- Awareness teams support celebrations -'very good measure'
Enjoy the nightlife carefree and safely - that's what visitors to clubs and parties wish for. In Gießen, some clubs now have so-called awareness teams that are there for the guests and provide assistance with questions and also in case of emergencies.
Friederike Stibane, head of the office for women and equality in the city of Gießen, speaks of a "very, very good measure" that also raises awareness of potential risks such as date rape drugs in drinks. She is delighted with how well the offers launched some time ago have been received, Stibane said. Clubgoers and partygoers can now be told with a clear conscience: "If you go out partying: There are people here who are looking out for you."
For people who want to get involved in awareness teams, the women's office provides various utensils, including vouchers for the Gießen women's night taxi, test strips for date rape drugs, and laminated cards with important phone numbers for medical facilities, police, and counseling services. These utensils have already been requested by around a dozen clubs and events, Stibane said. A club has also been established.
Teams are trained for difficult situations
There have been incidents of sexual assault and even rape after the secret administration of date rape drugs, Stibane said. There have already been carnival events with 20 to 30 affected women in Gießen. Men are also occasionally targeted by nocturnal assaults, with robbery being the main issue here.
In addition to the utensils, the women's office also provides training. The teams should be able to involve the police in the event of suspected assault or convince the affected person to undergo a urine test at the Gießen University Hospital as soon as possible if date rape drugs are suspected. The substance is only detectable in the urine or blood of the affected person for a relatively short time. The environment should also be sensitized not to leave the affected person alone.
Moreover, the teams can be helpful in providing some calm to those who may be in a problematic or overwhelming situation - that's why the kits also contain glucose and earplugs. They also contain so-called spikeys, anti-drug bottle caps that prevent unwanted substances from being injected into drink bottles.
With a total of around 93,000 inhabitants, Gießen is considered the city with the highest proportion of students in Germany.
During Gießen's bustling nightlife, the awareness teams serve as a beacon of safety and support. They provide tools and training to help combat date rape drugs and other risks, promoting a safer environment for all partygoers. The environment plays a crucial role in this, being sensitized to leave no one in distress alone.
