Section Two

Playing it Safe

General Safety Guidelines

• Learn your school’s safety guidelines and follow them. Read your school’s safety handbook. Memorize the telephone number(s) for emergency help, such as 9-1-1. If possible, carry a cell phone with you at all times. Pre-program emergency telephone numbers in the phone to be able to call them quickly.
• If you choose to drink, do so responsibly. Don’t use drugs. Be careful around other persons who drink heavily and/or use drugs, too. Designate a sober driver.
• Always wear a seatbelt in a motor vehicle. Wear a helmet when riding on a motorcycle, bike, or when rollerblading.
• To avoid being robbed, assaulted, etc.
  • When you go out, go with a friend or a group of people, especially at night and to unfamiliar places.
  • Use ATM machines in well-lit areas, preferably while a friend is with you.
  • Keep your doors and windows locked, especially when you are alone.
  • Lock your bike with a U-shaped lock that is hard for someone to remove.
  • Hold your backpack, purse, etc., securely so someone can’t grab it from you. Don’t leave these and other personal items, such as your laptop computer, unattended.
  • Have your car, house, or room keys in your hand, ready to unlock your doors.
  • If you use social networking Web sites, such as MySpace.com, be aware of potential dangers. Find out safety tips from www.wiredsafety.org.
  • Report suspicious behaviors and activities to your school’s security or the police.
  • Take a class, etc., to learn how to avoid sexual assault.
• To Avoid Fires:
  • Don’t smoke in bed or when you are very tired. Better yet, don’t smoke at all!
  • Follow fire safety precautions when cooking in your dorm room or kitchen.
  • Follow your school’s policy on candle use.
  • Keep a working fire extinguisher in your dorm room or house.
• To Manage Conflict Without Violence:
  • Be assertive, not aggressive, when you communicate.
  • Learn to deal with frustration, disappointment, rejection, ridicule, jealousy, and anger.
  • Accept differences in others, including sexual preferences, ethnic and religious backgrounds, etc. You do not need to change your convictions, but don’t expect other persons to change their convictions either.
  • Be an active listener. Pay attention to what the other person is saying and try to understand his or her point of view or simply accept it as an opinion.
  • Take a class or seminar in conflict resolution to gain skills in managing conflict.
  • When you can’t resolve a conflict on your own, get help.

Copyright © 2010, American Institute for Preventive Medicine. All rights reserved.