Carnival | Safety on and off the road.
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Times have changed.
With all the crazy nonsense that’s going on with people’s mental in this world today, we can’t help but feel that at Carnival time these disasters can be magnified tenfold. With all the merriment and revelry, not to mention alcohol and the free feelings we really need to very vigilant.
Safety is the magic word here. With all the feathers and glitter, we can be lulled into a false feeling of invincibility and security. So with that in mind here are our tips for Carnival Safety.
1. Safety in numbers.
Play Mas with a friend or two. Or three or four.
The chances of some looney attacking a group of women are much lower than it is for one that is walking alone.
Any trips to the bathroom should be with one or more of the group. Stay with the band if you are playing and don’t go outside the ropes if you can help it. Designate a meeting place for stragglers of the group, that way if anyone gets lost you all wouldn’t have to spend half the time looking for a stray friend. Walk with limited cash, and absolutely no valuables and try to do without that 18k gold necklace and engagement ring (explain to your husband/fiancé/boyfriend that its for your safety).
And that very valuable cellphone? Why not insert the sim card into another less valuable phone, just for that day/ event. If we must travel with it, let’s keep it close and only bring it out for emergencies, shall we?
2. Know your limit.
Ladies, in case you don’t know, there are sickos out there. This can of course apply to the men as well. People just aren’t the same anymore. Blame it on the trans fat. When we are having fun and we tend to imbibe more than we should, and somehow or other we can end up paying for it dearly. The after result can be as small as grave embarrassment to as large as deep regret. I’m no statistician but it appears that women tend to be more vulnerable than men to the adverse effects of alcohol abuse, in that women can achieve higher concentrations of alcohol levels in their blood and as a result become more impaired than men after drinking the same amount of alcohol.
Take note of how many drinks you have had before you lose control completely of your faculties. Not only does it look a hot mess as a young lady exercising her up-chuck reflex but also that’s no greater sign to a looney that you have lost all self-control and judgment. Hydrate yourself frequently and head off the over drunk vibes.
Walking around glued to your cell phone while you are talking to your best friend also compromises your ability to detect as well as your response time. Be vigilant at all times.
3. Park in a well-lit area
You see that nice spot in the back yard alley? It’s vacant for a reason, – everyone else is smart enough to know not to park there. Ensure that there is security around to guard your vehicle. Of course this doesn’t guarantee anything, but it’s got to be one step up from parking in that alleyway.
4. Don’t friend like you do on Facebook
Guard your privacy.
Not everyone who speaks who looks cute is your friend. In real life, good looks don’t guarantee strength of character. Don’t give out your number to strange people. This is not to say that you have to be rude, but there are other ways of contacting that person rather than giving out your phone number to random folks, an email address for example works just well. This way if someone does turn out to be less than stellar outside the glitz and glamour that is Trinidad Carnival, then you haven’t given them a direct part to your personal life via a house or cell phone number.
5. Protect yourself
We implore all persons to make their momma’s proud and carry themselves in a proper manner.
This is a time when between the combination of the sweet soca music, unlimited alcohol, gyrating hips, and over exposed skin gets to you, then on top of that the hunger and the wigglies hit you, all of a sudden, through the rum glasses that stranger looks really ‘hot’ and you want to get it in.
This is a time we throw caution to the wind but please; if you are going to engage in sexual behaviour, please protect yourself, in whatever way you choose. AIDS is not the average STD; you can’t come back from that.
Prevention is better than waiting for a cure.
Forward ever…
.
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Very good advice, for guys too. I had a friend who went out with some friends and he met this girl who wanted to go to a hotel around the corner for a one night stand. As soon as they left the club and went around the corner, he got robbed by a dude she must have had waiting there.
Fellas, use the other head to think once in a while.
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