At this time of year, high school graduates are looking forward to moving onto campus and starting their college careers. It can be a nerve-racking time for parents. Unfortunately, sports injuries in Miami and other types of injuries are quite common on college campuses both in the city and across the state. To keep your child safe or, you will want to:
1) Make sure your child has a cell phone with emergency numbers on it.
Emergency numbers should include the police, friends, and campus security. Unfortunately, assault and sexual assault on Miami and Florida campuses are all too common. Your child should be able to quickly contact someone in an emergency in the event that they do become a target.
2) Do a quick check of dorm room security.
Dorm rooms can be targets for theft and in some cases become the sites for assault. When dropping your child off at school, check to see what policies are in place to control the flow of visitors and residents into the building. Make sure that the buildings and doors are secure and that other safety systems are in place.
3) Check the college website for safety policies and resources.
Does the campus have a walk-home program in the evenings, so that volunteers can accompany students home from the library or other campus facilities? Are the emergency call buttons on campus working? Make sure that your teen is aware of the resources and uses them. You can also check online for the safety rankings by school.
4) Encourage your child to get involved with the student union and to report any unsafe conditions.
Changes are unlikely to be made unless someone speaks up.
5) Check for fire safety policies in dorms.
Dorms should have working smoke detectors, fire drills, and fire extinguishers in place. Emergency exits should be clearly marked. Make sure your teen knows where the nearest emergency exit is from their dorm room.
6) Buy an alarm.
Inexpensive doorstop alarms can alert your teen when someone enters their room. There are even alarms that can keep the door from being opened when it is set off. In an emergency, these alarms can help keep your child safe.
7) Tell your teens about the dangers of drinking.
Drinking and driving in Miami and other cities continues to be a concern and many campus assaults involve alcohol. Being in college means your teen will have more access to campus bars and parties where alcohol is served. Sit down with your teen and talk about drinking responsibly. Emphasize the importance of mixing their own drinks and watching their drinks.
8) Sign up for a safety course.
Many campuses and student unions have safety workshops in the first few weeks of classes and during orientation. These can be a great way to refresh safety tips.
The first two months are sometimes called the Red Zone by authorities and school administrators. This is because on campuses across the country October and September have the highest number of student fatalities, injuries, and accidents. As students get used to living on their own and as campuses are filled with new students, the risks temporarily increase. Keep your teen safer by using the above tips.
If you or a loved one is injured, you can always contact the law firm of Flaxman Law Group for a free accident consultation to get legal advice and support.