Public Safety > Safety > Celebrate Safely

Celebrate Safely

Pay Attention to Your Surroundings When Heading Out
  • Plan your route ahead of time and make sure you know how to get back home.
  • Watch out for each other – if someone around you looks like they need help, check in with them and consider pairing up before you head out to avoid confusion later. 
    • Sticking together helps ensure no one is left behind. If you decide to leave a location with someone else, tell all your friends.
  • When you arrive at an event, make sure you make note of emergency exit locations. If you hear gunfire, shouting, screams or commotion, react immediately and get out if possible.
  • Call 9-1-1 first in an emergency. If on campus, also call Public Safety or use one of the over 50 emergency blue call towers located throughout the Lincoln Park campus.
  • Charge your phone before you go and add the Public Safety numbers to your contacts list (773-325-7777 at Lincoln Park and 312-362-8400 at the Loop).

If You’re Going to Drink, Have a Plan

  • Eat a meal and drink water before and during your night out to help mitigate the harmful side effects of alcohol.
  • Consider bringing a water bottle. Already having a drink in hand may make it easier to decline an offer from someone you don't know.
  • Don’t leave your drink unattended or accept drinks from someone you don’t know and trust. This can help to ensure you don’t consume something you didn’t intend.
  • Take note of your and your friend’s behavior and intoxication level throughout the night. If you see something is off, say something and ask for help.

Be Safe While Traveling

  • When heading home, travel in groups through well-lit and high-traffic areas. 
  • Only carry essentials when going out. Bring your ID, phone, keys, credit card and a small amount of cash. While you don’t want to get stuck somewhere without a way to get home, you don’t want to have many valuables on you.
  • Use the safety escort service at the Lincoln Park campus to travel between buildings and parking lots/garages. The service is available from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., seven days a week. Just call 773-325-SAFE (7233). Note: a mini bus may be your safety escort.
  • To travel to residential destinations just outside the boundaries of Lincoln Park, use the Vinnie Van service. Find more information at: go.depaul.edu/vinnievan​


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