Month: October 2017

College can be a fun and exciting time for students. You’re living on your own for the first time, and the experience comes with many adventures. However, these adventures can also lead to some unfortunate events, meaning students should take college campus safety seriously.

Crime occurs even in the safest college towns. Give yourself – and your parents – some peace of mind and follow these tips for staying safe on your college campus.

Know the Area

Become familiar with the area that you live and study in. You don’t want to ever be in a situation where you feel lost. If you know the campus, street names, and city, you’ll be able to get home late at night. You should also know alternative routes to get home in case of a local emergency or event, like a parade.

Visit the Campus Safety Office

Know where your Campus Safety Office is located and become familiar with it. Go inside, take some of the informational pamphlets and flyers, and talk to some of the people who work there. These pamphlets, and especially the experienced staff, can give you great tips on staying safe while you are having fun in college.

Lock Your Doors

Everytime you leave your house or dorm, lock your door. Sometimes students think that their door will be fine if unlocked for a moment but don’t take that risk. Remember, you have your whole life inside of there. And don’t forget to lock the door when you’re going to sleep.

Stay Safe in Numbers

Whether you’re heading in from a night out with friends or just walking home from the library, try to travel in numbers. You should never walk home by yourself. If there is no one to take you home, call an Uber or cab. If you must walk home alone, be aware of your surroundings and walk in well lit, populated areas.

Keep Your Phone Charged

You never know when you’re going to need your phone! Make sure your phone has enough battery before leaving the house, and bring a charger with you if it isn’t. Also keep your phone on your physical body, not in your bag. You don’t want to waste time digging around when an emergency situation strikes.

College should be one of the best experience of your life. Understanding college campus safety will help ensure that’s the case. Taking small steps like the ones listed above will keep you safe from harm and allow you to enjoy all that college has to offer.

As a parent, your main priority is your child’s safety. One of the best ways to keep your children safe is to teach them basic child safety rules and procedures. Taking the time to inform your child about the basics of personal safety will help them be better prepared in the event of an emergency.

While many aspects of personal safety might seem obvious to you, they may not to your child. Below are safety rules and procedures that every child should know.

Using an Emergency List

In every household, there should be a list of emergency numbers. Numbers should include 911, and contact information for trusted family members and friends. Inform your children when these numbers might be necessary and where to find them. The refrigerator is a good place to put an emergency contact list.

Knowing Contact Information

Your children should know and memorize basic contact information as soon as they are able. This information includes their full name, home address and their parents’ names and phone numbers. This information can be extremely useful, especially if they ever find themselves lost.

Operating a Security System

If your child is old enough and responsible enough, explain to them the importance of the security system and what it is used for. Teach your children what to do when the alarm goes off, both in the case of an accident and an actual emergency.

Remembering Stranger Safety

The basics of stranger safety are extremely important. Tell your child not talk to strangers or take anything from someone they don’t know. If your child walks home from school, remind them never to go anywhere with a stranger. Explain to your children to never open the door for anyone, especially for strangers, when you are not home.

Keeping Away from Medicine

Until they reach a certain age, your children should not be going into the medicine cabinet. If they need something, they need to ask an adult to get it and administer the proper dosage. If you have younger kids, consider getting a lock for the medicine cabinet.

Understanding Fire Safety

Don’t let your child play with fire, and always watch them around an open flame like a candle. Explain the dangers of fire and why it’s never okay to play with fire. You can also take the opportunity to also go over your family’s evacuation plan in the event of a fire.

Crossing the Road

Lastly, teach your children to cross the road correctly. This includes looking both ways twice, and using crosswalks. Additionally, tell your children to never play in or alongside the road.

By understanding these basic safety rules, your child will be better prepared in the event of an emergency. Not only will this help keep them safe, but it will also give you peace of mind.

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Burglars these days will often watch the home they are interested in before attempting a robbery. They look for specific patterns and try to determine how difficult it will be to break into a house. While this is worrisome, there are fortunately ways to detect a burglar before they can strike.

Below is a list of things to look out for to prevent a burglary from occurring in your home.

An Unfamiliar Car

One of the first signs that a burglar might be targeting your house? An unfamiliar car parked on your street. Burglars will often park outside of a house for long stretches of time; perhaps a few hours, or over the course of a few days.

If you notice a suspicious car, check with your neighbors to see if they recognize it. You should also keep track of how long the new car stays there.

Strangers & Solicitors

Oftentimes when a burglar is targeting home, they will hang around the house or disguise themselves to get intel. Perhaps uncertified workmen or solicitors will knock on your door, asking to use the bathroom or to take a look in your house.

Never let a workman you did not call for or a solicitor inside your home. They may be trying to figure out the layout of your house and the valuables you may have inside.

Pictures

Speaking of strangers, keep an eye out for people that walk by that stop to take a picture of your home. If they take a picture and then just walk away, this is a good sign that your house is being targeted and that you should be cautious of a potential burglary.

Spam Mail

If you start noticing lots of meaningless spam mail, like flyers, in your mailbox or on your doorstep, this could be an warning. The burglar is taking advantage of delivering mail to get a better look at your house.

If you start noticing an increase in the amount of spam mail you are getting, ask you mailman if he is delivering them. If he isn’t, keep a look out for the person handing them out. Ask your neighbors if they are receiving them as well. The burglar could be watching their homes, too.

Strange Markings

Some burglars will place strings on walkways, lamp posts or your house as a tool for the planning of the robbery. The strings alert other burglars that the house is a potentially easy target. If you notice strings or other signs like litter in strange places around your home, remove them immediately.

Burglars are creative, and are always trying to find new ways to rob your home. Fortunately, their tactics are easily detectable. If you notice any of these signs, report it your police department to keep your property, and your life, safe.

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