Food. Drinks. Friends. Everyone loves a good party. It’s the one time you can just relax and hang out without worrying about the stress of school or work. You may not even want to leave. But when you do, be aware of the dangers that may await you outside.

Perhaps the whole nation has become familiar with the Hannah Graham story. Graham, a UVA student, left a party alone and eventually disappeared. No one has heard from or seen Graham since, and foul play is suspected.

In order to avoid risky situations that might put you in the place of Hannah Graham, here are a few key tips that could possibly save your life:

1. Avoid getting drunk. Let’s be honest: Most teenage parties, especially in college, involve alcoholic beverages. The key is to avoid peer pressure and drinking. Your friends may think you’re lame if you don’t join them, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
2. Stay away from drugs. Your friends might offer you a pill or substance and say “Take it – it’s no big deal.” But you have no idea what that pill or substance may be, and drugs can do severe damage – maybe even kill you. Leaving any party high can put you in grave danger because it lowers your guard, and predators know that and will take advantage of it.
3. Always have a backup plan. When attending a party, you may have a plan to get home. However, plans can change. Perhaps your friend isn’t ready to leave when you are, or they bail on you and leave before you do. No matter what happens, never leave alone. Always have someone else you can call to come pick you up from the party.
4. Be aware of your surroundings. If you ever find yourself alone, make sure you take in every detail around you. Most abductions or dangerous situations occur when the victim isn’t paying attention or doesn’t notice key details.
5. Never leave your items unattended. If you ever feel the need to go to the bathroom or move away from an area, even if you think you’ll be right back, never leave your belongings alone. Bring your drink, purse, or food with you. Strangers may put drugs into your drinks that can make you pass out, leaving you vulnerable. Strangers could also put substances in your food that could hurt you.
6. Always carry a cell phone. You want a phone available in case you need to call a family member or trusted friend. Pre-dialing 911 and keeping your phone with you is always a good idea as well. It can allow you to get help faster if you ever find yourself in a dangerous situation.
7. Make sure multiple people know where you’re going. If you plan on attending a party, club, or going multiple places, it’s always a good idea to tell more than one trusted person your plans and when you think you’ll be getting home. If it gets extremely late and you’re not home yet, and haven’t called or answered any phone calls, someone will know to check on you right away. (In the Hannah Graham case, none of her three roommates even realized she hadn’t made it home until the next morning, hours and hours later.)
8. Carry extra cash. Going back to Tip #3, sometimes you may not have the ride home that you expected, and you may need to call a cab. You can’t do that without money, so be sure to always have at least a $20 bill on hand.
9. Pay attention to your friends. If you notice that a friend is extremely intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, it’s a good idea to look out for them as well to make sure they don’t get themselves into a deadly situation. You could save their life. Never leave them alone, because they are extremely vulnerable to the actions of either other intoxicated males, or anyone else who might take advantage of a teen under the influence.
10. Never leave with anyone you don’t know very well. You may think that you can trust an acquaintance, especially if they seem like or look like a nice person, but looks can be deceiving. If they’re not a close friend of yours and you’re not positive that you can trust them, do NOT leave with them.

Following these tips can help you avoid risky situations. Even if you think you have everything under control, NEVER assume that nothing bad could happen. Although the chances of getting kidnapped are only 1 to 610,000, it could happen to you if you aren’t making sure that you’re taking the necessary precautions. Be aware. Be smart. Be safe.