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