Safety on the College Campus
A young lady's college years should be the best of her life.
For most they are, but unfortunately for some who are unprepared their school days may not be looked back upon so fondly.
If you are a young woman preparing to go off to college, or the parent of one, please consider the old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
" In 2008, 88,432 crimes were reported to police on American college and university campuses.
Among these were 11,693 burglaries, 1,288 aggravated assaults, 882 robberies, and 511 forcible rapes.
On the surface, the number of reported rapes may not be particularly alarming, however, consider that reporting of sexual assaults and rapes nationally is estimated to be only about 47%.
Now consider that these types of crimes are believed to be vastly under reported on college campuses.
With this in mind, here are some inexpensive and simple to use tools to keep safe on campus.
Pepper spray can be a very effective defense in a potential assault or rape situation.
It is an inflammatory, which causes the eyes to immediately close, and leads to difficulty breathing, runny nose, and coughing.
The best thing about pepper spray is that it's very straightforward and easy to use and has an immediate impact upon an assailant.
It can provide you with the thing that you really need in a dangerous situation, the opportunity to separate yourself from the threat.
Always remember the purpose of pepper spray is to incapacitate an assailant long enough for you to get away to safety.
Don't hang around, get away and get help.
A personal alarm, such as an electronic pocket whistle, is another very important tool in a potential assault or rape scenario.
These devices are small and not cumbersome to carry with you.
They often can be used as a key chain or can be easily tucked away in a purse or bag.
The purpose of a personal alarm is to alert others and bring them to your aid.
It also has the potential to frighten away an assailant in fear of getting caught.
It is very loud and is likely to capture someone's attention.
The previously discussed items are ones that you can, and should, carry with you wherever you go, but what about the security of your living quarters.
One of the potential down sides of campus life is dormitory or apartment style housing.
Lots of people are coming and going, at all hours, in very close proximity to your living space.
Do you really know who you are living next to? Do you know their friends? Their friend's friends? A door stop alarm is an inexpensive, yet effective, item that can provide you with some peace of mind in your dorm room or apartment.
It is an entry alarm that can block a door from being opened.
If anyone tries to open the door, an alarm will sound alerting you to potential danger.
Besides the risk to your personal safety, what about your valuables.
Petty theft is by far the most common crime committed on college campuses.
Again, the close proximity to your home of many people coming and going that you don't really know, is a potential threat to your important possessions.
A diversion safe, a safe that looks like a common everyday item, such as a book, is a great place to hide your valuables.
It looks just like the real thing.
Remember, the petty thief wants to get the valuables and get out quickly without getting caught.
He, or she, usually doesn't have time to look beyond the obvious places.
A diversion safe can keep your valuables and keepsakes out of the hands of thieves.
A little preparedness can go a long way toward making a young woman's college experience a happy and long cherished one.
Know your risks and prepare for them, use some caution and foresight in determining your associations and activities, and I'm sure it will be wonderful experience.
For most they are, but unfortunately for some who are unprepared their school days may not be looked back upon so fondly.
If you are a young woman preparing to go off to college, or the parent of one, please consider the old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
" In 2008, 88,432 crimes were reported to police on American college and university campuses.
Among these were 11,693 burglaries, 1,288 aggravated assaults, 882 robberies, and 511 forcible rapes.
On the surface, the number of reported rapes may not be particularly alarming, however, consider that reporting of sexual assaults and rapes nationally is estimated to be only about 47%.
Now consider that these types of crimes are believed to be vastly under reported on college campuses.
With this in mind, here are some inexpensive and simple to use tools to keep safe on campus.
Pepper spray can be a very effective defense in a potential assault or rape situation.
It is an inflammatory, which causes the eyes to immediately close, and leads to difficulty breathing, runny nose, and coughing.
The best thing about pepper spray is that it's very straightforward and easy to use and has an immediate impact upon an assailant.
It can provide you with the thing that you really need in a dangerous situation, the opportunity to separate yourself from the threat.
Always remember the purpose of pepper spray is to incapacitate an assailant long enough for you to get away to safety.
Don't hang around, get away and get help.
A personal alarm, such as an electronic pocket whistle, is another very important tool in a potential assault or rape scenario.
These devices are small and not cumbersome to carry with you.
They often can be used as a key chain or can be easily tucked away in a purse or bag.
The purpose of a personal alarm is to alert others and bring them to your aid.
It also has the potential to frighten away an assailant in fear of getting caught.
It is very loud and is likely to capture someone's attention.
The previously discussed items are ones that you can, and should, carry with you wherever you go, but what about the security of your living quarters.
One of the potential down sides of campus life is dormitory or apartment style housing.
Lots of people are coming and going, at all hours, in very close proximity to your living space.
Do you really know who you are living next to? Do you know their friends? Their friend's friends? A door stop alarm is an inexpensive, yet effective, item that can provide you with some peace of mind in your dorm room or apartment.
It is an entry alarm that can block a door from being opened.
If anyone tries to open the door, an alarm will sound alerting you to potential danger.
Besides the risk to your personal safety, what about your valuables.
Petty theft is by far the most common crime committed on college campuses.
Again, the close proximity to your home of many people coming and going that you don't really know, is a potential threat to your important possessions.
A diversion safe, a safe that looks like a common everyday item, such as a book, is a great place to hide your valuables.
It looks just like the real thing.
Remember, the petty thief wants to get the valuables and get out quickly without getting caught.
He, or she, usually doesn't have time to look beyond the obvious places.
A diversion safe can keep your valuables and keepsakes out of the hands of thieves.
A little preparedness can go a long way toward making a young woman's college experience a happy and long cherished one.
Know your risks and prepare for them, use some caution and foresight in determining your associations and activities, and I'm sure it will be wonderful experience.
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