When studying abroad, personal safety is important to ensure you have a safe and happy trip while living away from home. TALK students who inform themselves about general personal safety precautions in the city they are going to be in are ensuring that the environment around them is a safe space. Here is some general safety tips for college students which will assist you in making your stay comfortable and safe.

Basic Safety Rules for College Students

• Be aware of your surroundings
• If someone looks suspicious report them
• Use a buddy system
• When traveling alone, make sure someone knows where you are going and when you are expected to arrive back
• Keep your dorm room or your apartment locked always
• Emergency numbers should be kept by your phone
• Never accept a ride with an intoxicated person or with someone you don’t know
• Never give out your phone number to strangers
• Never say you are home alone to a stranger
• Never give out personal information to strangers over the phone
• Always report suspicious bags or activity to police for security
• Carry only the necessary amount of credit cards and cash

Safety Rules When Walking On Foot

• Avoid shortcuts
• Walk with confidence and always be conscious of your surroundings
• Use areas that are well lit
• Face traffic while walking
• Make a note in your mind of where your nearest emergency phone is located on your route
• Keep your purse close to your body at all times
• Don’t wear a music device when walking alone

If you Think you are being Followed

• Change direction and cross the street
• Keep looking back so the person following knows that you know they are there
• Notice as many things about the person following you as possible to report them
• Get to a well populated and well lit area
• Report the incident to police or security as soon as you can

Safety inside a Building

• Never enter an elevator with someone who looks suspicious or who is behaving badly
• Never enter a stairwell alone
• Keep doors locked at all times if you are in a room or home alone
• Always ask who is at the door before opening it
• Never leave your valuable items unattended

Safety in your Vehicle

• When you leave your car, lock it
• Keep your car keys in your hand at all times while walking to your car
• Pay attention to the surrounding area and check your car’s backseat before getting in
• Park your car in well lit areas
• Park your car as close to the building as possible
• If you are leaving for your car after dark, ask a security personal to walk you to your vehicle
• Try not to drive home alone at night
• Don’t pick up hitchhikers
• Don’t leave valuables in plain view
• Lock your doors after you get in your car. Keep your windows up
• If your vehicle breaks down and someone wants to give you a ride, ask them to call police to help and assist you
• If you see blue lights flashing on the car behind you, pull over in a well lit area. Police officers will understand
• If you feel you are being followed, turn on your hazard lights and honk your horn. Drive to the nearest fire station, police station, or operating business.

Safety while using ATMs

• Only use tellers when they are busy, easily seen by the public, and in well-lit locations
• Avoid using automatic tellers at night
• Don’t stand at the ATM and count your money
• Keep your room locked even if popping out to the ATM for a few minutes