Homecoming is the time of year where Cyclone pride is unleashed. From the great food on campus and the pep rally to the tailgating and football game, traditions will continue to be celebrated.

There are 4,356 new freshmen and 1,622 transfer students enrolled for the school year, according the ISU Fact Book. That being said, there are many students eager to experience their first Homecoming at Iowa State. Even though the other portion of the enrollment has already enjoyed the annual events, it is important that everyone has a fun and safe weekend.

Before heading out of your dorm or apartment, locking the door behind you will keep yourself and your belongings safe. It may seem like common sense, or possibly unnecessary to some people, but crimes happen everywhere; including college campuses. Coming home after a late night out shouldn’t entail you finding your room destroyed or valuables missing. You might feel grateful that you locked your door when you can arrive home and sleep comfortably in your own bed.

If you are leaving your place for the night, it is a good idea to be with a friend when you go to where you are headed. Whether you are going through a safe neighborhood or not, this is always a good idea. Walking alone, during the day or at night, leaves you more vulnerable to being harmed and easier to approach by strangers. If you are walking with a friend or larger group of people, the chances of you being in danger is less likely.

It is strongly encouraged that you always walk with a friend. If you decide to leave your room or a party and choose to not walk with a friend or a group of people, it is a good idea to tell your roommate or other friends where you are going and when you will be expected to return. When you arrive to your destination you can send a quick text to let someone know that you arrived safely.

A few ways to stay safe while walking alone are keeping your keys handy at all times; this will avoid rummaging through your belongings and distracting you from your surroundings. Always walk with confidence by keeping your head up, having a steady pace and walking facing traffic to keep yourself visible and don’t be afraid to make eye contact with those who pass you. Dark alleys, parked cars and unlit parts of the sidewalk are all places to avoid when walking alone. Keep yourself extra safe by staying in well-lit areas of the street or sidewalk. And lastly, if at all possible, walk in areas that are busy or well populated. Danger is less likely to find you when there are numerous people in your surroundings.

When you’re finally ready to have a good time at the events, it is a good idea to take the safest route rather than the fastest. Excitement will build up and anxiety may lead you to take the quickest route possible but overall you can never be too safe. If taking the safer path requires a few extra minutes of walking, leave sooner than planned. You might be thankful upon your arrival that you ran into no issues along the way.

If you plan on drinking during Homecoming weekend, be extra cautious and know your limits. Chugging drink after drink may seem like a good idea at the time, but a little while after those consecutive drinks have been absorbed, you may wish to yourself that you would have slowed down. There are many factors that conclude the outcome of your BAC, or blood alcohol content.

The speed at which your are consuming the alcohol will effect the speed of intoxication. Binge drinking is when five drinks are consumed within two hours by a male and four drinks by a female. Approximately 1,800 students die a year due to binge drinking and 110,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are arrested for alcohol-related violations such as public intoxication or drunk driving, according to collegebingedrinking.gov. Keep these in mind and you shouldn’t have to worry about becoming a statistic.

How much you have eaten prior to alcohol consumption also determines the speed of intoxication. Eating a slice of bread with peanut butter or a greasier choice of food will help slow the rate at which your blood absorbs alcohol. This will help control how quickly the effects of drinking will begin and allow you to enjoy the events at a more reasonable rate. 

Most importantly of all safety precautions, everyone is encouraged to know the Safety Services that Iowa State offers. The Safety Escort runs from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. every day of the week. If you are feeling uncomfortable walking home from anywhere on campus, you can give them a call at 515-294-4444 and they will escort you to your destination. This helpful system is here for us students so don’t hesitate to give them a call.

It is important that the students of Iowa State are reminded of the safety precautions they should be following for this year’s Homecoming and the events that follow. Preparing yourself by knowing what to do in the worst-case scenarios will be helpful if you are ever in a dangerous or uncomfortable situation. If you keep in mind that safety is the cheapest and most effective insurance policy then having a good time will be sure to follow.