Issue 145

Stay safe and have some fun!

25th September 2006

Waterfront wants you to have a great time now that you've finally arrived in Swansea, so here's Charlie Duff to give out some of our top tips on staying safe, keeping hold of your stuff and avoiding the dreaded fresher's flu...

So you've arrived! Awesome, Swansea's the best, and we want you to love it here as much as we do. So we wouldn't want something bad to happen to you to destroy your positive experience, so here it is; Waterfront's guide to staying safe, here in Swansea. Swansea isn't by any means a dangerous or unsafe town, but new students are often leaving home for the first time, and taking a few simple precautions can save you hassle and allimportant beer money, as well as helping make your time here thoroughly excellent, as it should be.

Out on the town

The first thing you need to do is get a couple of your flatmates together and head out during the day to have a really good explore. Once you've walked about the town and campus a bit, and sussed out where the watering holes and clubs are, you'll be much better equipped to find everything when you leave in the dark for a big night out. Fresher's Week is packed with opportunities to meet people and socialise, but remember being lost as well as drunk makes you a target. Never walk in the dark on your own - you're definitely worth the price of a taxi, and even then, travelling with others is advisable. Always make sure it's a registered taxi - and prebook one if you can. Personal alarms will be available at Fresher's Fayre.

While you're out there drinking, look after yourself and your new-found friends. Make sure no one leaves their belongings or drinks unattended, and if you think your drink tastes strange or has been topped up, don't drink it, but do tell a member of staff. At Fresher's Fayre, you can pick up some anti spiking devices for bottles. Also, have some sense and be careful about how much you drink. The only thing worse than a mega hangover is a mega hangover when you find you've had your money/Ipod/phone/whatever else seemed a good idea to take out at the time stolen. Before you go out, hide away a bit of cash for an emergency taxi somewhere separate to your wallet. Ideally, use the cash machine during the day, but if you do need to use one at night, always take someone with you, cover your PIN, don't take out more than necessary and don't use a machine that looks modified or damaged. Also, don't let someone else take out cash for you, no matter who they are.

Love your gadgets

Students on the whole have a good deal of expensive stuff worth nicking - stereos, laptops, bikes, cameras and a whole host of other gadgets we love to spend money on. Be sensible and don't leave anything in your window. If you leave your room, close the window and lock your door, and if you can get your parents to ask for a quote from their household insurers to insure you at uni it might work out cheaper than taking out a separate policy - but you need insurance, so sort it out.

When out with your Ipod (by the way, those white earphones are a dead giveaway) or new phone, don't wear it like a badge, or wave it around like a magic wand, just in case the mugging fairy comes your way.

Use a special UV pen, available at Fresher's Fayre, to mark your valuables, and make a note of make, model and serial numbers to help police recover anything - just in case.

Getting some?

Regarding those of you hoping to ‘get lucky', please protect yourself and your chosen partner and use a condom. Being drunk isn't an excuse (if you're sober enough to manage it, you're certainly sober enough to put on aforementioned ‘plastic mac'), and anyone who flat refuses isn't worth it.

Beat the hangover!

Don't drink too much.

Can't manage that? Make sure that before you start drinking, you've had a decent meal, plus something to line the stomach, like a glass of milk.

When you get home, drink at least one pint of water or fruit juice and water.

Take an aspirin or ibuprofen before sleeping. Get plenty of sleep too.

Next day, continue drinking water. Hangovers are mostly dehydration.

Feeling queasy? Try an antacid tablet, or sip warm water with a squeeze of lemon. Another remedy for nausea is cola.

Avoiding fresher's flu

Damn that fresher's flu! When you get lots of people converging on one area from lots of different places, you're bound to get a few nasty viruses bouncing around. Your best bet is to make sure that your immune system's in tip top condition so you can fight off the bugs as quickly as possible. Top natural remedy for getting your immune system into shape is Echinacea, available in supermarkets and health food shops. Also take a multivitamin, and brush up on your cooking skills and eat healthily. Taking a break from alcohol by not drinking every night is probably a good idea too!

Most of this is common sense, but in the whirlwind of a life changing experience such as going to university, it's easy to forget simple things you'd normally do. Try to keep your wits about you, and don't take unnecessary risks. Have a seriously fun Fresher's Week, but make it a safe one too.

Charlie Duff