Leaving Home Safety
Alcohol and College Social Life
§Recognize and avoid peer pressure
§Know and observe your limits
§Form alliances with others
§If you’re a guest, learn the exits
–If you arrived by car, designate a driver
§ If you’re a party host, stay sober
–Check for dropped cigarettes
Peer pressure is part of the human condition. It can affect all of us, but its impact can be especially strong on young people experiencing life away from home and family for the first time, especially in the presence of alcohol.
Know and observe your own alcohol limits, and form alliances with friends who know and observe theirs. By helping each other recognize and avoid peer pressure to drink beyond those limits, you can reduce your chances of suffering burn injury in a fire resulting from alcohol-fueled poor judgment or risky behavior by someone else
When you arrive at a party in a building you’re not familiar with, look at your surroundings right away before you get caught up in socializing. Notice the exits and how to reach them. If a fire breaks out, the smoke may quickly obscure them. If fire breaks out, knowing where  exits are located may make it much easier to find your way out. If you came by car, be sure someone is a designated driver for the ride home.
If you’re the party host, be sure to check upholstery, ashtrays and trash baskets for carelessly discarded cigarettes.
 (Bridge)   Alcohol abuse may be a crucial contributing factor to collegiate fires, but all fires require an ignition source.  Cooking, fire play and careless cigarette disposal are the most common starting points for fires involving young adults.