Staying Safe

Follow these tips to stay safe and secure

• In Emerson's residence halls or at home
• While walking
• While biking
• While driving

Protect Yourself in the Residence Halls and at Home

• Always lock your door, even when you intend to return shortly or you are just going down the hall. It takes a thief 10 seconds or less to enter an open room and steal your property.
• Lock or secure doors and windows when you are alone or asleep.
• Do not prop open outer doors.
• Do not allow strangers to enter premises.
• If someone asks to use your phone for an emergency call, offer to telephone for them instead of allowing them access.
• Keep emergency numbers by your phone.
• Do not leave messages on your door indicating you are away and/or when you will return.
• Do not put your address on your key ring.
• Do not leave keys in hiding places. Thieves will find them.
• On campus, call the Police Department(extension 8888) to report suspicious activity. Off campus, use the emergency number of the city or town. (Boston, Brookline, Cambridge = 911) Immediately give the dispatcher your location. Then give the nature of the emergency. If possible, stay on the line until help arrives or the dispatcher terminates the call.
• Keep automatic teller machine (ATM) cards in a safe place. Never reveal your personal identification number to anybody, particularly anyone who purports to be a bank employee conducting a security survey. Never loan your ATM card to anyone. When possible, only use ATMs during the day. If you need to bank at night, use a machine in a well-lighted area, such as a shopping mall or supermarket.

Protect Yourself When Walking 

• Avoid walking alone at night unless absolutely necessary.
• Keep to well-lit, commonly traveled routes. Avoid shortcuts and dark, isolated areas.
• If you feel threatened, cross the street, enter a business establishment, or otherwise seek the safety of having other persons around you. Trust your instincts: if someone or something makes you uneasy, you are probably correct.
• Walk purposefully; know where you are going; do not project the image of a victim.
• Constantly maintain awareness of your surroundings. Avoid potentially dangerous situations.
• Always dress for freedom of movement when walking.
• Have your door keys ready; carry them in your hand or pocket, not buried in a purse.
• Avoid giving directions to persons in motor vehicles. If you feel you must, do not approach the vehicle closely. Speak from a distance and be prepared to flee in the opposite direction if necessary.

Protect Yourself When Biking

• Wear a helmet. More than 70 percent of bicycle-related fatalities are the result of head injuries.
• At night, always wear light-colored clothing.
• Put an illuminated headlight and taillight on your bike.
• Ride with the flow of traffic.
• Wear shoes/sneakers when operating a bike.

Protect Yourself When Driving

• Always keep your car door locked.
• Never give a stranger a ride.
• Check your back seat before entering your car. 
• Put valuables in your trunk or out of sight.
• Always have a spare tire and a jack in working order.
• If you break down, wait with your vehicle and call AAA or the police. Do not accept a ride from a stranger.
• Keep a copy of your vehicle registration in your car.
• If you feel followed, drive toward a well-lit public area and call the police.