Get Informed. Become Aware. Take Responsibility.

Campus safety for college students

Parents are very active in helping their children prepare to leave for college. We get so excited and busy helping them purchase their laptops, clothing, and dorm furnishings. We forget all about preparing them for how to stay safe as they begin to wander about an unfamiliar and overwhelming college campus.

Making that move from a high school to a college campus is a significant change for students. Most college campuses are large entities made up of numerous campus buildings, spread over numerous street blocks. This requires students to travel, usually by foot, from one location to another to attend classes. These safety tips will help your college student become more aware of their surroundings and travel safely throughout their campus grounds.

Campus Routes

Obtain a campus map and establish in advance what routes to take for classes.
Ask other students, faculty, or security about campus routes and utilize the more populated ones.
Know where the campus security personnel reside.
Avoid walking alone. Use the buddy system and consider asking someone you know to walk with you for additional safety.
Vary the times you leave and change your routes regularly to lessen the chance of an attacker to know when and where to wait for you.
Trust your instincts. Consider taking a different route whenever you have an uneasy feeling about your surroundings.
College campus parks can be beautiful and peaceful areas for a walk, rest, or study. These same areas can also be dangerous if deserted, especially around large clumps of shrubs and bushes where an attacker can easily hide.
At night, walk in well lit areas and steer clear of doorways, dark corners, building entrances, alleys, high vegetation and shadowed areas that can be used as a hiding place for an attacker.
A route you normally take during daylight hours may be potentially dangerous after dark. Stop and reconsider your route if there are not many other people around or the campus area is not well lit.

Appearance

If you are walking and feeling uncomfortable about your safety, stay calm and display confidence and self-assurance in your stance. This will make you less appealing to an assailant.
Some attackers are not interested in you, but your valuables. Attract less attention to yourself by leaving jewelry, large amounts of cash, portable electronics and designer footwear in the dorm room. Carry only a small amount of cash when it is necessary.

Awareness

Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings at all times. To effectively hear activity around you, earphones, headphones, and cell phone use should be avoided.
Be aware of your body language, especially during susceptible periods when you have a bad day, are upset by something or are feeling ill. These are times when you potentially look vulnerable and depressed, making you an ideal target for an attacker.
When someone asks you for directions, answer from a safe distance. Do not move closer to the person or their vehicle and make yourself vulnerable to a possible abduction. Speak loader rather then moving closer. Should this not satisfy the requester, quickly move on.

Safety tools

Carry a whistle at all times so you can blow it to bring attention to yourself when in danger and possibly deter a potential attacker or stalker.
If you drive to classes, always keep your car keys in your hand as you approach your vehicle. This allows you to have the keys available for quick entry or to use as a weapon if needed.
Carry a cell phone so you can call for help in case of an emergency.
Consider if pepper spray or a kubatan might be the right safety defense tool for you and practice using it.
Keep your hands free in order to defend yourself by carrying your books in a backpack.
Consider attending a self-defense course to build your confidence and learn how to effectively defend yourself.

Set your mind at ease by talking through these safety tips with your college student today, before they venture off for college.

Be Safe!

Get Informed. Become Aware. Take Responsibility.