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Home > Consumer Focus Archive > Safety for College Students
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Consumer Focus: For College Students
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Safety for College Students

Image of a 3 fraternity members singing. Heading off to college this month or next? These tips from the Federal Citizen Information Center will help you be safe on campus, as well as in the dorms. We also have safety tips if you plan to study abroad.

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Image of a student sleeping with feet up on a desk and a pile of booksSafety On Campus and Off

  • Follow these recommendations from the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) – they could prevent you from becoming the victim of a crime on campus and off. For example, don’t “display” expensive items such as handheld CD players and game devices by leaving your backpack open. Practice street sense, even in college towns. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security on campus either.
  • Are you considering living off-campus in an apartment? If so, take along the NCPC’s safety checklist as you compare apartments.
  • Be cautious about accepting drinks from strangers at parties. The taste of the drink can mask dangerous drugs.
  • Utilize shuttles if your school has them for late night transportation. If you must walk, go with friends.
  • Use your cell phone to keep in touch. If you are on your way home, let your roommate know when to expect you.

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Fire and Electrical Safety in Your Dormitory

Image of a plug and an outletFrom 1994 to 1998, there were an average of 1,570 fires per year in dormitories, sorority houses and fraternity houses. There were also an average of 75 injuries and deaths each year. Avoid becoming a statistic by following the advice from the Electrical Safety Foundation International.

  • You may be tempted to buy an inexpensive tall halogen lamp. But did you know that the bulbs can get hot enough to ignite curtains, blankets, or towels that are too close? If the lamp has a 500W bulb, replacing it with a 300W bulb will help. Some colleges do not allow halogen lamps, no matter what the bulb wattage.
  • The bulb on a fluorescent floor lamp reaches 200 degrees. A 300W bulb on a halogen lamp can reach 970 degrees. Fluorescent is not only safer; it will keep your dorm room cooler.
  • Do not run extension cords under carpet or rest furniture on them. This can cause cords to overheat and ignite.
  • Be cautious when using toaster ovens. They get hot enough on the outside to ignite notebooks and loose paper near them.
  • If your dorm room has old-fashioned two-prong outlets, don’t sever the third prong (the grounding prong) in order to plug an item in. Prevent shocks and electrocutions, and protect your electronic equipment by using adaptors instead.
  • Note the location of the nearest fire extinguisher and familiarize yourself with how they are used.
  • Do not disable smoke detectors, even “sensitive” ones that go off frequently.
  • Replace smoke detector batteries every six months. An easy way to remember is to do it when you set your clock back in the fall and forward in the spring.

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Image of a student sitting on luggages.Travel Safely When You Study Abroad

  • Before visiting a foreign country, check the State Department’s Travel Warnings. It will tell you if there are any areas of that country you should avoid.
  • The Department of State publishes Background Notes for 170 countries. Read these brief pamphlets that include information on the country’s current political situation, as well as travel notes and maps.
  • Learn as much as you can of the language of the country you are visiting, with an emphasis on basic phrases.
  • Learn about the local laws abroad and obey them. While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws on drugs, alcohol, and dress, just to name a few.
  • What is considered casual clothing for women in the U.S. may be seen as provocative or inappropriate in other cultures. Women have been singled out for harassment and physical violence, so dress conservatively.
  • Register at the American Embassy or Consulate. This way, the embassy knows where they can find you in the event of an emergency. Americans may need to be evacuated or someone from home might need to contact you.
  • Make sure you have adequate health insurance coverage while abroad and that your coverage includes medical evacuations. Travel insurance can provide specific additional coverage.
  • Always carry your prescriptions in their labeled containers. Many countries have strict narco-trafficking laws and are suspicious of pills in unlabeled bottles.

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Other Resources

This is just a brief overview. For more information, check out these resources:

Read these publications online or order them from FCIC:

Websites*:

* Names of resources and organizations included in this online article are provided as examples only, and their inclusion does not mean that they are endorsed by the Federal Citizen Information Center or any other Government agency. Also, if a particular resource or organization is not mentioned, this does not mean or imply that it is unsatisfactory.

*If you click on these links, you are leaving FCIC's website. Please bookmark us before you leave so you can return easily. FCIC is not responsible for the content of these websites.

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For more information on other popular consumer issues check out FCIC's Consumer Focus Archive.

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