In just two weeks, thousands of matriculants will be descending on the Kwazulu-Natal coast or Plettenburg Bay to party. Local teenagers will start celebrating the end of their academic year by either partying locally or travelling to one of the local rage hotspots to attend the annual Rage Festival taking place between 1^st and 10th December.

Fidelity Services Group has called for these festivities to be done in a safe and responsible manner.

Charnel Hattingh, Group Head of Marketing and Communications at Fidelity Services Group says that while safety is a priority for the event organisers at many of these raves, everyone who attends should also take responsibility for their own safety.

She offers these easy safety tips for Grade 12 learners on their way to ‘Matric Rage’ events as well as everyone else who will be celebrating away from home in a possibly unfamiliar area:

• If you driving make sure you consider installing a tracking app like secure drive where your its location is updated on the mobile applications every two seconds providing true real-time live tracking. Knowing exactly where you are means accident alerts can be received in real time resulting in faster emergency dispatching where every second counts.
• Theft alerts or panic button activations similarly will save lives when response units are dispatched without delay.
• Before leaving your accommodation for the day or night, ensure that anything valuable is locked away in a drawer or safe.
• Never carry large amounts of cash or go out wearing flashy or expensive jewellery.
• If your accommodation is a holiday house or apartment, make sure all the doors are locked, the windows are properly shut and that the alarm is activated if a system is installed.
• When out at different events and activities, be aware of your surroundings and arrange with your friends to keep an eye on each other and your belongings.
• If you are approached by a suspicious individual; walk away and report it to the closest security or to the police.
• Do not accept drinks from strangers and do not leave your drinks unattended. Spiking of drinks is still rife.
• If you leave the place where you are staying tell someone where you are going and the time you expect to return. Save their number to your mobile phone or memorise the details of the person to be contacted in the event of an emergency and save them as one of your ICE (In Case of Emergency) contacts.

When it is time to return to your accommodation:

• Never leave without your friends.
• Do not accept a lift from a stranger; rather use transport provided by the event organisers.
• Driving after a few drinks is never an option. Call a cab or use event shuttles if they are available instead.
• Consider appointing a designated driver or someone who agrees not to drink and will be responsible for getting everyone home safely.

Hattingh urges parents and caregivers to have a conversation with their kids about these safety tips, to help prepare them.

“The reality is that matrics will be partying, and they have certainly earned the chance to blow off some steam. Let us encourage them to do it as responsibly as possible. It may also be worth speaking to your security provider about personal safety apps that are available as well as services such as Meet and Greets to ensure peace of mind,” she concludes.