College-Style

---

10 Tips for Staying Safe at College Posted: 23 Jul 2011 06:00 AM PDT By Megan R. of George Brown College. Photo Credit Going off to college is lots of fun and very exciting, but every year, some students experience events that are less fun than going to a party and learning new skills. Every year, students, especially females, are raped on campuses across the country and the globe. Laptops are stolen, cars are vandalized and sometimes, students even disappear. We want to stress that college is a great time in every person's life. It also presents changes in the structure of every day activities that leave some students unprepared for more freedom. With more freedom comes more responsibility, and students need to protect this freedom by taking steps to safeguard their valuables and their lives. College is exciting, but it can also be dangerous. Read these tips to keep you, your friends and your belongings safe. Tips for Staying Safe Photo Credit Shut your dorm door when you are at home and lock it when you leave and at night. Although leaving your dorm room unlocked may seem convenient, it can be very dangerous. If you have to walk from an activity at night, walk with a buddy whenever possible. There is safety in numbers. Always walk in well-lit areas at night and don't take shortcuts through darker or less populated areas. A few saved minutes aren't worth risking your safety. If you know you need to walk at night in a dark area, bring a flashlight in your purse and use it on the walk home. If you are walking alone, keep your cell phone handy and call a friend or your parents if you feel nervous. If all else fails, pretend you are talking on the phone. Someone is less likely to come up to you at night if they think you are talking to someone on the phone. Don't listen to your iPod. The music will distract you from surrounding noises. Keep your keys safe. If you lose them, report them as lost to housing and get a new set ASAP. Don't leave your belongings unattended. I can't say how many times I've seen someone go to the bathroom and leave his stuff behind. Pack it up or ask a friend to watch it. Put emergency numbers like campus police in your cell phone. For your most important safety number, add it to your phone with an exclamation point in front, label it as "ahhh!" or add it to your speed dial list so you could dial quickly if needed. Include numbers in your phone as ICE so if someone finds your phone in an emergency, she would know whom to contact. Tell people where you are going and when you'll be home. Talk to your roommate ahead of time about safety procedures. For instance, should your roommate try calling you if you don't come back until midnight without warning her? Always tell your roommate if you plan on spending the night out and have them check on you if you don't come back by a certain time. Be aware of your surroundings, day or night. Not all incidents happen at night. While we aren't trying to scare readers out of attending college, as teenage girls especially, taking precautions to remain safe at school is important. These tips are meant to make you aware of the possibilities and the simple solutions you can make to keep not only yourself, but also your friends and your stuff safe. Thoughts? So what do you think? Do you have any tips on how you stay safe when you're at school? What do you think about these tips? We love to hear from you, so comment away!

You are subscribed to email updates from College Style | Fashion Tips & Trends for College Students | Apartment & Dorm Decorating To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610