It's Friday night, and you just got paid.
Your friends have talked you into going to the club to celebrate with them.
You're excited and it's the first time you've gone to a club.
But before you put your heels on, please schedule a date with Mr.
Club Safety.
Eat a full meal before leaving.
It's so easy to say "Oh, I'll eat on the way or I'll eat when I get there.
" But you shouldn't leave your safety to chance.
By eating a full meal before you leave, you're playing it smart especially if you plan on drinking at the club.
Try to eat 30 minutes to an hour before leaving for the club.
Food slows the absorption of alcohol.
Drinking on an empty stomach is a recipe for disaster.
Even if you have a designated driver in your group, you still must look out for you.
No one is going to look our for your best interests better than you are.
Don't leave home without a working cellphone.
If you phone is not 100% functional, then please get another phone to take with you.
There are many prepaid cellphones on the market that can use temporarily until you get your cellphone back to working.
When you go out to the club, only go with trusted friends.
Trusted means someone who is responsible and someone you have known a long time.
This would not be a person who you just met or a friend of a friend.
Make sure the people you hang out with have your best interests in mind.
Make sure these people will not put you in jeopardy.
Even if you have trusted friends.
Please don't rely your friends to get you home.
What happens if a friend decides to leave the club with someone else? How will you get home? Well, hitchiking is sure out of the question.
Did you know that many women have been raped and killed after leaving the club because they caught a ride with the wrong person? Please don't leave yourself vulnerable.
It's not worth the risk.
If you have a car, drive yourself to the club.
If you don't have a car, then keep money for car fare on you at all times.
Make this money non-negotiable.
Don't spend that money on drinks, food, and don't lend it to anyone else.
It would also be a good idea to have the numbers of three reputable taxi cab companies programmed into your cellphone.
Also if you have all night bus service in your city try to keep a bus schedule in your purse.
Most of all, keep a number of a close friend or relative with you at all time, in the event that Plan A,B, and C all fall through.
Above all else, if you put down your drink, please don't pick it back up.
Order another drink.
It takes only seconds for someone to drug your drink.
It's not worth it.
You could end up in a comprising position being taken advantage of by questionable people.
Also, I don't believe in "babysitting drinks" either.
Lets say you run to the ladies room and you ask your friend to watch your drink.
While you are gone, a cute guy asks your friend to dance.
She gets up and dances with him completely forgetting about your drink.
Meanwhile a shady character, who has been watching you all night long, slips something in your drink.
Then what? I let you in on a secret.
I love to party, but I'm not really a drinker, so I whisper in the Bartender's ear to keep me filled up with ginger ale.
This way I still fit in without compromising myself.
People who don't drink at all are even more susceptible to becoming intoxicated with smaller amounts alcohol than people who drink regularly.
Last but not least, please check the club out before you go there.
Do they have a reputation for drugs or shootings? If so, find somewhere else to go.
Also make sure the club isn't overly crowded.
You should have room to move around comfortably.
Most cities have strict rules for how many people are allowed in the building at one time.
Make sure the club you party at observes these rules.
If you get to the club and it's too many people, just leave.
Is there only one way in and one way out? If this is the case, leave the club.
Money talks, and there are some club owners who will squeeze more people into the club in order increase revenue.
If a fire breaks out, how will you escape if the club is overcrowded? Look at the ceiling does the establishment have sprinklers? Ask yourself these questions because there are many cases where people have died while trying to flee a club that is on fire.
It's Friday night, and you just got paid.
Your friends have talked you into going to the club to celebrate.
You're excited, but Smart.
It's the first time you've gone to a club, but you know Safety comes first and you're ready.
You've eaten a full meal, you're going with trusted friends, you've worked out your transportation to and from the club, you're not going to let anyone baby sit your drink, and you've checked out the place beforehand to ensure it's a safe place to party.
So put your heels on and go have a good time and save a dance for Mr.
Club Safety.
Chan discusses a wide variety of enjoyable topics on her New Variety Show, ChanWebTV.