Your Safety

 

 

Atlanta is a city with many things to do, and we encourage you to experience the recreational, historical and cultural richness of this area while you are studying in Georgia.  We do wish to remind you that in Atlanta, like in many cities throughout the world, you must be sensible about your personal safety and the safekeeping of your belongings.  Here are some safety rules to keep in mind while living in any metropolitan area in the United States:

 

Personal Safety

 

·         Avoid walking alone at night, especially in areas that are not well lighted.  When possible, go out with a trustworthy companion.

 

·         Do not give rides to strangers in your car.  Do not pick up hitchhikers.

 

·         Do not accept rides from strangers. Do not hitchhike.

 

·         Never open the door to your home to a stranger even if they look like a “nice” person. Use the peephole if available, and ask for identification from repair persons.

 

·         Beware of “false friends”.  Take time to get to know people so you can determine how much you can trust them.  Sometimes people are friendly for the wrong reasons.  For example, beware of people who may pressure you to join groups or organizations that are not legitimate.

 

In case of an emergency in your home or in your car, dial 911 on your phone to request immediate assistance.

 

Protecting your Property

 

·         Never leave valuables (wallets, purses, calculators, lap top computers, etc.) unattended, even briefly. 

 

·         Don’t leave valuables in your car, especially if they are visible.

 

·         Always lock the doors to your house or apartment and keep windows closed and locked.

 

·         Lock up bicycles and motorcycles.  Lock car doors and close windows when leaving your car.

 

·         Be careful with keys:

a.       Keep a second set of keys in a place only you or a trusted friend know about.

b.       Remove identification tags from keys so that a burglar cannot use them on your locks.

 

·         Never give out personal information such as your bank account number or credit card number over the phone.  A polite way to quickly end an unsolicited sales call is to say, “Thank you, but I’m not interested” and hang up the phone.

 

·         Purchase Renter Insurance.  If you rent an apartment or a home, you should strongly consider purchasing Renter Insurance.  This is insurance which protects a renter’s personal property and household items in the event of fire or other losses.  Renter Insurance is usually available at reasonable rates through major insurance companies.  You can get more information and rate quotes on the worldwide web by entering the term “Renter Insurance”.  One example of a web site is:  http://www.insurance.com.

 

If you are careful, most likely nothing will happen.  However, if you are a victim of a theft or other crime, report the incident to the police immediately.  

 

The Florida Citizen’s Safety Council has a very good website that can give you a lot of information about the following topics:

 

• Protect yourself when using a bank's automated teller machine (ATM)
• Protect your business from burglary
• Protect yourself from a carjacking
• Protect yourself from motor vehicle theft
• Safeguard your child
• Protect yourself from home burglary
• Safeguard your home
• Protect yourself in parking garages
• Protect yourself while shopping
• Safeguard your home while on vacation
• Protect yourself while walking at night

 

The website is at http://legal.firn.edu/justice/safety.html

 

 

For more information about safety issues, please contact your campus Protective Services office, your local Police Department, or International Student Admissions and Advising.