Health and Safety Week 2009
October 19, 2009
This week marks Health and Safety Week here in DIT. We will be manning stands across the sites during the week offering H&S advice and maybe a few freebies! But, to keep things ticking over here on ditsu.ie here is some general safety advice:
Being Safe
Going off to college
can be a scary experience - there's lots of coursework to learn, new
people to meet, and maybe even a new place to live. Unfortunately, with
crime rates being what they are, these are not the only things you have
to worry about, but there are lots of ways to keep yourself safe, so
that handing in that continuous assessment will actually be the greatest
of your concerns.
Being Safe in the Home
If you are moving into a flat, then ask the landlord to change the locks, in case previous tenants have neglected to hand over their keys.
If you're living in an apartment complex, don't buzz in anyone you don't know.
If you're showing the place to a potential new flatmate, make sure you're not alone.
Make sure you lock up properly, including switching on the alarm, every time you go out.
And if you suspect there's been a break in while you were out, contact the Guards from your mobile phone - don't go inside!
Lock the bedroom doors when you're not in the room - if a burglar gets in, they won't be able to get further into your home.
Don't let anyone you don't know well stay over in your home.
Make sure you have enough smoke alarms, that they are positioned correctly, and that the batteries are working! Don't take the batteries out for the remote control!
And in the event of fire, make sure you and your flatmates have an evacuation plan to ensure you all get out safely.
Being Safe when you are out
Make sure you stick with your friends when you're out - there's safety in numbers.
Don't leave your stuff unattended, no matter where you are, even in the loo. Bags, jackets and wallets, make sure you keep your eye on them.
Keep an eye on your drink too, in every sense! It only takes a second to drop something into your glass, so ditch any drink you've left unattended for any length of time. Don't accept drinks from strangers either, and always watch how much you drink. You're much safer when you have your wits about you.
Don't meet trouble half way - if you see any fights or anything like that then just don't get involved. Call security or the Guards if you think someone - including yourself - is in danger.
Be careful on your way home - you're more of a target if you're drunk. Never leave a friend to make their own way home, or go off with a stranger. Agree to text someone when you reach home, so everyone in the group can be sure that each person got home safely.
Always look confident while you're walking - this deters potential criminals, as you don't look like an easy target. Don't use your mobile phone or MP3 player/iPod, as it distracts you, lowering your reaction rate, and lets crooks know you have valuables on you.
You can pick up a safety alarm from your SU shop - they don't prevent crime, but if you are unlucky enough to be singled out, they might just scare the attacker off.
Getting a taxi home
Ring a taxi from a registered company, if you can. This saves you walking to a rank and waiting there (especially if you're alone). Keep the card of a reliable company in your wallet.
Be absolutely certain the taxi is legitimate before you get in. Make sure you note the taxi number, and be sure the driver sees you doing so, so s/he knows you are alert and coherent. Even text the number to a friend.
Keep your mobile in your hand, so that it is easily accessible, but don't distract yourself by using it unless you have to.
Never pay any of the fare until you are at your required destination.
If you have any trouble, contact the Taxi Regulatory Authority www.taxiregulator.ie or, in an emergency, the Guards.
If you find yourself alone
Avoid being by yourself late at night, but if you do have to walk any distance by yourself, then stick to busy, well-lit routes. It might not be shorter, but it's definitely safer.
Don't keep your keys in your bag - at least if it is stolen, you'll be able to get into your home. Keep a few bob in your pocket for a taxi just in case too.
Remember what we said about not using your mobile phone, as it distracts you? This is even more important when you're alone.
Avoid using an ATM at night by yourself. If you absolutely have to, then keep your wits about you, and don't use the machine if there's anything odd about it, or you feel you're being watched. Cover your hand while inputting your PIN, and if in doubt, just walk away and contact the Guards.
If you think there is someone following you, then get yourself into a well-lit, busy area. Otherwise, turn suddenly, cross the street, or go into anywhere nearby that's open. If this doesn't work, then look at the person, and address them loudly, as this can disarm them. Failing that, scream, and run towards a populated area.
For guys: don't walk too closely behind women, in case you make them feel uncomfortable. Always accompany female friends home when you can.
If you're going on a date, make sure a friend knows where you are, who you're with and when you'll be home. Have a code word so you can let them know if you're in trouble. Try and make first dates at places you know friends will be.
If someone asks you for directions, tell them from a distance - never approach the car.
Never, ever get into a stranger's car, but if you are forced into one, try to crash the vehicle. You are likely to be safer in an accident than with a person who has abducted you.
Consider taking a self defence class - check out www.dit.ie/DIT/sport/
Always trust your instinct - it rarely lets you down.
Your personal information, online and elsewhere
Because we use them in the familiar surroundings of our home or workplace, we often don't employ the same safety standards online that we do when out in the real world. But online crime and identity theft are some of the fastest growing crimes in the country, so be vigilant and keep yourself safe.
You wouldn't give your personal info to strangers on the street, but, in effect, that is what you're doing when you put such info on a public online forum. Sites like Facebook are a cool way to keep up with your friends, but be careful what info you share, and keep your page private (so that only people you confirm as friends can see it).
Only ever accept friends online when you are certain you know them.
Have a separate email account for your networking sites, to keep your work and personal addresses safer.
Do not include the following info on your networking page: your full address, your exact date of birth, your phone number, details of where you work, details of old schools or colleges, any of your pets' names, or your mother's maiden name (these are often used as the answers to security questions online), any dates when you'll be away from home.
Check your online security settings regularly and update if necessary. Ask a friend to sort you out with this if you don't know too much about computers.
Giving out personal info can make you a prime target for identity theft, where someone else can obtain important papers in your name, like a passport and driver's licence. Don't make this any easier by giving out sensitive info to anyone - never reply to those emails asking for your bank details, no matter how official sounding they are.Keep an eye on all your accounts, and if you notice any unusual activity, then contact the bank in question immediately, and the Guards if necessary. The quicker you report this, the less damage there'll be.
Sensitive info can be obtained by looking through any bills or documents you throw out - invest in a shredder, or ask for one for Christmas or a birthday, it's a really priceless investment. All it takes is a bill and fake ID to get a whole host of fake documents, loans or credit cards in YOUR name.
Your details can also be obtained when you're out and about, so be watchful when inputting your PIN at an ATM or in a shop, and be careful when filling in forms in public.
What to do if you have been attacked
It is up to you to decide whether you want to report the attack to the Guards, but do contact the Rape Crisis Centre for help and support, either in person, or over the phone. They have trained volunteers and a 24-hour telephone helpline to help you through this horrible time, to help you make the right decisions for you. Some centres have counsellors who can accompany you to the Sexual Assault Treatment Centre (see below) and to court.
Even if you don't want to report the attack to the Guards, do visit your doctor. They can check you for STIs, treat any injuries you might have sustained, and offer you emergency contraception. You've already been through enough, so it won't be easy to visit your GP, but it really is the best for your health.
If you do report the attack immediately, the possibility of getting important forensic evidence is increased, evidence that might help hold your attacker accountable for what they did to you. If you can't face reporting the attack, keep your clothes and shoes, and do not wash them. They might offer valuable evidence later.
If you were subjected to a drug assisted attack, report it immediately if you can. The drugs used can leave your system very quickly, so the sooner you are tested for them, the better. Even if you cannot remember exactly what happened, contact your Rape Crisis Centre and they will support you and advise you what's best to do.
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