situations you don’t feel comfortable with. Judge the dangers in a situation before you commit, and ensure that your friends are safe too. For every night out, your safety is your number one priority. Your safety is U-Nome’s number one priority too! You can find more information on our security services on our website.
