General Safety Tips
On Campus:
• Never walk alone at night. Call a friend or utilize the campus shuttle services.
• Always be aware of your surroundings. Walk purposefully and make eye contact with strangers.
• In parking lots, have keys ready when you approach your car to make your entry easier.
• After dark, try to park in a well-lit area close to your destination.
• Always lock car doors and roll up windows. Keep valuables out of sight or in the trunk.
• If you feel threatened, immediately go to an open building where there are other people or to one of the "blue light" phones around campus.
• Never leave personal items unattended or unlocked.
Home:
• Always lock apartment and residence hall room doors, even when you are there. Take keys with you, even when stepping out for "just a second".
• If you live in an area with locked doors, such as a residence hall, do not let strangers in without a key or access card. This protects both you and your neighbors.
Electrical Safety:
• Do not overload extension cords, power strips, or outlets.
• Get a power strip with an over-current protector.
• Be wary of electrical outlets that are too hot to touch.
• Do not connect multiple extension cords together.
• Do not route cords under doors or carpets.
• Do not staple extension cords.
• Look for the UL Mark on any electrical product you use.
• Use light bulbs with correct wattage for lamps.
Cooking:
• Pay attention when cooking.
• Cook only where rules allow.
• Look for UL-listed appliances that feature automatic shut-off buttons.
• Never plug more than one high-wattage appliance into a single outlet.
• Have plenty of fire-resistant potholders and oven mitts ready for use while cooking.
• Keep curtains, towels, and potholders away from hot surfaces.
• Store solvents and flammable cleaners away from heat sources.
• Keep surfaces clean of grease.
• Never pour water on a grease fire.
• Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher handy.
Fire Safety:
• Never ignore a fire alarm.
• Never disable a smoke alarm by removing the battery.
• Always call the fire department or 9-911 immediately.
• Know your building’s escape plan.
• Know two ways to exit the building from your room.
• Memorize the number of doors to the nearest exit.
• Close doors behind you as you leave the building.
• Protect yourself and your roommates before property and valuables.
• Do not cover or hang items on the fire suppression sprinkler system.For a complete list and further explanations of Residence Hall safety tips, go to www.UL.com/fallsafety.
Social:
• When dating someone you don't know well, ask people you trust about your date.
• Go out with groups or to social situations in which you don't have to be alone with one person.
• Drive yourself and carry extra money in case you need to get home alone.
• If you feel uncomfortable, there's probably a reason. It's better to do something you may consider rude than to remain in a dangerous situation.
• Remember that alcohol impairs both your decision-making processes and the ability to communicate.
Further Safety Tips:• Park in well-lighted areas. Do not park where suspicious persons are loitering. Trust and follow your instincts.
• If you do not have a peephole, request that one be installed.
• Remember to call 9-911 in the event of any emergency.
• Do not open your door for anyone you do not know. If a person in uniform knocks and you did not call for assistance, contact the person's place of employment to verify the reason for the visit.
• Always tell someone where you are going and what time you expect to return.
• Develop a "game plan" for prevention.
• Avoid shortcuts. The shortest route is not always the safest route.
• Dress for mobility, particularly after dark.
• Carry your personal belongings in a backpack or similar container that will enable your arms and hands to be free at all times.
• Know your sexual limits and communicate them clearly and firmly.
• Do not allow your body language to send a different message than what you are verbally communicating.
• Do not go inside your residence if you return and find that the door is ajar. Immediately notify the police.
• Do not give anyone a key to your room. If you lose your room key, report it immediately to your Complex/Hall Office.
• Register, engrave, mark and/or photograph all your valuables including bicycles, stereos, jewelry, vehicles, computers, etc.
• Be aware of suspicious persons and activities. If you observe someone or something suspicious, notify the residence hall staff and the Texas Tech Police Department at (806) 742-3931.
• Report any obscene or irritating telephone calls to the Texas Tech Police Department at (806) 742-3931 and a residence hall staff member.