Hey, Geneva College Students! Here Are Some Safety Tips As You're Heading Back to School

You're heading back to college, and the first thing you're probably thinking is: Holy smokes! I'd better bookmark Geneva Patch and "like" the Geneva Patch Facebook page so that I can keep up with all the stuff that's going on at home!

And, of course, the second thing you're thinking of isn't the whirlwind of campus life but how you're not being as vigilant as you should be about personal safety.

OK, maybe you're not thinking about either of those things. But you should—at least about the safety stuff.

Here are some tips for staying safe this semester, from the desk of Marcia Peot, police officer and Chief Safety Officer at StreetSafe:

1. Let friends or roommates know where you are going, who you are with and when to expect you home.

2. Never leave outside doors propped open, and don’t let strangers into secured buildings or residence halls.

3. A stranger is still a stranger, even if they are a fellow student. Do not accept a ride or go off somewhere alone with a person you don’t know.

4. Do not drink in excess.  hen you do so, your ability to make decisions becomes impaired, making you an easy target.

5. When approaching your car or residence, have your keys in your hand and check the area for suspicious individuals or activity.

6. When walking by yourself, keep expensive belongings such as laptops hidden. You will be less of a target.

7. The beaten path is the better path. Do not take short cuts and familiarize yourself with the area before heading out.

8. Consider taking extra measures to protect yourself, including looking into a personal mobile security service.

SOURCE: StreetSafe