Heading off to college is an exciting time! As you assemble your Pinterest boards of dorm room ideas and start getting ready for classes, dorm safety might not sound like the most exciting idea, but it is an important one. Whether this is your first time living in a dorm or you’re excited to go back to living with your friends again, keep these safety tips in mind.
Make sure carbon monoxide detectors work
College buildings should already have their own carbon monoxide detectors, but to give you peace of mind in case of a power outage or faulty detector, get a second detector with a battery backup. This means that though it’s plugged into the wall, it also has batteries that will keep it functional even when the power isn’t. The best place to plug this in is near your kitchen if you have one.
Be mindful of fire safety
If your room does have a kitchen or other cooking area, make sure you have a fire extinguisher or fire blanket somewhere accessible. For heated tools like hair straighteners or steamers, consider a heat mat as a place to rest them — on top of preventing fires, a heat mat can also protect your countertops, making it less likely that you’ll be charged for damages later.
Don’t leave candles lit unattended, and do NOT tamper with your smoke detector — we know the “cover it with a plastic bag” trick too, and trust us, it will not do much besides put you at risk in case of an actual fire.
Have a clear emergency exit route
Look, no one is saying your room has to be perfectly clean. You’ve got classes to worry about, we get it. What matters most of all is that you have a clear path from wherever you are in your room (bed, desk, etc.) to any exits. There should also be a fire exit plan posted somewhere within your dorm, and it’s helpful to know where that is.
Keep your valuables protected
It may be tempting to do so, but don’t leave the door to your room unlocked. Carrying around keys can be annoying, but it’s much less annoying than having your belongings stolen — if you leave your door unlocked because you tend to be forgetful with keys, see if you can have a copy made to give to a trusted friend or RA.
Your door’s lock is your first line of defense, but it’s helpful to protect items that are particularly hard or impossible to replace — passports, important documents, cash, or personal items with sentimental value, to name a few — by keeping them in a locked container like a safe.
Whether you’re living in a dorm, apartment, or wherever you’re calling home, be sure to keep it safe. And most of all, best of luck with the coming school year!
