My kids are still young, not even in high school yet.
Key word there is, “yet.”
Before too long, though, I’m going to have to start seriously thinking about college. And besides the crazy always-on-alert food allergies we focus on with Jason, we also need to remember the more regular safety concerns that every parent thinks about when they send their kids off to school.
I remember my days at SUNY Binghamton in upstate New York. We had a gorgeous Nature Preserve where we did a lot of hiking. It was pretty secluded actually. And then there were plenty of times I was hanging out late (2 or 3 am) during the week, just walking around the campus either with my roommate or girlfriend or even just by myself.
At that age, you feel 100% invincible. Nothing can touch you. Nothing can hurt you.
If only that were true.
Thankfully, nothing ever happened to me on any late-night campus walks. But I imagine it’s a lot different these days. The world’s full of even more dangers than ever before. So how’s a young college student supposed to protect him or herself?
Well, being smart is the first step, obviously. Avoid dangerous situations as much as you can. Travel in groups. That sort of thing. But there are always going to be times when your kids are on their own and they may need a little extra help.
I’ve talked about SABRE before in terms of home security and backyard safety. These guys are the real deal. Heck, they’re the #1 brand used by police worldwide. So I take it they definitely know a thing or two about safety.
In terms of Back to School safety, I absolutely love the Personal Alarm with Key Ring they have available. Certainly affordable at just $9.99 a pop, these mini sirens pack a super loud punch in three different colors: black, red and pink. You can use them as key rings or attach them to your purse or backpack for easy access.
There’s no button to press (so no fears of accidentally setting off alarms in the middle of your Economics 101 class!). You simply grab the small pin at the bottom and pull it out. What follows is a piercing siren that’s sure to scare off any would-be attackers, as well as bring attention to yourself in hopes of anyone nearby coming to your aid.
I made sure Jason and Ryan were able to pull the pin out to activate the alarm, as well as put it back in to stop it and give our pounding eardrums a rest.
I have to imagine any stalkers out there attempting to attack or rape a college student wants to be as quiet as can be. So hearing this loud alarm is like someone blasting an air horn at a football game. Definitely one good way to scare them off!
Noise is a powerful weapon for sure. I still remember an episode of the ’80s sitcom “Facts of Life” where the girls were taught to yell “FIRE” in the event of an assault. Just screaming that one word super loud was enough to catch people’s attention. Great advice! But blasting a Personal Alarm goes even one step further.
The pink version of the Personal Alarm helps support the National Breast Cancer Foundation, while the red version helps support the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). Great causes tied to a great product.
I know I’d feel a lot safer knowing my college kids were walking around with one of these on their bags or keychains.
There’s also a more offensive approach available with SABRE’s pepper sprays. Getting up super early to go run a few laps at the track or around campus may sound like a great way to get healthy, but it also can be a great target for attacks. That’s where SABRE’s Runner Pepper Spray with Adjustable Hand Strap can come into play.
It’s easy to hold in your hands as you head out for a walk, jog or sprint. A simple way to protect yourself while out for a run, this puppy packs 35 bursts at a distance of 10 feet!
My boys are still a little too young for the pepper spray, but once they’re college age, it’s something I’ll certainly discuss with them. If they’re out and about exercising on their own, the combo of a personal alarm and pepper spray are a seriously powerful tag team for protection.
If you’re looking to keep your college kids safe, it’s worth checking out the Protection for Students & Parents section of SABRE’s website. After all, the biggest scare college students should have to deal with is the dining hall.
How do you keep your college kids safe?
this is great for kids that have to walk home from school bus stop while parents are working
I need to get one of these for my son. He just started preschool and I hate not being there to protect him.
My son just started college and never even thought about it. ack. I use to own a bottle of pepper spray and may have to get some more for him and myself since I like to go on walks. I love the idea of the alarm keychain. About 7 years ago there was a backpack that did that, boy was that thing loud. I think I’d much rather do the keychain over the backpack.
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