Every parent has anxiety the first time their child climbs the school bus and heads off into the great abyss that is elementary, middle and high school, but sending a daughter or son off to college is an even greater milestone.
Most of the time collegiate students feel invincible – young, smart, independent, but it never hurts to be reminded that even in the college bubble of euphoria it’s wise to stay aware of surroundings.
Chief Safety Officer at StreetSafe, Marci Peot, offers a few tips to college kids:
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- Let friends or roommates know where you are going, who you are with and when to expect you home.
- Never leave outside doors propped open, and don’t let strangers into secured buildings or residence halls.
- A stranger is still a stranger, even if they are a fellow student. Do not accept a ride or go off somewhere alone with a person you don’t know.
- Do not drink in excess. When you do so, your ability to make decisions becomes impaired, making you an easy target.
- When approaching your car or residence, have your keys in your hand and check the area for suspicious individuals or activity.
- When walking by yourself, keep expensive belongings such as laptops hidden. You will be less of a target.
- The beaten path is the better path. Do not take short cuts and familiarize yourself with the area before heading out.
- Consider taking extra measures to protect yourself. StreetSafe is a personal mobile security service that combines the GPS technology in your smart phone with a 24-hour state-of-the-art call center. StreetSafe has two main features: a silent alarm and a unique Walk With Me™ service, which allows users to connect with a live, trained Safety Advisor who will stay on the phone with you until you reach your destination safely.
If you have any other tips you’d like to add, feel free to do so in the comments section below.