5 Tips for Staying Safe on a College Campus

Staying safe at school is a big priority for students. Colleges have security services and do their best to create a safe environment, but it’s still important for students to take measures to protect themselves and their property. The most common crimes are robberies and property crimes, but assaults and sexual assaults are still an issue on college campuses. You can protect yourself by becoming informed and taking the necessary precautions. Here are five campus safety tips to keep you comfortable at college.

Be Extra Cautious at Night

Assaults and other crimes are statistically more likely to happen at night, when it’s dark. Because of this it’s important to take extra precautions at night. You should try and avoid walking alone at night unless it’s absolutely necessary. If you must walk alone at night, never walk with your music player’s headphones in. Tell a friend or roommate of your schedule and route. Have your cell phone with you and use a safety app such as NoonLight. This app has you hold your finger down on a button until you are safely home, when you can release the button and enter your PIN.

Have Safety Supplies Easily Accessible

Being prepared is a big part of staying safe at school. You’ll feel more secure if you keep some safety tools readily available, such as pepper spray, mace, and stun guns. Just make yourself aware of the legality of these items, because it varies from state to state. Your college likely offers whistles for free to students to use to alert others when they are in danger, so pick one of those up as well. “Gather your safety supplies and put them in a kit and keep that kit nearby at all times, on a lanyard or in a backpack. These supplies are only useful for staying safe at school if you can access them very quickly,” recommends Alexis Branch, educator at Dissertation Writing Service and EssayRoo.

Keep Your Social Media Private

Social media is a great way to keep in touch with friends and family while you’re away from home studying at a college. Far too many students don’t realize the importance of keeping their social media accounts private. Every time you post you give information away about yourself and the places you frequent. Never publicly announce that you’ll be going away for a trip, as this can alert criminals to the fact that your home will be unoccupied. It’s also important to avoid location tagging your posts because this informs strangers where you are. Go over your social media’s security settings and privacy options.

Safety and Your Vehicle

People usually feel pretty secure in their car, but it’s still important to keep safety in mind while you’re in your vehicle. “As you approach your car, make sure you don’t unlock it from far away, wait until you are close. Keep your keys in your hand, so you’re not fumbling with them at the door (if you don’t have remote entry.) Park your car in a well-lit area, and never leave valuables inside,” advises Chris Pridgen, college counsellor at BoomEssays and Type My Essay.

Learn About Your Campus’ Safety Office

Find out information about your campus safety office, such as its location, hours of operation, and phone number. You might even want to give it a visit and familiarize yourself when you arrive on campus. Ask about services such as emergency phone stations, campus safety escorts, and maps with suggested safe routes.

Conclusion 

College campuses are full of people you don’t know, so though the area may feel familiar, it’s still necessary to take safety precautions. There are security services and safety programs, but ultimately it’s up to students to take measures to protect themselves. Use these five campus safety tips to make sure you're staying safe at school.

Grace Carter is a content manager at Assignment Writing Service and Big Assignments educational websites. She creates content strategies, improves conversion and works with marketing team. Grace also works as online tutor at OXEssays academic service.