When you were living at home, you likely depended on your parent or guardian to take care of things if there was ever an emergency situation. But once you’re off on your own in college, you’ve got to be the one ready to take on the responsibility.
Safety issues can be brought up for any number of reasons, so it’s wise to have thought through a few potential situations so that you have a plan in the event that something unsafe takes place around you. To help you in doing this, here are three tips for creating your own safety plan while away at college.
Know How To Best Defend Yourself
One issue that may arise while you’re off on your own at college is that your physical safety could be in danger. Whether you’re being attacked or just needing to defend yourself against physical threats, it’s important that you know the best ways to do this.
According to Melissa Darcey, a contributor to SafeWise.com, everyone on a college campus should take self-defense classes, regardless of gender. By doing this, you’ll be able to feel what it’s like to be in a physical altercation with someone else and learn what some of the best strategies are for you to personally defend yourself. The skills that you can learn from these types of classes could really save your life. And at most universities, self-defense classes are readily available.
Create An Emergency Disaster Kit
Depending on where you’re going to school, the area you’re living in could be vulnerable to various types of natural disasters. Because of this, you should always have certain emergency supplies readily available for you to use if the situation arises.
Ideally, FEMA shares that a college student would keep a backpack of emergency supplies always ready on-hand. In this emergency disaster kit, you’ll want to have items like a flashlight, extra batteries, a first aid kit, clean water, and some non-perishable food. You should also have a stash of cash that you can use if you’re no longer able to use debit or credit cards due to power outages.
Be Smart In Social Settings
Much of the danger college student experience happens while they’re out in a social setting. So to reduce your chances of putting your safety at risk, RAINN.org suggests that you always make a plan when you’ll be out at a party or in other social settings.
When going out, make sure you’re with people you trust and that you commit to watching out for one another. Determine that you’ll never leave someone stranded somewhere where they might be unsafe.
To help you create workable plans that will keep you safe in all types of situations, consider using the tips mentioned above if you’re a college student.
