21 5 Essential Tips for Safe Living Off-Campus

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As a student, living off-campus can offer you greater freedom and independence and may even be more enriching. However, with that excitement of solo living comes the responsibility of staying safe and looking out for yourself. 

Whether you’re moving into an apartment or a house, these essential safety tips can help you make sure your off-campus life is worry-free and more secure.

1. Choose a Safe Neighborhood

While you may not know it outright, you need to do a little background check of your chosen neighborhood before signing a lease, especially as the location is key to your safety. You may look up crime statistics and make sure your new home is in a well-lit, populated area with a reputation for low crime rates and reports.

You can also check local crime maps, like in some cities. Your new location may have helpful online tools where you can browse through and review neighborhood crime data. Also, you can talk to your future neighbors. They’re your prime source of insights into your new home’s safety and can even recommend nearby amenities.

Most of all, you’ll save a lot if you’re closer to campus, and, at the same time, it can reduce the risk of transportation issues. It can also provide you with quicker access to school resources in emergencies.

2. Secure Your Living Space

Once you’ve chosen where you want to live, including the apartment or house, securing it is your next topmost priority. Some safety measures can greatly reduce the likelihood of break-ins or other security concerns in your new home, and it can save on your student allowance, too.

Many landlords today allow you to upgrade, like installing deadbolt locks, which are much stronger and can keep you safer inside than regular ones. If you can, opt for systems with cameras, alarms, and remote access features. There are even affordable and easy-to-install units like these you can do yourself.

Also, as an additional safety net, you need to always lock your windows, especially if you live in a ground-floor unit. You can even consider adding window sensors or bars on them.

If needed, you can also have a wearable monitoring device, especially if you have health issues, so you can make sure someone is also monitoring your health while you’re traversing to and from campus.

3. Have a Plan for Emergencies

Like your school activities, preparation is key when dealing with unexpected situations like accidents, medical emergencies, or security threats. So, it’s best that you know what to do ahead of time before incidents happen to prevent panic and make sure you take the right steps.

As much as possible, learn car accident dos and don’ts, especially if you’re in places like Indianapolis and on your way to your college in Arizona. You can always reach out to your friendly attorneys for this know-how so you’ll know how to properly document the scene, exchange information, and contact the right authorities. 

You may need to save important contacts like local police, hospitals, campus security, and trusted friends on your smartphone so you can easily call on them. Also, many colleges today offer services like legal aid, counseling, and housing assistance, aside from some established student assistance centers. 

It might be best that you’re aware of what’s available to you as one of the off-campus students.

4. Be Cautious with Transportation After Dark

If you opt for a farther-from-school neighborhood, traveling late at night can increase your exposure to risks. So, whether you’re commuting from a night class, work, or social events, you need to plan safe transportation.

You might be able to avail of your school’s shuttle services, if possible, especially during late-night classes or other campus activities. Also, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft can provide safe, traceable transportation options. But if you’re just walking home, it’s best to go home with friends; it’s always safer than going alone. 

If possible, you can create a buddy system with your fellow students, especially if you live in the same neighborhood. Just avoid isolated routes, be cautious, always stick to well-lit paths with higher foot traffic, and avoid eerie-feeling shortcuts like alleys or deserted areas.

5. Learn Basic Self-Defense

Although avoiding danger and dangerous situations is always best, knowing how to defend yourself can be invaluable and handy just in case push becomes shove. So you can take some self-help learnings, like taking a self-defense course or elective.

Some schools offer free or low-cost classes that teach practical self-defense skills, like in their physical education courses. You can even prepare and bring along pepper spray or a personal safety alarm just to deter attackers or help alert others if you’re in danger.

Also, it’s best to stay alert and avoid distractions, like texting or listening to music at high volumes, especially if you’re walking alone. These details, no matter how small and ordinary, can help you get home safely, especially if you’re living off-campus.