College campuses are great places to learn, socialize, explore, and have opportunities to grow. However, it’s also crucial to be aware of the safety concerns that can arise in a new environment. Whether you’re a freshman navigating your first semester or a senior familiar with college life, understanding how to stay safe is vital for a successful college experience. Collegeboxes has some safety tips and strategies to help you stay safe while enjoying your time at college.
1. Know the Campus Safety Protocols
All college campuses have safety protocols and offer several different services to help ensure student safety. When first arriving on campus, it is a good idea to visit your college’s safety department’s website. This will help you familiarize yourself with the safety procedures your school uses to provide a safe environment.
Some colleges offer more services than others, but the most common are Blue Light Alarm, SafeRide, and campus security or police. Visiting your campus’s safety office will help you learn more about these services and how to use them.
Most colleges have strategically placed Blue Light Alarm stations around their campuses. These alarm stations have a button and when pressed, will put you in direct contact with emergency services. In the event of an emergency it will alert authorities of your location. They will have a blue light positioned above them, making them visible to anyone in need.
SafeRide is another popular service giving students an alternative to walking alone at night. SafeRide will provide a verified driver to pick you up and drive you to your desired destination. This means that if you ever feel unsafe when walking through campus at night, you have the opportunity to call SafeRide.
The biggest school safety service colleges provide is campus police and emergency response teams. They are just like law enforcement, but primarily focusing on the safety and protection of students, faculty, and staff. They uphold security protocols and safety procedures to create a safe campus community.
2. Stay in a Group
College campuses can become empty late at night, making it a good idea to walk with a friend. When going out at night, always go with a group or another person; this can be a roommate, a friend, or someone on the phone. You can share your location with a trusted friend or call them so someone knows where you are if something happens.
3. Keep Your Room Secure
The best way to prevent crimes like theft is to secure your belongings and space. Learning to lock up your apartment or dorm room when you leave can drastically reduce the chance of theft. Ensure to do the same with your car, bike, and other valuable belongings. Doing this will not only prevent your belongings from being stolen but can also provide you with a sense of safety and security.
4. Pay Attention to Security Procedures
It’s not only important to keep your own room safe, but also the building you live in. Whether you live in an apartment or dorm, it will very likely require a keycard to enter the building, which is a fantastic security feature. Unfortunately, breaches most commonly occur from tailgating. Tailgating is when a student scans in and holds the door for the person behind them, bypassing the keycard system.
At first, this can seem like a nice gesture, but it could lead to potentially dangerous situations. It is important to ensure only authorized individuals enter the building, and in the case of tailgating, report to security or resident advisor. Knowing the security procedures can help make your apartments or dorm safer not only for you but for every resident in the building.
5. Have a Plan for the Night
One of the best parts of college is going out with your friends and exploring the campus and its surroundings. But this can be an unsafe experience if not prepared. When you and your friends decide to go out, a good safety precaution is to establish a plan.
With a plan in place, everyone in the group understands the destinations and knows where to go if separated. A good idea is to plan how everyone is getting home to ensure everyone has a safe way back.
6. Consider Getting Safety Supplies
Being proactive about your safety is important and can be done in many different ways, but one common way is self-defense. For many students, this looks like having safety supplies on hand.
These safety supplies are most commonly things like strobe lights, pepper spray, and safety sirens. All of these items offer a way to protect oneself from dangerous situations and provide a sense of security for students. Having these items on hand is a proactive measure that helps students navigate campus safely and stress-free.
7. Alert Notifications
College campuses work with their campus police to develop and establish an alert system to reinforce public safety. If there is dangerous activity on campus, the college will send out an alert to all students, notifying them of the kind of activity and location.
The system normally sends the alert via text message, email, or push notifications, making it visible to all students. The alerts will help students avoid those areas and keep them updated until the situation is safe. Being aware of and on the lookout for these alerts can be critical to your safety.
8. Be Proactive
One of the best ways to prevent crime is to stop it before it happens. If you see any suspicious behavior or activity, report it to the appropriate authorities. Making these reports will help ensure your safety and the safety of other students as well.
At Collegeboxes, we want you to prioritize your safety and enjoy college to the fullest. We understand campus safety is already a concern, so why add the stress of moving? With our ship-to-school service, you can focus on having a safe and fun semester.
With Ship to School, you will pack your belongings at home and will use your Collegeboxes account to schedule a time for FedEx to pick them up. They will then be sent to U-Haul near your campus and stored in our climate-controlled facilities. After scheduling a date, Collegeboxes will deliver your belongings straight to your dorm or apartment, making it a simple and stress-free move. So leave the move to us and take the time to safely enjoy your time at college.
