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