Oct 23, 2020 10:55 PM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

Personal safety has become a hot topic recently. More and more people have recognized the need to protect themselves and their property. By being more aware, using common sense, and technology, keeping yourself and your loved ones safe is easier than ever.

There are many risks we're exposed every day - from health issues to crime. Sometimes we can prevent them, but more often, we need to be able to react when they occur. If anything happens, we can count on some helpful gadgets. Just keep in mind to stay calm and rational.

Students living on their own should be especially careful. They face various unpredictable situations every day. In this post, we'll provide some tips on how to prevent danger from happening in the first place and how to stay safe if they eventually do happen.

Medical Alert Systems

Injuries can happen to everyone, whether they're caused by falling, kitchen accidents, or something else. In these cases, alert systems will notify your caregiver, friends, and family. Depending on the features the system provides, some are better than the other.

The offer varies by price and options, but basically, you should look for ones that offer:

• Purpose - health and personal security,

• Fall detection,

• Sufficient movement range,

• Fall detection range,

• Battery life and backup,

• Warranty,

• Decent app,

• Cellular connection,

• GPS tracking.

Best medical alert systems offer those features. Most medical systems come in the form of a necklace, pendant, bracelet, keychain, or similar conveniently shaped objects that are easily accessible. In case of an emergency, you press a button and verify that you need help from an operator. He will alert a family member, friend or directly dispatch emergency response at your address.

The prompt reaction can reduce the severity of the injury or medical emergency.

In cases where the alert isn't necessary, creating a home emergency kit can be helpful.

Consider how many people and animals will depend on your survival/first aid kit and supply it accordingly. Try to determine what kind of emergency can occur in the place you live, too.

Some of the must-have things to put in the kit:

• Water (do you need a filtering straw?),

• Food,

• Communication and lights,

• First aid,

• Shelter and clothing,

• Personal hygiene,

• Multitool.

You can add other things you find useful. Try to provide necessities for at least three days of emergency. Keep adding up if you can and keep it somewhere easily accessible.

Home Security

Thefts occur most often when it looks like no one is at home. The safest option is to install a home security system. You can leave a couple of lights on or install motion sensors. If you're gone for more than a few days, postpone your post to avoid piling up, ask someone to mow your lawn, etc.

Tell only your closest friends and neighbors that you're gone. Avoid posting on social media, as someone might get the advantage of your absence. Put curtains on windows, so others can't see inside. You can ask someone to come and check your home now and then.

Hide all of your valuable things, and make a list of your inventory, especially serial numbers of your electronic device. Leaving for vacation or a business trip doesn't have to mean leaving your home unprotected.

Other Security Risks and Student Personal Protection

Other than health and accident risk, there are many other risks we face every day. There are alert systems made for those situations, too. Some even combine medical and safety alerts in one gadget.

They can come in handy in situations like:

• Physical/Sexual attack - they happen anywhere, and students are at greater risk.

• Disappearance/Kidnapping - GPS locator in your personal security gadget helps track the movement.

• Stalking - contacting a support center for a virtual escort, or notifying your family and friends if needed.

There are also some precautions you can do yourself to minimize the risk before it even happens, especially if you live outside the campus. Keeping a secure off-campus house is important too. Work with your roommates to create a strategy and rules. That way, you'll protect your home and belongings.

• Ask your landlord to change the locks

• Install a peephole

• Secure windows and doors with locks

• Don't put your full name on the mailbox - use first and middle name initials

• Don't hide a key around the house. Instead, give it to the neighbor you thrust

• Close your curtains and blinds

• Keep a list of your belongings and their serial number if they have one

• Disconnect power cords you won't use

• If you're away, make it seem like someone is at home.

It takes little effort to make your surroundings safer. It's a precaution measure we recommend initiating.

With That Being Said

Whether it's a medical emergency or any other risk, keeping safe and secure is a priority. Thanks to various alert systems, combined for both situations, we feel a lot safer. Furthermore, with those things we can do ourselves to prevent any danger, we're minimizing the risk. Better safe than sorry is, without a doubt, the best scenario in this case.

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