News Tagged ‘daughter going to college’

Urban College Crime Is Real On Our Nations Campuses

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011

Much of the following is from an article written  by New York attorney Gary E Rosenberg is right on point…

College brings a sense of independence for most students.  With so much anticipation and excitement, personal security for college students can be easily overlooked.  In many urban cities like St. Louis, Mo, urban college crime such as student muggings, robberies, burglaries  and sexual assaults are a sad reality of living in a large urban community. Students may believe they are protected because they are surrounded by their peers and feel relatively insulated in their own “community” — the college campus.  Unfortunately, urban college crime is just as high, sometimes higher, on campus as it is off campus.  With that said, safety awareness on urban college campuses has never been more important.  Using common sense in most cases will prevent your daughter from being a victim of urban college crime.

For the first time, your children will be totally responsible for being aware of urban college crime and their own personal safety.  Are they prepared in case an emergency occurs?  Is your son or daughter safe from being victimized by urban college crime?

Here are several personal security for college students tips that will help keep your daughter safe while away at school. Practicing these personal security for college students tips will safeguard your daughter from being victimized by urban college crime. The following tips should bring peace of mind to many parents sending kids off to college

1)Be aware of your surroundings.  This is the single most important tip to ensure your personal safety.  Know all of the routes around campus.  Be confident.  Walk with your head up, look around and notice everything.  Look into a stranger’s face and take note of distinguishing features.  Notice when a vehicle slows down suspiciously and pay attention to the license plate.  Be aware of anyone loitering or hanging around campus, your dorm, vehicle, etc.

2)Lock all doors and windows.  When leaving your dorm or apartment, make sure that all doors and windows are locked – including the main building entry and exits.  Never prop doors open.  Never compromise your safety for a roommate who asks you to leave the door unlocked.

3)Do not loan your keys to anyone.  Re-key locks when a key is lost or stolen.

4)Plan ahead.  Be safe when going out alone.  Whether your plans are a social event or studying at the campus library, map out a safety plan in advance.  Mention your plans to a friend and let someone know if your plans change.  Avoid going out alone at night.  Try to stay in a group. Let at least one person know where you are going and who you will be with.  If you do go out alone, avoid potentially unsafe shortcuts.  Travel on well-lit and well-traveled streets.  Carry emergency cab fare.

5)Learn what help campus security can offer to increase your safety.  If their services are only available in certain areas or if they do not patrol some portions of the campus at regular intervals, then this is valuable information to you.

6)Equip your cell phone.  Program important phone numbers (campus security, police, etc.) in your cell for emergencies. Put the word “ICE” in your cell phone with a parent or guardian number programmed.  The authorities know to look for this code in case an emergency occurs and they need to get in touch with a relative.  Make sure your cell phone is fully charged before going out.

7)Always trust your instincts.  If something seems “off,” it probably is.  Trust your intuition.  Call the police or campus security if something doesn’t seem “right.”

8)Always enlist the company of at least one other person when jogging or exercising outside.  Do not wear headphones as they can seriously impair your ability to predict and avoid a confrontation.  Do not leave your identification, wallets, checkbooks, jewelry, cameras, and other valuables in open view. Do not go to the ATM at night.

9)Watch your drink.  Do not accept drinks (alcoholic or otherwise) from others.  Remember that alcohol is the #1 date rape drug.  When dating, meet at a populated location.  Choose a restaurant or other public location.  Never meet in a dorm room or apartment.  Check around your vehicle as you approach it.  If there is a van parked on one side of your car, get in on the other side.  Check under your vehicle and others around you.

10)Practice Internet safety.  Use caution when posting personal information on social networking sites such as Facebook.  Avoid “friending” people you don’t know.

11)Don’t allow your photo or personal information published for the campus community.  It is not uncommon for upperclassmen and fraternities to use this information to “target” naive freshmen on campus.

12)Colleges are generally safe places for our children.  Because of this, students tend to let their guard down.  Being armed with basic safety awareness can significantly reduce their vulnerability.  Bottom line – help prepare your college-bound children to be responsible for their own safety while away at college.  They will go confidently and ready for one of the most exciting ventures of their lives.

12)Remember – book smart is something you can learn anytime; street smart is something you have to know and practice every day of your life.

Crime Is Real, Don’t Be a Victim!

 

 


Got A Kid Going Away To College?

Monday, August 8th, 2011

If you son or daughter is going away to college this fall, then you probably are already planning on what you need to send with them.  You have the college dorm checklist bring important things that are going to fit into the college sized dorm room.  Here are some of the basics to keep in mind when it comes time to move your teen off to college

the first things you need to consider for your college kid is the size of their dorm room and what things their school does allow and doesn’t allow in their rooms.  Some schools will allow hot plates, microwaves, and toaster ovens, while others won’t allow these items in the rooms.  The first place to begin is by starting with things that your son or daughter already has.  Often times, they will have favorite bedding, carpets, decorations, and other little things that they really enjoy at home.  Starting out with familiar sheets will give your college kid a sense of home comfort that new sheets will not.  Save the new sheets for when your college kid gets adjusted.

Once you have established what you have for your college kid’s room, it is time to start looking at things that you need to purchase.  A microwave, mini-fridge, and a laptop are all great things to make sure your college kids has.  Inside of their room you should add bedding, carpets, drapes, and posters that they really enjoy.  One often forgot item that is really important as well is to make sure that your college kid has a selection of towels and other bathroom items at their disposal.  A laundry bag or hamper is a wonderful thing to add to the college dorm checklist bring items.  It will make your ten’s life easier when they have a place for dirty laundry.  On you kid’s college desk, there should be a bright light or full spectrum light that they can work by, there should be an assortment of unique writing utensils, papers, and a printer for last minute printing needs on their way to school.

When it comes to personal items, your teen should have a toiletry bag that can carry all their items.  They should also have their own stock of toilet paper and tissues as well.  For their personal items, they should have shower shoes, shampoo, soap or body wash, brushes for hair, body, and teeth, tooth paste and their other bathroom essentials that all fit easily into a toiletry bag they can carry with them back and forth between the bathroom and their room.  The key with planning for your kid’s college dorm room is keeping everything portable and organized.  It is better that they come equipped with simple items that are easy to carry and easy to replace until they have adjusted to dorm life.  The college dorm checklist bring  should be simple and complete.

Crime Is Real, Don’t Be a Victim!

 

 

 


SafetyTips for Parents with Daughter Going Off To College For The First Time

Saturday, August 6th, 2011

The following information has been helpful for parents with daughter going off to college…

If you have a child going off to college for the first time, you may feel a bit overwhelmed by trying to prepare them for their move into a college dorm.  Letting go is hard for parents to do, but you can boost both your child’s confidence and your confidence in their abilities by putting together a college dorm checklist freshman students can work on independently.

When putting together a college dorm checklist freshman need to consider all of the basics of a dorm room.  The first thing on every college checklist for kids moving into a dorm for the first time is to do a dorm inspection.  Before your child even considers moving into a dorm room, they should clean it and thoroughly inspect it for damages, broken utilities, and other issues.  They should write down everything they find as concisely and accurately as possible and give the resident adviser (RA) or housing office a copy.  They should get a representative’s signature and should keep a copy of this list themselves for move out.  Once the inspection is done and all the necessary replacements and repairs have been made, then your college student can actually begin the process of moving into their dorm room.

When it comes to decorating the dorm room, your kid should work from the ground up.  On their checklist, the next thing should do is put down throw rugs and other floor coverings on their side of the room.  These coverings not only make their side of the room feel more personalized but also protect dorm room floors from damages that can be caused by regular wear and tear.

On the college dorm checklist freshman should do their best to put the furnishings on their side of the room in a position that is both space saving and user friendly.  Pushing the desk up against the bed may seem like a good idea to conserve space, but the truth is that furnishings need to be as easy to use as they are space saving.

For linens, towels, and other items that your kid will need to change regularly, a rolling Rubbermaid drawer cart is a great decision to make.  It is convenient and space saving while at the same time easy for your freshman to roll into their closet to keep sage when they aren’t in their room.  Their bedding should be made up of a variety of new sheets and blankets as well as comfortable and familiar ones from their room at home.  Using familiar pillows and comforters can make the adjustment to dorm life go much more smoothly.

All in all, the most important part of your son or daughter going away to college for the first time is letting them know that they have all the tools to make it, but that you are still there if they hit any road bumps.

Crime Is Real, Don’t Be a Victim!

 

 


How Parents Benefit from College Dorm Checklist

Friday, August 5th, 2011

A parent’s perspective on keeping their daughter safe…

I couldn’t believe how the time had flown by.  My little girl who it seemed like just yesterday was in elementary school was now graduating from high school and heading off to start her college education.  I had a mixture of pride and nervousness because I didn’t know if she would be prepared for the challenges of living a life on campus.  So, I did a little research online and found this great college dorm checklist of stuff that every young woman like her should have when they are heading off to college for the first time.  Of course we had our own list of stuff that she would need like clothing and a computer, but this other checklist was much more important.

This was a list of all of the things that she would need to be safe while she was living on her own in a dorm room.  I studied the college dorm checklist for a little while before I talked to my daughter about it.  I wanted to go over the information first so I could explain to her exactly why she would need this stuff and how it would protect her.  She thinks that I worry too much but I know that she will need some self defense and safety products while she is living on her own.

So, I finally sat her down and explained to her about the dangers that she might face while she was there.  I told her about the products that I had found on the internet that would help prevent her from being attacked or being robbed while she was at college.  At first she was a little hesitant to listen but when I explained how all of these self defense products worked she started to pay a lot more attention to what I was saying.

Soon my daughter was going over this college dorm checklist with me and asking a lot of questions.  She was particularly interested in the pepper spray because she had never used something like that before.  I showed her how she could carry it on her key in order to have easy access to it while she was walking to her car at night or at any other time that she felt vulnerable.  Also, they had this book that looked like a safe that she could keep her valuables in.  We had never seen anything like that before and it looked really neat.  It was nice to know that things like money and credit cards could easily be hidden away to protect her from being robbed.  I can sleep so much better at night knowing that my daughter has these items on this checklist to protect her from harm.

Crime Is Real, Don’t Be a Victim!

 

 

 


I’ve Done What I Can to Keep Daughter Safe at College

Saturday, June 18th, 2011

Please consider the concern of  one of  our readers…

Now that my daughter is heading off to college I am starting to worry about her own personal safety.  She will be attending school in a pretty safe area and the campus isn’t known for having a lot of crime, but since she is my little girl I tend to worry about stuff happening to her.  I don’t want her to be walking home from the library at night and get attacked by some kind of robber or rapist who will take advantage of her.  That is my worst nightmare and I want to prevent that from happening at all costs.

So, I am going to sit down with my daughter and have a chat with her about personal security devices and how she can use those to take care of herself while she was at school.  Fortunately she is willing to listen to me about this type of stuff because she is nervous about being on her own, too.  at first I told my daughter that I wasn’t the best idea because someone could end up using the gun on her.  Plus, having a concealed weapon on a university campus probably isn’t legal.  So we decided that we needed to look at personal security devices that she would be able to carry with her around the campus and also be able to use at a moments notice.

I found a web site that sells things that are catered to people like my daughter who are going off to college and I was able to find pepper spray and personal alarms that would help to keep her safe.  I ordered those right away so we could practice using them before she left.  When we got the personal security devices for my daughter we both started examining them to see how they worked and how she would be able to use them in the event of a dangerous situation. I told her that she would have to be careful with using these and to make sure that she knew how they worked.  Since a burglary could occur at her apartment or she could be assaulted on her walk to class in the evening.  I wanted her to be prepared to use these devices at the drop of a hat.  She might not have a lot of time to react to a situation so I told her that if she was going to have to walk alone in a remote area that I wanted her to keep that pepper spray in her hands at all times.  These are dangerous times, research online the many non-lethal personal security devices that’ll keep you or a loved one safe from attackers.

Crime Is Real, Don’t Be a Victim!

 


Preparing My Spouse To Defend Herself

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

We live in a world that is extremely unsafe.  Every time you turn on the news all you hear about are acts of violence towards other individuals.  More times than not the people who are on the receiving end of these acts of violence are women.  I think that this is something that is of great concern to any individual who has a woman that they care about in their lives. It could be our mother, your sister, your wife or girlfriend or your niece.  Anyone in your life that you care about.

I know that I personally did not fully understand the danger that exists for women in this world until after I got married. My wife drives to work by herself in the morning and she spends her time cleaning other individuals houses.  She usually leaves right around seven in the morning and then her employer’s home by noon.  Since I am a night worker I am home when she leaves and when she comes back.  Well, last week my wife left at her usual time to go clean a new house.  Right around 8:30 I heard the garage door open.  It surprised me that my wife was home from work so early.  I went out to see what was going on.  I saw her in the car crying and the first thing I thought to myself is what happened, is she okay.  I started to talk to her and when she finally was able to compose herself a little bit she told me that in the new house she was working at there was a homeowner and he tried to attack her but thankfully she was able to get away and run out of the house.  Obviously my first thought was going to that house and breaking that man’s neck.

After we took care of the situation with the authorities, I made a determination I was going to make sure that first of all my wife no longer worked in a place where she had to be by herself and fearful about her personal safety, and secondly wherever she went she would have the means to defend herself.  That day I started to look into security products women could use to defend themselves.  I was here to find a product that would be perfect for my wife and allow her to defend herself without putting her own life in jeopardy.  It is surprising the large amount of security products women have at their disposal.  These are dangerous times and the security products women can get online include a variety of personal alarms, pepper sprays, stun guns and Tasers.

Crime Is Real, Don’t Be a Victim!

 


Sexual Assault On College Campuses

Saturday, December 18th, 2010

Sexual assault on college campuses is a silent epidemic.  It doesn’t matter what college campus you send your daughter off to, the statistics are the same, 1 in 4 females attending college will be the victim of rape or attempted rape.  That’s a scary statistic that they don’t tell you about on college visits and is rarely accurately reported in crime statistics.

Also, college systems consistently fail the victims.  Various reports show that anywhere from 95% to 88% of college rapes are never reported and 42% of the victims never tell anyone about their attack.  Of the ones that are reported, few fail to press any kind of charges for fear of being “raped” again by a system where more and more colleges have policies that protect rapist and the rape culture choosing to say that these are “teachable moments” rather than handing down punishment.  In fact, of all rapists in general, not just college rapists, less than 6% ever serve any time in a correctional facility and probably less than that percent of college rapist receive any kind of reprimand from the college.

Crime Is Real, Don’t Be a Victim!

Gerald Urban


Discover How To Keep Your Child Protected At School Using The Extreme School Survival Kit From SafeFamilyLife

Sunday, December 12th, 2010

Please keep them coming because it’s value to others when we share our experiences and how to protect yourself from being victimized…

When my daughter Rosie was about to leave for college in the next state, my wife started to plan things for her because she was afraid that Rosie could not make it alone.  Her friends assured her of ways on how to keep her daughter safe at college, but she was still anxious.

I told her to trust our daughter but it fell on deaf ears.  She said that she would accompany Rosie until she could be sure that our daughter would be fine far away from us.  But when one of our sons had an accident, I called her to come home since I could not leave work for too long.

I did not wish to lose my job, so I did not want to be absent for too many days.  When my manager knew of the situation, he said that there were remedies for problems like mine with keeping my daughter safe at college.

When I introduced my wife to the Extreme College survival kit from SafeFamilyLife, it made her decide to leave Rosie alone.

She realized that knowing how to keep your daughter safe at college would train her to live independently and develop in her instincts for survival.

By furnishing Rosie with the Extreme college survival Kit from SafeFamilyLife, she would be personally protected with the pepper sprays and personal alarm that she brought with her.  Her home is also protected with the door alarm and the diversion safe.  She would learn their features with the instructional manual and DVD included.

How to keep your daughter safe in college is now made easy with this survival kit that contains different safety tools for her to use.  She can then enjoy college life without having to worry about the possible threats on and off the campus.

Crime Is Real, Don’t Be a Victim!

Gerald Urban


St. Louis Criminals Most Dangerous in America: Non-Lethal Personal Protection for Women

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

I’m sure by now you have read or heard the announcement by CQ Press that St.  Louis, MO is the most dangerous city in America. There is much disagreement about the statistical data used to return St. Louis to the #1 ranking in the nation.  There has also been much written and reported in the local media of the outrage and unfairness of announcing St. Louis as the Most Dangerous City in America.

The outrage should be about St. Louis criminals being the most dangerous in America and what’s causing St. Louis to consistently be one of the most dangerous cities in the nation.  After all, we were ranked #1 in 2006 and leaders took no apparent action to address the problem.  So why is everyone acting so surprised?

Also, there has been much discussion about how most of the violent crimes are being committed within easily identifiable zip codes.  Well, if you already know that, wouldn’t it make the problem much more easier to solve?

Here’s my personal predictions;  murders, rapes, robberies, shootings and aggravated assaults will continue to rise out of control as public officials argue about being ranked the #1 most dangerous city in America as opposed to #3, #6, or #10.  Who cares about the ranking, address the problem!  Otherwise, St. Louis criminals, the most dangerous in America, will venture out to the suburbs and affluent parts of the community and we’ll really have a problem when this happens. And as quietly as it’s kept, some say it already has begun.

Criminals aren’t stupid, they’ll eventually search for softer targets near colleges, universities and more affluent parts of the community.  Don’t wait until after you have been victimized by a thug to think about your personal safety.  Wildfire pepper spray and Stun Master‘s 4.5 Million Volt Hot Shot stun gun provide extremely effective non-lethal personal protection for women.

Crime Is Real, Don’t Be A Victim!

Gerald Urban


Consider Taser C2 As a Gift and Save Your Daughter’s Life

Saturday, October 23rd, 2010

These are dangerous times, choosing the Taser C2 as a gift to keep your daughter safe while away at a college or university, is a precaution that makes sense. Don’t wait until after your daughter is victimized by a brutal rape or violently attacked by a street thug…take action now!

The Taser C2 works by firing two small darts, which consist of electrodes. The electrodes are connected to the Taser C2 main unit by a thin wire propelled through the air by compressed nitrogen. The range of the Taser C2 is 15 feet. The Taser C2 has electrodes that can penetrate clothing and have a barbed surface so that it can’t be removed once attached to clothing or skin. The Taser C2 sends an electroshock into the body of the attacker causing instant incapacitation. The Taser C2 works on technology known as Electro Muscular Disruption (EMD), which causes very strong contractions in the attacking thug’s muscles. The extreme involuntary muscle contractions is what incapacitates the attacker, allowing your daughter to safely escape and notify law enforcement. Your Taser C2 will be replaced free of charge, just submit police report to TASER Corporation with request for replacement Taser C2.

Crime Is Real, Don’t Be a Victim!

Gerald Urban