8 Safety Tips for College Freshman

These safety tips are key for any college freshman. Keeping them in mind will help avoid potentially dangerous situations that can occur in a new environment.

Going to college is an exciting time, but unfortunately it can also be a dangerous time. Not only are you in a new environment, but you’re also constantly around people that you don’t know and aren’t familiar with. Because of these things, you will need to do everything that you can to keep yourself safe. These 8 Safety Tips for College Freshmen are a fantastic place to start.

8 Safety Tips for College Freshman

Pair up with another person. One of the best ways to deter a potential attacker or mugger is to simply not be alone when you’re walking. This is especially important after dark. Make sure that you’re always walking with at least one other person once the sun has gone down. Doing so will cause anyone who might mean you harm to think twice.

Stay in well-lit areas. People who wish to do harm, steal, or just generally bother another person typically don’t like to do so in a well-lit area. Along with walking with someone else, try to stick to well-lit paths. If something does happen, there is a better chance that someone else will see and be able to help.

Only visit trusted places. College is a great time to meet people. Until you know those people well, you should consider sticking only to places that you trust when you meet up with them. Trusted restaurants, stores, the library, and so on are all great ideas. By keeping yourself out of an area that you aren’t familiar with, you’ll keep yourself safer.

Stay sober. This one is more important than you realize. We all know that college is a time to express your individuality and to let loose a bit on the weekends, but staying sober is the only way to guarantee that you aren’t putting yourself at a huge risk while drinking. When you’re out partying, you open yourself up for someone to slip something into your drink that could potentially do very serious harm to you. If you do feel the need to get something to drink, always follow the 30 second rule.
If you leave your drink alone for more than 30 seconds, order another instead of drinking it. You never know who was/is watching or what they could have done in that time. Also, always make sure to order your own drinks from the bartender instead of having someone else do it for you.

Don’t carry too many valuables. Just as a general rule in life, but especially on a college campus, you should make a point to not carry too many valuables on you. This can mean anything from limiting cash to not carrying a backpack full of electronics. The less you carry on you, the less you have available to be stolen.

Keep your dorm room safe. Along the same lines as only visiting places you trust, make sure that the only people you’re allowing access to your dorm room are trusted as well. By inviting a stranger into your doom room, you’re only inviting danger. Get to know someone fully before you let them into your home.

Always keep your cell charged and on you. Did you know that all cell phones, whether they have active service or not, can call 911? Making sure that you have a fully charged cell phone on you at all times means that you will be able to have access to help should you need it. The same goes for landlines if you happen to find one. They can call 911 even if there is no service going to the line.

Carry Pepper Spray or a storm whistle. If by chance you would have someone try to harm you, you’ll want some way to cause them to back off. Pepper spray is a great option, but it may not be right for some people. If you do choose to carry pepper spray, make sure that you double check both your college rules and your state laws to make sure you are carrying it legally. If you’re not allowed or simply aren’t comfortable carrying pepper spray, a storm whistle is a great second option. These whistles are made to be loud enough to be heard over hurricane force winds. This means that when they are blown near a person trying to harm someone it will very likely stop them in their tracks.