| The incidence of criminal assault on most college | | | | it is safe. |
| campuses has steadily increased year after year. | | | | 4. If you have a car, check around the car and |
| What do you do to secure your child's safety | | | | inside the car before entering. When entering your |
| when it comes time for him or her to leave for | | | | car, open the door, enter quickly, and lock the |
| college? "Good question?" you might ask. Well, you | | | | doors. Most times, attackers make their move |
| would not be the first to have serious | | | | when the victim is about to enter their vehicle. |
| reservations about sending your child out into the | | | | 5. Always walk with a friend, or better yet, in a |
| unpredictable world of college life. | | | | group. Carry some form of personal safety |
| Crime is on the rise and there are few places | | | | device such as a personal alarm, pepper spray, or |
| more inviting to criminals than a campus full of | | | | stun gun. These devices are inexpensive and |
| students who are unprepared for life on their | | | | offer a great deal of defense towards an |
| own. Not enough kids these days are taught the | | | | attacker. |
| important lessons of personal safety and self | | | | 6. If you carry a purse or wallet, keep them close |
| defense. Although campus security has greatly | | | | to your body or hidden in an inside pocket. Do not |
| improved over the past few years on many | | | | carry large sums of money with you. It is a good |
| college campuses, the main impetus for staying | | | | idea to have a second wallet or purse containing |
| safe lies primarily with each and every college | | | | only enough money for the evening and nothing |
| student. Knowledge is power, and knowledge of | | | | else. Do this when you know you will not need a |
| how to protect yourself can be life saving. | | | | driver's license, credit cards, or other forms of |
| While personal safety and self defense may seem | | | | personal identification. |
| like the same thing, they really are quite different. | | | | 7. Always travel in well populated areas. Don't |
| Personal safety is all about modifying your actions | | | | take the dark, untraveled short-cut, especially at |
| and behavior in a manner that will preclude ones | | | | night. Be sure your path is well lighted and away |
| self from being a prime target of crime. Self | | | | from areas where an attacker could hide. Avoid |
| defense is about knowing how to protect ones | | | | isolated areas. Walk on the side of the street |
| self when they are being attacked. Below, I would | | | | facing the traffic. If approached by someone |
| like to offer some tips which should greatly | | | | riding in a car, run in the opposite direction the |
| reduce the risk of your daughter or son from | | | | vehicle is traveling. Try to stay near the curb |
| becoming another entry on the list of crime | | | | when walking on the sidewalk, keeping your |
| statistics. | | | | distance from dark building entryways. Be |
| 10 Top Tips for Being Safe on (or off) Campus: | | | | cautious of anyone approaching asking for |
| | | | directions, passing out flyers, or asking for the |
| 1. Whether you are living on campus in a | | | | time. Do not loan your cell phone to anyone. If |
| dormitory, a sorority or fraternity house, or some | | | | you wish to offer assistance, offer to make the |
| off campus apartment, the first order of business | | | | call for them. |
| should be to secure your home. You can | | | | 8. If you feel uneasy, like someone is following |
| accomplish this by making sure all doors and | | | | you, go immediately to the nearest busy location |
| windows are closed and locked when away. Even | | | | such as a place of business or a busy public area. |
| while at home, it is a good idea to keep doors and | | | | If you are carrying a personal protection device |
| windows locked. However, this is sometimes not | | | | such as pepper spray or a personal alarm, have it |
| easy to do. There are a wide variety of alarms | | | | out and ready for use. If you encounter a |
| and security devices suitable for protecting your | | | | dangerous situation, cry out for help by yelling |
| living quarters from intruders. They are very | | | | "fire". Many times a cry for "help" is ignored |
| effective and can be used both while you are | | | | because people don't want to get involved, or |
| home as well as away. These include motion | | | | fear for their own safety. Yelling "fire" usually |
| detectors, door stop alarms, wireless intruder | | | | attracts attention even from those who are just |
| alarms, and more. | | | | curious. |
| 2. You should become familiar with your neighbors | | | | 9. Learn to defend yourself. Nothing will deter an |
| and be aware of who should be hanging around | | | | attacker more than someone's ability to defend |
| your dormitory or apartment and who should not. | | | | them self. Most attackers are looking for a "willing" |
| Keep an eye out for strangers hanging out | | | | victim. You can imagine their surprise when their |
| around your home. Often times students are | | | | victim begins to yell loudly, punch or kick, or use a |
| followed home and "spied" on for a period of time | | | | personal protection device. Women especially |
| in order to learn their routines. For added security, | | | | have to learn not to be afraid of their attacker; |
| consider security cameras to keep an eye on | | | | rather, they should respect their own right to |
| entryways. | | | | protect themselves and offer any resistance |
| 3. When you return home, whether in daylight or | | | | necessary to drive them away. |
| after dark, remember these tips. Don't hang | | | | 10. Become informed. As I mentioned earlier, |
| around on the porch or entryway. Most attackers | | | | knowledge is power. Learn the art of self |
| usually strike as you enter the home. Upon | | | | defense. Investigate the many personal safety |
| entering, if something looks out-of-place, don't | | | | products available which are specifically designed |
| continue. Exit the building and go for help. Never | | | | with your protection in mind. They may someday |
| re-enter the house until someone can verify that | | | | save your life. |