Strategies for Staying Safe on Campus and Beyond
One of the best strategies for staying safe on campus and beyond is to ask questions. Take the initiative to learn more about your college surroundings, the community culture, and safety precautions you’d be well advised to implement.[1] Below are some questions you can ask to open up important conversations about campus and community safety.
| QUESTIONS | CONCERNS[2] | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | How is the college creating a safe environment for all faculty, staff, and students? | Your concern about a safe environment on campus and in the surrounding communities is a consumer concern as much as a learner concern. As you and your college make safety a shared priority, awareness builds and safety measures expand, which creates a safer space for you to learn in. Measures can be extensive. Ask for specifics. |
| 2 | What communication procedures are in place for emergencies? | Many colleges and universities send emergency phone messages, email messages and text messages to all students, staff, faculty, administrators, board of trustees members, etc. Institutions may have sirens and alarms. Signage on campus may be used for alerts, along with other measures. |
| 3 | Can you tell me about campus police and security personnel, and how they coordinate with local police? | Your campus should have a full contingent of campus police and security personnel who coordinate closely with local police as and when needed. |
| 4 | How are sexual assaults on campus handled? | Does the college handle investigations or do local authorities handle investigations? Who should you complain to if you have a problem? What confidentialities are in place? |
| 5 | How do students learn about safety on campus? | Many institutions provide students with classes that help them learn how to intervene as bystanders in altercations. Some courses give students advice about other safety measures. You can encourage your institution to offer workshops or other learning opportunities if it doesn’t already offer them. |
| 6 | What measures are in place for protecting students who live off-campus? | Some schools help students find safe housing off campus. Your school might have an off-campus housing department. |
| 7 | To what degree do alcohol and drug abuse pose issues on campus? How are violations handled? | One of the best sources of information about drugs and alcohol on campus is fellow students. You can find information about violations in the annual security report. |
Tips for Staying Safe
Walking, driving, traveling:
- Travel with a buddy.
- Use the campus escort service at night, especially if you are alone.
- If you live off-campus, call someone when you get home.
- Keep moving; don’t linger (especially at night).
- Carry pepper spray or pepper gel.
- Keep a personal alarm (for example, on a keychain).
- If you have a car, lock it.
At home:
- Keep your windows and doors locked.
- Keep the main door to your home, hall or apartment building locked at all times.
- Don’t let anyone into your dwelling that you don’t know.
On campus:
- Keep a close eye on your belongings when you’re in a library.
- Get a locking device for your laptop.
- Participate in a college safety program.
- Be cautious, not paranoid.
Anywhere:
- Make sure your phone is charged.
- Know the phone number for Campus Safety.
- Put emergency numbers in your cell phone.
- Carry emergency cash.
- Speak up if you notice something going on.
For a truly comprehensive list of tips for staying safe on and off campus, visit Campus Crime Prevention Personal Safety Tips from Fort Hayes State University.
Also, don’t hesitate to take advantage of campus and community resources, which may include any of the following:
- Web sites, offices, organizations, and individuals with safety information
- Campus police and campus security
- Local police
- Sexual assault and relationship-violence services
- Shuttle services
- Escort services
- Counseling programs
- Mental health programs
- Substance abuse programs
- Local health care centers
- Campus abuse hotlines
The following video focuses on how to stay safe when on campus. The interviewee, David Nance, sheds light on overlooked areas and situations where students are vulnerable.
Safety Apps
One of the very best safety measures you can take at any time is to keep emergency numbers handy, either on your phone or in your wallet or backpack or a place where you can easily access them. You may also find it helpful to have a safety app on your mobile device. Consider downloading any of the following free apps.
| MOBILE DEVICE SAFETY APPLICATIONS | |
|---|---|
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bSafe is a personal safety app designed to keep you and your friends safer 24/7. It has features for everyday safety and real emergencies. You can set up your own personal social safety network. |
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Circle of 6 U is built specifically for colleges and schools, connecting students to each other and to critical resources on specific campuses. The tool lets you choose up to 6 trusted friends to add to your circle, so that if you get into an uncomfortable or risky situation, with two taps you send your circle a pre-programmed SMS alert message indicating your exact location. |
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OnWatchOnCampus: With just 2 taps, your friends and emergency first responders are alerted to your GPS location and that you need help. |
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MyForce: This tool offers users instant notifications, monitoring agents, nationwide coverage and fast emergency response. When an alert is sent, the 24/7 safety agents track your whereabouts and pinpoint your exact location. They listen in and assess the details. |
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React Mobile: Users can quickly send out a widespread emergency alert without having to access and unlock their phone. You choose which contacts you would like to share your location with. Then your contact list can be sent an email and a text message with a link to your GPS location. You can also send an “SOS Help Me” message to an unlimited number of buddies. |
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Watch Over Me: This tool turns your mobile device into emergency tool with just a shake, even if your phone is locked. The shake turns on your phone’s alarm and video camera, and sends an alert to your emergency contacts. |
