Campus Safety Tips for College Students

Photo: Pinterest

As a new college student, you’re dealing with a lot of “firsts”—probably your first time away from home for more than a few days, your first time being on your own and having real control over your schedule, your first time meeting new people (students and faculty) who are different from your friends, classmates, and teachers in high school. College is also likely the first time you’re really looking out for yourself—both your physical safety and personal property. Even if you’re going to a small school in a tight-knit community, you always want to make your safety and well-being a top priority.

Below are a few basic ways you and your belongings can stay safe on campus.

Walk in well-lit areas. Obviously, you’ll have to leave your room and walk around campus for a variety of reasons. If you’re coming back to your dorm after dark, stay in lighted areas and/or walk with at least one other student if you can.

Check in with your roommate(s). You’ll likely have a different class or social schedule from your roommate, so you may not see each other regularly.  But you should always let someone know your whereabouts if you’re leaving your room. At one time, students left messages for each other on white boards on their dorm room doors (low tech, but effective!). Text messages and other forms of instant communication have come along since, and with everyone connected at all times, it seems, there’s really no reason to not let your roommate know where you are (and vice versa).

Protect your possessions. Always lock your door when you leave your room, and encourage your roommate to do the same. Even if you have friends on the same floor or in the same building, don’t leave yourself open to potential theft. And never, ever leave your bag unattended. Think about it—you’re carrying around textbooks and electronics worth a few thousand dollars. It would be a shame to call Mom and Dad and explain your bag was stolen while you were in the dining hall or library. Some campus buildings, like the dining hall or bookstore, require students to leave their bags outside and provide storage carrels for this purpose.

Create a personal inventory. A personal inventory is a list of your most valuable possessions. If you’re keeping costly electronics or sports equipment in your dorm, you should have a list of these items should you ever have to make a claim because they were lost, stolen, or damaged. Contact your insurance agent to see if they have an inventory template you can use, otherwise you can download one. Some insurance carriers even have apps that allow you to catalog your belongings instantly.

Ask your parents if their homeowners’ insurance policy extends to your on-campus housing in the dorm. If it does, this means you (or your parents) can file a claim in case something from your room is lost, stolen, or damaged.

College is great—the time in your life to learn more about yourself and your interests, and develop some independence and personal responsibility. Make the most of it, and do it safely!

Preparing Your Pet for a Move

Photo: thesprucepets.com

Moving is one of the most stressful life events you’ll ever experience.  New beginnings can be exciting, but there’s a lot of work to do before you even get close to the new beginning! From choosing a new home to downsizing and packing your belongings to saying goodbye to your old neighborhood—not to mention the actual move itself…the stressors are endless.  Some of us try to limit how many times we relocate simply to avoid the stress!

But you’re not alone. Your pet is picking up on your stress, too.  They’re affected by the move and will need a period of adjustment, just like you and your family. Luckily, there are a few ways you can make the change a little easier for everyone.

Like most pet owners, you probably considered your pet’s needs when you were looking at homes. Whether you have a large dog who needs a spacious back

yard for running and playing or a cat who’s content to perch on top of cabinets or bookshelves, you should assess their needs just as much as any other family member’s. Fortunately, animals are resilient and should adjust to their new surroundings in a few days—a few weeks at most—but you can still try to make the transition itself as smooth as possible.

Get your pet used to being in a crate for long stretches of time.  If your pet normally has the run of your house and only crated for the occasional vet visit, they probably won’t like their period of confinement. If you’re driving to your new home, your car is likely packed with your belongings (not to mention the rest of your family) so you can’t let your pet enjoy the same freedom they would at home. Crating them is the best solution.  Plan frequent stops so your pet can come out of their crate for a short time and take care of business.

When you get to your new home, the experts at the ASPCA recommend you do some pet-proofing—tuck away electrical cords, secure window screens, and remove any stray insect repellants or traps the previous owners may have left behind.

Rather than give your pet the entire house to explore, the ASPCA pros suggest introducing them to the house slowly, perhaps room by room, so they don’t get overwhelmed (or worse, lost—remember, you’re still learning your way around, too!)

Change is never easy, but to new circumstances is usually easier if you can take things one step at a time. Your pet is the same way.

Have you ever moved with a pet? What was your experience? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!  

Ideas for Celebrating National Motorcycle Week

Photo: Dissolve

August 14-20 is National Motorcycle Week—a celebration of the motorcycle and all the lifestyle entails. Whether you’re a full-time rider or a weekend warrior, your motorcycle is probably a big part of your life. What could be better than a whole week devoted to your favorite pastime? But if you can’t spare a whole seven days, there are still a few ways you can make the most of this national occasion. Below are a few ideas.

Attend a Bike Night or rally. Sometimes local groups hold Bike Nights as fundraisers or annual community events. These events allow bikers to meet and talk about their rides, and usually include bike runs, food vendors, music, and other activities.

Buy some new gear. If you’re going out to a Bike Night or other event, you need the proper riding gear. A helmet is a must—according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, helmets are 37 percent effective in preventing motorcycle deaths and 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries.  Boots, goggles, and gloves are other essentials. Cover your arms and legs completely by wearing heavy leather or denim.   

Take a ride. Or, just spend some time on the open road, either solo or with your fellow biker friends. Riding solo gives you the time and space to just relax and watch the world go by; riding with others builds camaraderie and gives others the chance to “have your back” and keep each other safe as you travel.

Buy insurance! There’s more than one way to stay safe as you head out. Besides wearing the right gear and following the rules of the road, motorcycle insurance gives you even more protection.   

Here at ETA Benefits Group, we work with several motorcycle insurance carriers and can shop around to find you the best coverage that meets your needs and your budget. Contact us to learn more! 

What to Do if Your Car Breaks Down

Photo: Crash Services

It can happen to anyone. You’re in your car, driving along, minding your own business, maybe singing along to the radio, when suddenly your car makes a funny noise and stops. Or you hit something and get a flat tire.

Do you know what to do?

Move your car to the shoulder of the road or a safe location out of the flow of traffic if you can, especially if you’re on a highway.  If your car dies right in the middle of the road, stay in the vehicle.

If this happens during the day, put on your emergency blinkers (4-ways) to alert other drivers that you’re having car trouble. If it’s at night, open the door not facing traffic so your interior overhead light comes on.

If your tire is flat, don’t try to change it unless you’re in a safe location and the flat tire is on the side away from traffic.

Call for emergency assistance. If you belong to AAA or another motor club, give them a call and they can send a tow truck. They’ll ask your location and what’s wrong with your vehicle, so if it’s something other than a flat tire, try to pinpoint the problem before calling.

You should have an emergency kit in your car for times like these—breakdowns can happen to anyone, at any time, so it’s always good to be prepared. According to the DMV’s website, an emergency kit should include:

• First aid kit
• Fire extinguisher (ideally a small one that's easy to store)
• Road flares (if not already in your tire-changing tools)
• Jumper cables
• Rain ponchos
• Tarp
• Flashlight and extra batteries.
• Rags
• Duct tape
• Scent-free baby wipes
• Drinking water and non-perishable snacks.
• Multipurpose tool

A breakdown can be a harrowing experience, but if you stay calm, put safety first (yours as well as your passengers'), and follow the steps above, you'll make it through the incident just fine.

Would you add any other tips to the list? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

Do's and Don'ts During Thunderstorms

Summer can have some unexpected (and dramatic!) weather, from hurricanes to tornadoes and massive flooding. These major weather events can cause extensive damage to people and property, but a common lightning storm can leave a devastating impact, as well. Lightning can pose serious safety risks, but there are precautions you can take to protect yourself and your property until the storm blows over. Below are a few basic do’s and don’ts to keep in mind during a thunderstorm. For more helpful safety tips, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s website.

Do:

      Stay inside.  There’s no guarantee that lightning won’t affect an enclosed shelter, but you’ll be much safer inside.  A house, business, office building, or car with a hard top would all be considered enclosed shelters.

Stay away from windows.  It seems like a no-brainer, but make sure all entryways to your home are shut tightly so the rain won’t get in and cause water damage.  Once the windows are shut, move away from them. The lightning could travel through the metal in the window frame.  
Stay away from electronic equipment. If possible, avoid watching TV, using any electronic device or appliances during a thunderstorm. Lightning can travel through a house’s electrical system or TV and radio connection systems (and you can get a serious jolt if you use any of the above electronics). Invest in whole-house surge protectors to keep your electronics and appliances safe.

Don’t:

 Go near water. As mentioned above, don’t use your washer or dryer, but also avoid washing your hands, doing dishes, or taking a shower during a thunderstorm, as lightning can travel through a building’s plumbing.

Seek shelter in an open structure or space. If you’re outside and caught off guard by a sudden thunderstorm, try to get to a sturdy, enclosed structure rather than one that’s open, such as a pavilion or gazebo.  Also avoid waiting it out in a vehicle like a convertible or golf cart.  If you’re outside with no visible means of shelter, crouch down as low as you can, with as little of your body touching the ground as possible.

Use a phone with a cord. Corded phones are a bigger safety risk because lightning can travel down the phone cables. Cordless or cell phones are safe to use.

Go outside.  Watch the weather forecast and take weather alerts on your electronic device seriously. If there’s a storm in the forecast, be prepared to delay, postpone, or cancel your outdoor plans. Take the time to secure or bring in outdoor furniture or other lightweight items that could blow away when the storm finally hits. Bring pets and plants inside and be prepared to wait it out.

Lightning is impressive to watch (when you’re safely inside, at a distance) but it can be dangerous if you don’t take the proper precautions.