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Personal Safety Tips
- Do not allow the opportunity for a crime to occur - avoid placing yourself in environments where criminals will have the opportunity to commit a personal crime.
- Always keep your doors and windows locked.
- If possible, let a friend or roommate know where and with whom you'll be and when you'll be back when you go out.
- Trust your instincts - if you feel uncomfortable about someone near you on the street, in an elevator, or getting off a bus, head for a populated place or yell for help.
- Use well-lit and busy sidewalks.
- Avoid walking alone or walking near vacant lots, alleys, construction sites, and wooded areas.
- Learn the locations of emergency phones on campus.
- Carry a cell phone, whistle, or a personal alarm to alert people that you need help.
- In an elevator, stand near the controls; if you feel threatened, hit the alarm and as many floor buttons as you can.
- When you're on a bus, sit as near the driver as possible.
- Try to park in an area that will be well-lit and heavily traveled when you return.
- Lock your car doors and roll up the windows completely - even if you're only running a quick errand.
- Drink responsibly - remember your ability to respond is diminished by over-consumption of alcohol.
- Stay alert at all times and call the police immediately to report suspicious activity.
- Never leave personal property (e.g., book bags, laptop computers, etc.) unattended.
- Put ICE (In Case of Emergency) in your cell phone, along with a name and telephone number of a loved one, to enable emergency services personnel to contact your family in the event of an emergency.
- Excessive volume or use of electronic devices (iPods, PDAs, cell phones, etc.) distracts you from being alert to potential safety issues. Unplug yourself and tune in to your immediate environment.
- Utilize crosswalks at all times and obey the signals at intersections when walking. Under Illinois law, as a pedestrian, you DO NOT have the right of way until you establish yourself in the crosswalk. If you are crossing at any location other than a crosswalk, you MUST yield to vehicular traffic.
- When driving, be alert for pedestrians and bicyclists and yield to them when required by law.
- Register your contact information with Illini-Alert (formally “UI Emergency!")‚ at emergency.illinois.edu to receive messages about critical safety issues on campus.
- For more information on crime prevention, emergency preparedness, tornado safety and more, or to submit questions, visit publicsafety.illinois.edu or www.ocep.illinois.edu.
