Tips for Staying Safe at College

Summer break is ending as quickly as it came! As parents, a solid insurance plan for your student(s) is only one piece of the puzzle. Here are tips to give your child to help keep themselves and their belongings safe while they’re away at school:

• Familiarize yourself with the campus. Tour the campus during the day and walk around at night to familiarize yourself with the facilities and your surroundings, including campus security.
• Don’t walk alone, especially at night. Keep to well-lit pathways. If you don’t have someone with you, call campus security and ask for an escort.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t listen to headphones too loud, and keep your phone in your pocket.
• Report suspicious activity. Call campus security to report anything that seems questionable and unsafe.
• Lock all exterior windows and doors in your dorm room or off-campus apartment.
• Never invite strangers into your residence hall or apartment. Most campuses tend to have easier access and entry points.
• Keep an inventory of your items. Document the serial numbers of electronics, like your laptop. It’s a good idea to leave valuable items at home.
• Beware fire hazards such as cooking devices, extension cords, and candles.
• Drink responsibly (if you are of legal drinking age). Arrange for a ride home or call an Uber, and do not get behind the wheel if you have consumed alcohol.

Many colleges and universities require students to have coverage. Even if health insurance isn’t a requirement for enrollment, having coverage will help protect your finances—or your child’s—from the high cost of any potential medical emergency.

For the most part, college students have four options for health coverage: stay on their parent’s plan, enroll in the student health plan offered by the college or university, apply for coverage on their own, or apply for Medicaid if they qualify.

Let us ease your mind with the protection of AFI’s Umbrella Insurance, which includes coverage above and beyond your homeowner, personal liability, and auto insurance. Protect nearly everything else with AFI insurance products. Learn more here.

This blog originally was posted on AFI’s website.

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