Home Security

With the summer season coming to a close, the time to think about the approaching school year is now. For some, it may mean that boxes will be packed up and moved in to a college dorm room. This may be an exciting and frightening thought for parents and students alike. But even more concerning for parents is the safety of the college campus that their daughter will now call home.

While students are interested in the academic achievements of the college, the extra curricular activities offered and the nightlife in the surrounding area, campus safety is one of the top concerns of parents when their children are ready to enter the next chapter of their education.

As unfortunate as it is, the night life on college campuses is often one the main reasons students (especially the female students) feel the need to carry some type of self defense product with them. The good news is that many of these safety items are inexpensive and are easy to obtain (check local & state laws on legality).

There are a large variety of self defense products that are small enough to carry comfortably without interfering with day to day activities. One of the most popular of these personal protection items is mace or pepper spray. These can be easily added to a key chain or carried in a pocket or purse. With no training needed, and the effect of the spray being instantaneous and disabling these easy to use products give you the chance to get to safety.

Another simple option are stun guns. Easy to use, battery operated and with sizes varying (some can fit in the palm of your hand) these inexpensive devices are growing in popularity. The main idea of this type of electrical device is to momentarily immobilize the attacker without causing any long term damage.

Tasers are becoming another extremely popular self defense product. The Taser actually shoots electrodes at an attacker from a distance. The advantage of this is that the attacker does not have to be very close for the device to become effective, however, it can be used up close also much like a stun gun.

Self defense videos and classes are also an excellent way to effectively protect yourself. Friends may choose to take the class as a group to help relieve some of the anxiety. Some colleges and community centers may offer classes at little or no charge.

By: Cherie Litchfield

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When first arriving at college and first walking into the barren dorm room, new students may realize that they still have a lot of shopping to do in order to decorate those blank walls and actually DO something with the place. Sometimes this task may even take a lot of the year and then by the end…it’s time to take everything down. Better preparation is the key.

The first step in getting that dorm room in a livable fashion is to contact your roommate if you haven’t already and take a little time to get to know them and to find out what exactly they like on their walls. It is also a good idea at this time to get the dimensions of the room so you can properly plan out what to bring. This information may be online, but if not, then just contact your college or university and they will be glad to help in most cases.

Once you contact your roommate, you will both have to decide on a color scheme and theme for the room. There is nothing worse living with a roommate than a really bad decorator you are afraid to say anything to the entire year because you know it may very well hurt their feelings. Get things out in the open about what you want the dorm room to look like early on in order to help alleviate these disagreements. Remember, you will be living in very close quarters for an entire school year.

Next, find out what the college dorms do not allow in the dorm rooms. This is normally limited to candles or other fire-breathing items as well as such things as halogen lamps which COULD start a fire if something is laid on top of it. The limitations may seem a bit extreme but it is only for the safety and well being of ALL the students living there.

Once you have figured out what you both want and what the limitations at the dorm are, collect the items that you can use among both or you as well as just yourself and compile a list of items that are still going to be needed. It would be a good time to buy these items ANYTIME before the school year begins as there will be a lot of things going on at the university that you may gave to miss out on just to get your dorm room set up and shopping for stuff like extension cords.

Through decorating the dorm room together, this helps you and your new roommate actually start talking and helps alleviate those anxieties of living with a complete stranger in a small dorm room. Sometimes friends will request each other and become roommates, not bad. But in most cases, students living in the dorms are given a random roommate and will have to learn to live with the person whether they talk first or not. So why not give it a try and get that dorm decorated and set up the way that BOTH of you want it to be. And if they are a very passive person who says they don’t care what it looks like, try to get SOMETHING out of them as they will ultimately have to live with it too in the long run.

By: S. Michael Windsor

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Decorating a dorm room for the holidays can be a fun adventure if you take a little time to create a Christmas atmosphere. Holiday decorations don’t have to be overly dramatic or excessive in order to liven up your living space. If you are looking for a few simple and fun ways to decorate your dorm room for the holidays, then check out these practical ideas.

Best Advice: Play Holiday Music

The great thing about music is that it extends beyond the small four walls of your dorm room and creates an inviting atmosphere for the entire hall. It doesn’t have to be loud or obnoxious, but a soft tune in the background can be quite relaxing and entertaining. There is a vast assortment of Christmas CDs at almost any music store, so you can select the style that you like the best. In addition, you can continue to create this warm environment by buying a scented plug-in that has a cinnamon or apple aroma. This will surely welcome any visitors to your dorm room.

Share the Fun: Include Your Friends

Stringing popcorn can be a fun evening activity for everyone in your residence hall. This might be more appealing to girls, but guys might even jump in on this craft. Unsurprisingly, popcorn is a staple in most dorms and it is inexpensive, so use it to spread holiday cheer. Once the strands of popcorn have been created, you can hang them across windowsills and doorways. This activity provides a way to get into the Christmas spirit and socialize with your friends at the same time. For safety reasons, make sure that the strands of popcorn are not near any flammable surfaces or heat vents.

Design with Ease: Use Simple Decorations

A small Christmas tree with miniature ornaments can be just as cheerful as a big tree. Most craft stores offer these miniature trees in decorated form, so you can purchase the finished product if you don’t want to decorate it yourself. In addition, Christmas tree lights always create a vibrant holiday atmosphere. Many craft stores and discount stores carry peel off Christmas window stickers that you could adhere to your outside windows. Typically, they can be removed by just peeling them off the glass surface. You could also make big paper ornaments, Christmas trees, or snowmen and place them on the outside of each individual door room door. Your hall mates could take turns writing a favorite Christmas memory, song, movie etc. on each other’s paper door decorations.

By: Kristine Tucker

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College is supposed to be one of the best times in a person’s life. With so much to learn and experience, it’s easy to get caught up in the fun and excitement. But what about safety? Though they might seem self-contained and cozy, college campuses aren’t isolated from crime.

Know the facts about college safety
1) Rape is the most common violent crime on US campuses.
2) College students are victims of identity theft more often than other groups.
3) More college students are stalked than other groups.

Why is there so much crime on college campuses? When a bunch of young adults from all walks of life are thrown together, almost anything could happen.

Alcohol

Having a few beers with friends at a bar is one thing, but getting tanked at a frat house filled with strangers is quite another. Alcohol plays a major role in sexual assaults. In fact, more than 70,000 college students are victims of an alcohol-related assault each year. If you want to stay safety-conscious, stay aware of how much you’ve had to drink.

Date rape drugs

Your safety can also depend on who you know. Nearly all cases of date rape are instances where the victim knew his or her attacker. If you stop paying attention at a club or crowded college party, it’s easy for someone to slip an odorless, colorless date rape drug into your drink. Don’t be suspicious of all your friends, but keep an eye on your beverage.

Computer labs

Labs aren’t the problem. Students who are unfamiliar with computer safety precautions are. Many college students frequent campus computer labs to study and communicate with family and friends. Unfortunately, these labs are the perfect breeding ground for identity theft. You jeopardize your safety every time you enter personal information into lab computers. Use a private desktop or laptop to check your bank accounts, pay bills, and shop online.

Sour relationships

Campuses are a common place for stalkers to prey on their victims. When college relationships end badly, stalking can and does occur. Worse, campus stalkers are familiar with their victims’ daily routines. If you suspect you are being stalked, don’t wait for the situation to get out of control – notify the campus authorities immediately.

College safety guidelines

It’s important to have a good time and enjoy your college experience, but you have to stay smart about safety. Just exercise good judgment and common sense:

1) Lock everything from your doors to your windows.
2) Keep an eye out for suspicious behavior and be aware of people as they approach you.
3) Check your car as you approach for someone hiding underneath or on the passenger side.
4) Don’t carry large sums of money.
5) Travel in groups for added safety.
6) Stick to well lit areas if you have to walk on campus at night.
7) Yell “fire!” instead of “help!” if you are in danger, because people are more likely to respond to that.
Don’t hang around outside your car or dorm room too long before going in.
9) Beware of headphones when you are jogging alone. They drown out any noise an approaching attacker might make.
10) Let someone know where you are going and when you should be back.

These are all easy things that could make a big difference in your campus life. Don’t get so preoccupied with safety that it keeps you from having a good time, but keep your well-being in mind.

By: Ralph Winn

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One of the most annoying parts about trying to eat healthy food in college is that there aren’t a whole lot of things you can do with the cooking tools you can have in your dorm room. Here are a few healthy snacks that you can make with nothing but a hot pot, a microwave, and a toaster.

1. Bagels with cream cheese. This one’s pretty obvious, and it’s easy if you can have a toaster in your room. If you don’t have a toaster with extra-wide slots, pick up the miniature bagels that will fit in a regular toaster. Try flavoring your cream cheese yourself with honey or cinnamon.

2. Hard-boiled eggs. These are really healthy snacks when you need some protein to stick with you through a boring afternoon class. All you have to do is use your hot pot and put the raw eggs in gently when the water is boiling. You may want to slide a couple of eggs into a plastic bag first to control the mess if the eggs crack open before they’re done.

3. Oatmeal. This is a great snack when you have a carb craving, especially if you use the old-fashioned oats, which are a whole grain full of nutrients like iron. You can microwave even old-fashioned oatmeal. For a fruity kick, make it with apple cider instead of water, or make it with milk for a creamier flavor.

4. Trail mix. Buying actual trail mix can be pretty expensive, but you can buy nuts and dried fruit in bulk and mix up your own trail mix with the ingredients you like the most. If you need a treat, add some dark chocolate chips to the mix.

5. Ants on a Log. This fantastic elementary school snack is a good combination of fiber, protein, and carbs. Spread some peanut butter on a celery stick, and top it with a few raisins for ants.

6. Pita pizzas. This one is a little more complex, but it’s still easy to do in your dorm room. Stock your fridge with a small jar of spaghetti sauce, some chopped pizza veggies, and some Italian-style shredded cheese. Spread your sauce on a whole wheat pita, add veggies and cheese, and nuke it for about a minute.

7. Roll ups. You can make a roll up out of just about anything. Lunch meat is a cheap option for adding protein to your diet. Spread some hummus or whatever else you like on a piece of lunch meat, roll it up into a cigar shape, and enjoy!

8. Pudding. When you need some satisfaction for your sweet tooth, grab some pudding packets from the grocery store and make your own pudding. The low sugar varieties don’t have too many calories in them, and all you need is a bit of milk to mix up your own dorm room dessert.

These are all snacks that involve a bit of “putting-together,” but you can keep a lot of other snacks in your room that don’t need any work on your part. Pick up good cereals, whole pieces of fruit, veggies, and jerky for your dorm room so that you have a satisfying snack whenever you need one.

By: Crystal Galbus

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Enjoy a burning candle without worrying about your safety. Before you ‘light up,’ read the safety tips outlined below. Abide by them every time you light a wick and enjoy the ambiance and scented relaxation your candles provide over and over.

Safety tips for the conscientious candle user:

- Never place a lit candle underneath a vent. The air coming out could cause the flame to jump to nearby curtains, tablecloth, etc.

- Give that candle top billing in the middle of a table or atop a sturdy counter; don’t wedge it between flammable items. One reason that candles are taboo inside dorm rooms is the close quarters. If your area is also congested, consider lighting a candle somewhere else.

- Trim that wick. A high one is more exposed, giving the flame more room to ‘jump.’

- Always contain the wax that inevitably will melt over. For a votive, this means a sturdy glass holder. An obvious benefit of jar candles is that the jar contains the wax. If you do not want to be bothered to remember to use holders or trays, always choose a jar candle.

- If you or someone in your household has respiratory challenges, consider soy-based candles that emit no scent. These clean burning candles do not release the soot that traditional wax candles emit, leaving no airborne reminder that they have been lit at all. A note for the penny-pinching candle buyer: Soy burns slower than traditional wax, so these candles last longer.

- Use a snuffing instrument to extinguish the flame. Many people think that licking two fingers and pinching the wick is sufficient. It goes without saying that this practice can easily result in burns. The fire is often not completely extinguished, leaving the fire to sputter and emit a good deal of soot.

- If you are planning to light floating candles, make sure that there is nothing in that bowl of water that could catch fire. Sprigs of foliage are not a good addition here. If you are going to use floating candles, float them in the water and don’t add anything else to the bowl.

- When lighting any candle, use the correct lighting instrument. For an exposed wick, a cigarette lighter or match is fine. For mature candles that have begun to lose their wicks, use a lighter that lets you keep the flame away from your fingers.

A burning candle represents so much. Ambiance, heat, aromatherapy and an escape from the everyday stresses of life are just a few. Use your candle collection responsibly and enjoy all the benefits they have to offer.

By: Kevin Kaplan

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Safety on college campuses today is paramount. Two-way radio intercom systems and safety call boxes are an essential part of keeping campuses safe and crime free. In today’s world the safety of our college students is becoming more and more important. We hear of so many tragic situations that could have been avoided if the proper safety equipment had been available for use.

College campuses generally cover a large area and two way radio wireless call boxes should be installed all over the grounds as a crime deterrent. Young women and men should not have to worry whether or not they are safe walking around on campus. College is a supposed to be a home away from home and call boxes can ensure that students feel safe.

Often times students have to walk long distances to get to their destination on campus. When a student is walking alone knowing a two way radio call box is nearby is priceless psychological assurance. Today’s students face many situations that we wish did not exist: assault, rape, robbery all occur on college campuses nationwide. It is our job to see that these crimes are lessened and that our students are free to enjoy their learning environment without fear. Two-way radio call boxes placed at frequent intervals on campus are a necessary safety precaution.

Many students live in on campus housing and every dorm could be secured with a two-way radio intercom system. This allows both the student and their visitors to be easily identified and either allowed or denied access to the dorm. Identification cards or keys can easily be lost, and a two-way intercom system provides voice identification assuring the person asking for admittance to the dorm is authorized to be there.

While we certainly don’t want our college campuses to feel like lock-down facilities, today’s young people understand the importance of a safe environment. Two-way radio intercoms can only been seen as a helpful way to ensure their safety. Dorm rooms are a students home and just as you have security gates or an alarm system at home, students need to be afforded the same assurance of safety. Two-way radios come in many types of configurations and can be installed without wires. They are an affordable solution to a serious problem.

Every college campus must be equipped with a powerful public address system: severe weather and other emergencies need to be announced to the campus as a whole. Trying to contact each individual student on a cell phone definitely has its down side. Cell phone batteries run down, and are generally required to be turned off in the classroom. A Two-way radio wireless PA system helps avoid the pitfalls of cell phone usage: they use radio frequencies that are far more reliable. A two-way radio can easily be set up as a public address system and the entire campus can be notified at once of an impending storm or other emergency. The point of a public alert is to ensure every student has the ability to take the necessary actions quickly and a two-way radio public address system gives students the time they need to get out of harms way.

Security starts with communication, knowing that communication is readily flowing allows both students and faculty the means to get important messages across. Two-way radios set up in classrooms as intercoms allow messages for that targeted group to be announced without having to notify the whole campus. Whether the message is as simple as the class is being cancelled or the professor wants the group to meet at another area of campus the ease of notifying a small group is as simple as pressing a button. Some colleges are equipped with automatic locking doors, a two-way intercom is a virtual key to without having to send a live messenger to the actual classroom.

Installing a two-way radio system on campus is not as complicated as it may seem. Installation of two-way radios does not have to involve a costly undertaking or major construction. College campuses can utilize wireless two-way radios that can be configured to meet every important communication need and are a lot less costly than you may realize. A knowledgeable two-way radio dealer can help answer all of your questions and help you work out what systems are needed to secure your campus. The safety of our nations youth is our number one priority and getting there requires that two-way radio systems be implemented into all of our college campus security programs.

By: Meg Shwan

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Are you decorating your girl’s room and you need some great ideas? There are a variety of themes and ideas that you can decorate a bedroom with depending on what you want. It is good have basic decorating ideas for whatever kind of room you decide to have. Here are ten great decorating ideas for a girl’s room.

Paint

Painting is probably one of the most important things to make a room beautifully decorated. Just pick the favorite color that your girl loves and paint with it. Paint the walls in her favorite color. You can even use a lighter shade on the opposite wall to give some depth and variety to the room.

You can paint the ceiling if it goes with the theme you want. A blue sky with moons and stars can make a room enchanted. You can even add glow-in-the-dark stars so her room comes alive at night. Be creative with your painting.

Bedding

There are amazing colors and prints available for kids’ bedding. Use the fun print on the bedding to help you decide the color scheme for your little girl’s room. Have fun with the bedding.

Use accents

The best way to get that great paint job to stand out is by using accents. Accent the paint with some decorative pillows. Pillows always stand out on a beautiful bed. You can also add stuffed animals, rugs, bookshelves and colored frame pictures to accent the paint.

Curtains and Blinds

When doing curtains and blinds, make sure to keep them a solid color. The bedding and accents will already be enough color for the room. Try and use sheer or semi sheer curtains for the girl’s room because this allows the right amount of light to come in. You can also combine them with blinds, so you can keep the light out when it’s time for bed..

Mirrors

What little girl doesn’t like looking at themselves in the mirror? Little girls love checking themselves out and making sure they look good. Place a mirror above the dresser or somewhere where she can use it often.

Add Quotes

A great modern look to a girl’s room is to add vinyl or painted quotes to the walls. Say things like, “Love”, or “Joy”, or “Little girls have the most fun”. Be creative with your sayings. This adds so much character to a room and your girl will love it.

Table

Adding a little table or desk for them to color on or to be creative is always nice in their room. This way when they are pretending, they can have a place to color, have a tea party, or cook their favorite meal.

Chairs

If there is room you can add bean bag chairs or a comfy stool to create a fun space for them to read. Having a reading corner is always a fun idea, and kids usually love a special place to read.

Bunk Beds

Bunk beds are great for sleepovers and slumber parties. Or take a look at loft beds, that provide either a study desk or extra storage.

Lighting

The lighting in the room is very important in a child’s room. You can either use bright lamp shades or just simple lights, whichever you prefer. Make sure the lights are well placed and oriented, illuminating the right corners of the room. A light in their reading corner or next to their bed are good places. Lighting always accents any room.

Make a Theme

When doing all this work, try for a different look and make a fun theme out of the room. You could make a beach or ocean room, a fish room, a jungle room, a princess room or anything else you can think of that your girl would like. You can even decorate with pictures from a vacation you took and make the theme your vacation. Kids love to be able to walk into a fantasy to sleep in.

Designing a girl’s bedroom should be easy if you know what your daughter likes. Let her help you decorate with what she likes. Follow these ten great decorating ideas for a girl’s room and she will love it. Plus, when it is done how she likes, she will want to spend hours at a time in there and will be anxious to invite her friends over to play in it.

By: Beverly Frank

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No matter what the size or layout of a dorm room – organization is a must! With small spaces, there is no room for disorganization. Here are some organizing tips for dorm rooms.

If you are planning to visit home after the start of the school year, bring summer clothes home and take winter clothes back to college. Taking just the clothing suited to the current season will help save space. Contact your roommate before arriving to avoid possible duplication of larger items such as a television, fridge, microwave, iron, ironing board, etc.- which take up a lot of space.

Bunk or loft your beds to create more living space. Bed risers also work great to maximize storage underneath your bed. Increase your space by utilizing back of doors, inside closet doors and wall space. Most colleges do not want their walls damaged by new holes so remember to bring lots of sticky tack and Rubbermaid’s line of wall adhesive hooks.

Late night snacks are inevitable at college. Ziploc bags and sealable containers go a long way. Keep all crackers, snacks, etc. in these to prevent ants or other bugs from invading your dorm room. A plastic tote is a great way to store and carry items to and from the communal showers. This keeps all items in one place and prevents leaving items behind. Do not forget a pair of flips flops for the showers and your robe!

With new friends and new experiences, comes much memorabilia. Think ahead and plan on one memorabilia box per school year. This limits all the paper and knick knacks you save- start off with a large shoe box, and if you must grow to a larger container, ok, but remember to limit it to one container.

Keeping track of classes, assignments, and campus events/dates seems daunting. Some colleges offer pocket calendars with preprinted campus dates. Definitely purchase one either from the college or a generic one from an office supplies store. After getting syllabuses from your professors, take time to enter in all assignment due dates.

Paper during college will soon pile up if it is not contained. Here are two ideas- create a labeled binder for each course which would contain pockets, sheet protectors, and blank paper. Three-hole punch incoming paper and add it to the corresponding course. OR get one 2 inch binder that will contain all courses. Separate courses by insertable labeled index dividers. Include blank paper and sheet protectors as well.

Christmas lights are a fun, yet cheap way to dress up and decorate a dorm room. Do not forget a strand of two while packing, along with adhesive hooks to hang them.

Do not Forget the essentials while organizing dorm rooms! Organizational Gear and Products:

Dorm Room Closets

Over the Door Pocket Organizers

Shoe Rack/Cubes

Hangers and Hooks

Over door Towel Racks

Laundry

Mini Drying Rack

Pop Up Hamper

Stain Sticks

Desks in Dorm Rooms

Extension Cords and Surge Protectors

Bulletin/Message Board

Desktop Organizers for Accessories

Three-Hole Punch/Stapler

Storage

Set of Bed Lifts

CD/DVD Storage

Stackable Crates or Cubes (for books)

Under bed Storages Boxes

Memorabilia/Photo Boxes

Bath

Shower Tote/Caddy

Cosmetic Trays/Organizers

By: Amber Kostelny-Cussen

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