It’s not holiday season if you aren’t out partying practically every night, drinking and dancing to your heart’s content, and then crawling back home in the wee hours of the morning. But aside from all the fun that could be had this season, keeping oneself safe is important too. The last few years many unpleasant incidents surfaced during New Year’s eve when women were molested in the crowds gathered at Juhu beach and Gateway of India. As a result, this year the Mumbai police has deployed squads of plainclothes women personnel amongst crowds to deter molestation or misbehaviour with women revellers. On the other hand, there is no such as playing too safe and here’s what women party-goers could do this season to party in safety.
Get your own drinks from the bar: This is a great time for new hook-ups. But still, for safety’s sake, if the tall, dark and handsome stranger you danced with gets you a drink or sends a drink to your table, decline it politely but firmly. He may be nice, but 15 minutes with a person is too early to judge and you may wnat to play safe in case somebody slips something in your drink. You could probably say that you don’t drink this particular one and offer to buy your own drink. Drink light so that you are not too intoxicated by the end of the party and somebody else has to be responsible for you. It goes without saying that if you are driving, then don’t drink at all.
Do not go alone to basement parking lots: This one is a no-brainer. Empty, echoing parking lots at night are scary enough on their own without the thought of a possible molestor/attacker lurking behind cars. If you have brought your car along for the night, take a couple of people along with you when returning to your car. Check your car before you get in to see if there is somebody hiding at the back.
Call for an all-woman cab: If you are cabbing it up back home, better go for a cab pool with two or three people and even then play it safe and opt for a cab with a woman driver. There are a number of cab services like Ola Cabs that offer women drivers today. What’s more, another cab service called Viira offers women-only cabs where the drivers are trained in kung fu and armed with knives and pepper sprays. Avoid cabs that do not allow prior booking as this means you will be waiting for atleast half an hour or 45 minutes outside your party venue while others leave. That’s unsafe.
Arm yourself: Keep a pepper spray or even pressurised deodarant in a can comes in handy for a quick getaway. Avoid knives however, as it leads to complications. But arm yourself with a sharp object like a screw driver or a chisel.
Cell phone? Check. Make sure your cellphone battery is fully charged and your phone has adequate calling balance in case of emergencies. Download a mobile app for personal safety. Some of the newer apps can be set off even by a scream or a vigourous shake and will sound alarm to your list of emergency call numbers with GPS transmission of location. For a list of apps you could use, click here.
Secure elevators: If you are riding an elevator alone with another man, then stand close to the door and the emergency bell. If you have a bad feeling about someone who is riding the elevator with you, then press the button for the immediate next floor and get out, even if that is not your destination. In the meantime, throw the person momentarily off guard by turning to him directly, looking him in the eye and asking him a mundane question like wanting to know the time or whether bus number 305 goes to Chinchipokhli. It will momentarily take his mind off whatever he planned to do.
At the end of your cab ride: Let your building guard know beforehand that you will be late so he can keep awake and you dont have to stand in street late at night waiting until the gate is unlocked. Keep your apartment keys handy before you get off the vehicle so you don’t have fumble around in the darkness outside your door. These are potential danger situations in case an attacker is lurking nearby. Also make sure you are not the last person the cab drop and if possible get a male companion to accompany you upto your door.
Image Courtesy: Thinkstock, BCCL
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