| As your college bound student leaves the | | | | campus living quarters compared to |
| safety of your home, are they well | | | | twelve percent for on campus living. |
| prepared for any emergency that they | | | | First Aid and Personal Safety Kits: |
| might encounter in their new | | | | All students should be prepared with |
| environment? Knowing that they are | | | | their own personal college safety kit. |
| prepared to deal with any type of | | | | Contents should include items for |
| emergency will put your mind at ease in | | | | unexpected emergencies. Students have to |
| case one should arise. There are simple | | | | be responsible for their own safety |
| steps that can be taken in order to | | | | while attending college. The list below |
| ensure their safety. | | | | is an example of items for their safety. |
| Carbon Monoxide and Fire Safety: | | | | A safety kit is a great way to keep all |
| The first day that your student moves | | | | safety items in one place. |
| into the dorm inspect the room for a | | | | ·First Aid Kit |
| smoke and carbon monoxide detector. If | | | | ·Flashlight with Extra Batteries and |
| there are no detectors, have them | | | | Bulbs |
| installed immediately. The first night | | | | ·Light Sticks |
| they lay their head down to rest in | | | | ·Water Packets |
| their new environment, you should feel | | | | ·Swiss Army Type Knife |
| at rest! | | | | ·Battery Operated Radio |
| Your student should take the sounding of | | | | ·Whistle |
| a fire alarm and fire drills seriously. | | | | Personal Safety Devices: |
| They should know their plan of | | | | While it is always best not to walk |
| evacuation in advance. According to The | | | | alone at night, it is sometimes |
| U.S. Fire Administration (UFSA), student | | | | unavoidable due to late night classes |
| apathy is very common in colleges. Many | | | | and activities. You can arm your student |
| students are unaware that fire is a risk | | | | with pepper spray or mace to ward off an |
| or threat in their environment. | | | | attack. Pepper spray will cause an |
| Evacuation efforts are hindered since | | | | assailant to become disoriented because |
| fire alarms are often ignored. | | | | it will burn the attacker's eyes. It |
| Make sure that there are sprinkler | | | | gives the victim a chance to get away to |
| systems installed in the dormitory | | | | safety. A student can also attach a |
| rooms. As parents, you should know the | | | | personal alarm to their key chain that |
| school's safety policies. College safety | | | | they can sound if they feel that they |
| is as important as the curriculum being | | | | are being followed or in any kind of |
| offered. | | | | danger. This simple device has warded |
| Send them off to school with a fire | | | | off many impending attacks. |
| escape ladder. They are portable and | | | | Auto Safety: |
| compact and may be placed under a bed. | | | | If your son or daughter drives to and |
| They are available in two and three | | | | from school, don't let them take the |
| story lengths. | | | | trip without an auto safety kit packed |
| Fire Prevention Tips: | | | | in their trunk. Hopefully they will |
| Warning should be given to not overload | | | | never have to use it, but if they do it |
| outlets in the dormitory room. Inspect | | | | will be there for them. You can feel |
| all electrical chords and plugs for | | | | secure that they have the necessary |
| damage. Purchase appliances with | | | | items to help them in a roadside |
| automatic shut off features. | | | | emergency. The more prepared that they |
| Students should use fireproof gloves and | | | | are for an emergency, the more secure |
| mitts when cooking. Candles should be | | | | that you will feel while they are |
| kept away from curtains and linens. | | | | traveling. |
| Every year senseless deaths occur when a | | | | A Final College Safety Tip: |
| curtain catches fire from a candle. | | | | Advise them to add an entry into their |
| For additional safety, a multi-purpose | | | | cell phones under ICE, "In Case of |
| ABC fire extinguisher should be | | | | Emergency". This name and number should |
| installed within ten feet of the kitchen | | | | be the emergency contact in case of an |
| area. | | | | emergency. Emergency personnel are |
| On vs. Off Campus Living and Safety: | | | | aware of this and will look in the cell |
| Be extra diligent in making sure that | | | | phone and reach out to this ICE number |
| the necessary safety precautions have | | | | if needed. |
| been addressed in this situation. Check | | | | College is an exciting new experience. |
| for fire sprinklers, smoke alarms and | | | | It should and could also be a SAFE one! |
| carbon monoxide detectors. Seventy nine | | | | College safety is an important component |
| percent of fire fatalities occur in off | | | | of campus life. |