Going off to college is an exciting part of growing up. For parents, however, having a teen leaving for college can raise a whole new set of worries. Safety is probably one of your top concerns. Here are ten of the most important tips your teen should learn before leaving for college.
1. Learn where everything is on campus so you won’t get lost. Figure out what the safest route is to walk on at night. Find out where the campus security office is and where the emergency contact phones are.
2. Let other people know where you are. Tell your roommate or friends when you’re going out and when you’ll be back. Give your parents a schedule of your classes.
3. When walking at night, stick to well-lit areas and try to walk in a group. Pay attention to your surroundings.
4. Most colleges offer campus escort services. If you are nervous about walking back to your dorm late at night, you can get a security officer to walk with you. Even if you don’t think you’ll need this service, it’s a good idea to learn about it.
5. Always lock the door to your dorm room. Store your valuables in a safe place, and don’t leave cash out in the open. This is especially important if you have a roommate. Although you may trust them, you can’t always monitor who they bring back to the room.
6. Don’t let people you don’t know into a dorm building. If you see a suspicious person outside or inside the dorm, tell your resident assistant or contact the security office immediately.
7. Be careful about what information you post on social media. Criminals can use sites like Facebook or Twitter to help them commit burglaries and break-ins. Don’t put your address on these sites, and be smart about who you tell when you’re going away for school breaks.
8. If you ride a bicycle, get a U-Bolt style lock for it. Register your bike with the campus security office.
9. Be smart around alcohol. Don’t let peer pressure tell you that you have to drink. If you do choose to drink, know when to stop.
10. Never get in a vehicle with a driver who has been drinking alcohol. Even if they don’t seem intoxicated to you, their coordination and reaction skills are probably impaired.
