<p>^To add to “if you feel like you are going to die, go to the hospital,” if one of your friends looks like they’re going to die, get them help immediately. So many people get scared that they’ll get in trouble for drinking that they don’t act when someone becomes seriously ill.</p>
<p>Last year one of my roommate’s friends got seriously sloppy drunk pregaming to go to the club, and it was so bad that they didn’t let her in the club and one of the guys with them had to carry her home. She was supposed to be holding onto his shoulders so that she didn’t fall off his back and she passed out and fell backwards, and he ended up having to call an ambulance because her head split open and she needed staples. My roommate’s response was, “she was so lucky she was with that guy, I would have been too afraid to admit what we were doing to call the police!” Seriously. Don’t be an idiot like that. And don’t be the idiot that got that drunk in the first place, either.</p>
<p>Actually, a standard 1.5 oz. shot of 80 proof is considered a drink. The problem is that there are different types of shot glasses and people fill up the glasses different ways, so sometimes you’re getting more/less than 1 drink.</p>
<p>Don’t go in with assumptions…but do go in with precautions. Be open minded. I ended up loving being a part of Greek life at my school, but I also know the Greek system often harbors sexual assault and over drinking, and so I protect myself so that I can have fun without being in danger. Also, don’t do something because of a fear of what people will think…don’t go home with a guy because you’re afraid he won’t like you if you don’t, and if you do want to go home with him, don’t not because you’re afraid people will think you’re a slut.</p>
<p>crs-
my bad, I meant 151. Everclear is 2.5. just be aware of the proof. taking a straight shot of everclear also isn’t the best idea in the world. but flaming shots are pretty sweet.</p>
<p>Carry a form of protection with you at all times–like pepper spray (which is oddly enough illegal in my state)</p>
<p>The best weapon, in my opinion, is to carry wasp spray though. (The type that kills wasp–and is available at stores like Home Depot or Lowes.)</p>
<p>I got this tip from one of those survival shows on Discovery Channel.
It’s better than pepper spray for three reasons:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Some weirdos are actually immune to pepper spray. It won’t bother them. Where as it’s unlikely many are immune to being sprayed in the eyes with wasp spray. </p></li>
<li><p>Because wasp spray is obviously originally intended for wasp, it can be fired at very long distances–so you don’t need to be physically close to your attacker. Where as pepper spray only goes a few feet. </p></li>
<li><p>Pepper spray can be cleared from the eyes with just water. Wasp spray will literally blind the attacker and the only cure for it must be obtained from the hospital. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>I carry both in my purse. </p>
<p>(Disclaimer: I got all of the above information from the aforementioned “expert” survival guide from the Doscovery Channel. So I can’t attest to how much truth is in it.)</p>
<p>The bug spray sounds like a great idea. Mace and pepper sprays are not legal everywhere as you mentioned Plattsburgh, and they are not available at the local Target store either.</p>
<p>You really need to know what you are doing to carry pepper spray, too. In an emergency, crisis, someone is attacking you kind of situation you need to be level headed enough to know when it is safe to attempt to use pepper spray and when it is not. I carry some but only after taking a course on how to use it safely. You can’t just follow all the common knowledge safety rules and carry pepper spray just in case and call yourself safe, you have to know how and when to use it or it can put you in even more danger. A police officer at my orientation actually told us not to carry it unless we knew what we were doing and said he’d prefer we learned other methods of self defense.</p>
<p>MDMom: I don’t know about Target, but my pepper spray came from Meijer, which is pretty much a midwestern Target.</p>