The Allstate Blog » Back-to-School

3 Must-Know Dorm Room Security and Fire Safety Tips

Frank Rivera, ADT — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:00:09 +0000

Safety in the dorm room may not be the first thought on a new college student’s mind, but as a parent it should be your main concern. While dormitories are a great place to meet new friends and socialize, they can also be dangerous if the proper precautions aren’t taken. With a solid security plan and some safeguards in place, you can prepare your child to stay safe in their home away from home.

Have a Personal Security Plan

Every college has campus security and you should make sure your child knows exactly how to get in touch with them. Most schools offer orientation and guided tours of the campus. With a personal security plan in mind, make this a perfect opportunity to discover the fastest routes to the security office and to make sure you get the correct emergency numbers to dial. Once your child knows their schedule, it’s very important that they share that information with you and someone they really trust as part of the security plan. Planning different walking routes between classes and their dorm is a great way to protect your child from being followed. Security awareness is crucial. Dorm rooms have a lot of visitor traffic. Explain to your child that if they feel unsafe or see anything suspicious happening, it is better for them to contact campus security immediately rather than let the issue go on.

Doom Room Security Products

Freshmen don’t always have the luxury of knowing who they will be rooming with. In order to protect against this uncertainty you may need some dorm room security products such as room safes, insurance, and laptop locks to keep your things safe. Room safes can be as inconspicuous as a book or can blend in to a drawer without notice. Locking up jewelry, checkbooks, and other valuables when not around can deter would-be snatch and grab thieves. If your student is a musician or has expensive jewelry or sporting equipment, insurance can help recover the value of stolen or destroyed items and costs much less than replacing them yourself. Valuables that don’t fit in a safe or are uninsurable could benefit from something as simple as labeling. Labeled items help solve ownership disputes and act as a simple but effective theft deterrent.

Fire Safety

Accidents in crowded dorms can often lead to fire mishaps. Smoke alarms should be working and checked regularly. Hairdryers, curling irons and straighteners should be unplugged when not in use and should never be left unattended. In some older buildings, replacing high wattage light bulbs with energy efficient or lower wattage light bulbs can prevent overheating and fire. Candles can be the most dangerous item in a dorm room. A lot of colleges do not allow the use of candles in dorm rooms but for those that do, watch and wait for an extra second or two to ensure that the blown out candle doesn’t reignite. Extinguish all flames when not in the room or before going to bed. Some simple, common-sense fire safety precautions can keep everyone safe from common accidents. We can never be 100 percent certain that our kids will be safe in the dorm room, but with proper planning and the right conversations, we can ensure they will have the tools for basic safety when away at school.

Frank Rivera is the director of digital marketing for ADT Security Systems.

Photo courtesy of collegelifestyles.org

Packing for College: Everything You Need to Move into Your Apartment

Rebecca Freeman, ForRent.com — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:00:44 +0000

Attention college students! You’re probably enjoying the very end of your summer break. And while I'm not here to tell you to put down your lemonade, school is right around the corner, and you need to be prepared! If this is your first time living on your own, you’re probably excited, nervous and maybe even a little overwhelmed. You have so much to do. And buy. But, where to start? The truth is furnishing a college apartment will be the easiest decorating you’ll probably ever do. Start with the things you know you’ll need. Grab a notepad and take a stroll around your home. Make a list of all the items you use on a daily basis. (You can also check out ForRent.com’s “Move In” Pinterest board for inspiration.)

Score inexpensive furniture for your apartment

Of course, being on a budget can be frustrating—especially when buying furniture. Don’t be afraid to ask friends and family if they have castoffs that you can use. Places like yard sales and thrift stores are also good sources for inexpensive chairs, tables, sofas, and pretty much anything else you may need. If the appearance of the furniture is not to your liking, get creative and fix it up: Cover sofa cushions with fabric, for instance, or paint chairs a different color. Another option: Have a going away party. If your family and friends ask if you need anything, offer a not-so-subtle hint that you need items to furnish your new apartment. And don’t forget to stock up on cleaning supplies. Dollar stores have loads of cleaning supplies for, you guessed it, just $1.

Make a room-by-room packing list

If you’re still nervous about forgetting to pack something, we have a list of “must have" items for you to bring to your college apartment. Going room to room, use this packing list to make sure you have the essentials for your new apartment:

Bedroom:

Bedding
Drapes
Tissues
Rugs
Clock/Alarm
Fan
Mirrors
Storage
Night stands
Desk hutch
Dresser
Desk
Desk lamp
TV

Bathroom:

Towels
Wash cloths
Shower curtain
Curtain liner
Shower caddy
Soap dispenser
Bathrobe
Bath mat
Shower curtain rings
Trash can
Toilet paper
Toilet cleaner
Plunger
Medicines/toiletries

Kitchen:

Dishes
Utensils
Cookware
Sugar set
Salt and pepper set
Coffee mugs
Coffee pot
Dish towels
Dish soap
Potholders
Tablecloths
Placemats
Paper towels
Bar stools
Microwave
Trash can

Cleaning/Laundry:

Vacuum
Duster
Broom
Dust pan (metal ones are best)
Mop
Garbage can
Garbage bags
Iron
Ironing board
Laundry basket
Laundry detergent

Closet:

Hangers
Storage bins
Hooks

If you have a roommate, it might be helpful to coordinate on some of these items. There's no need for you to spend all your hard-earned money for nothing. And, it bears saying, look into renters insurance to protect your belongings against theft, fire or some other loss. Think of what it would cost to replace all your stuff (used or not)!

Are there essentials we’ve overlooked in this college packing list? What do you make sure to bring with you?

Guest blogger Rebecca Freeman writes on behalf of ForRent.com, the Nation's Leading Apartment Resource.

How Safe Are School Buses?

Melissa — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:00:05 +0000

Just how safe is your child’s school bus? In mid-March, a Pennsylvania school bus and tractor-trailer collided, killing the truck driver and injuring more than a dozen students. The accident happened the same day that a school bus overturned on a highway in Washington, sending three students to the hospital in critical condition while injuring dozens more. Now, many parents across the country are questioning school bus safety rules – and asking, "Where are the seat belts?" According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), school buses are the "safest method" for transporting children to school. But what exactly does that superlative really mean? NHTSA cites accident statistics that show school buses have a fatality rate of 0.2 per every 100 million miles traveled, compared with 1.5 for passenger cars. In fact, out of the 24 million children that rode school buses in 2002, there were only four fatalities. In comparison, 800 children die each year in a passenger vehicle during normal school transportation hours. What makes these buses so safe?

Out of the 24 million children that rode school buses in 2002, there were only four fatalities.

School buses are designed like an egg carton. Seats are placed closely together, solidly anchored to the bus floor and well-padded. In the event of a front-impact accident, the seat absorbs the impact, evenly distributing the impact over a child’s upper torso. One would think adding seat belts could only increase the safety of school buses, right? Michael Martin, the executive director of the National Association for Pupil Transportation, says that seat belts may actually pose a threat to children’s safety on a school bus. Martin has said that children wearing seat belts during a school bus crash suffer from "lap belt syndrome" injuries. "If the child is wearing a lap belt, the child is hinged at the waist (and) the upper torso gets whipped forward and the vast majority of the impact is absorbed by the head," says Martin. Younger children are especially vulnerable, since a disproportionate amount of their weight is carried in their heads and upper bodies. But school bus safety advocates argue that NHTSA's statistics are outdated and only half the story. According to the National Coalition for School Bus Safety, most crashes are side-impact or rollover accidents, when a seat belt restraint could potentially save a child’s life. Martin disagrees. Citing lap belt syndrome, Martin argues, "The federal government has done research that a student is probably at greater risk wearing a belt in a side-impact crash than if not wearing one." Martin contends that many children are likely to wear a seat belt incorrectly – such as a child who purposely slips off the shoulder strap – which could do more harm than good. So, who decides whether seat belts are required on school buses? Like many educational issues, the federal government leaves this one to the states and individual school districts. Adding seat belts to buses is expensive, and for school districts that are already strapped for cash, spending money on seat belts rather than hiring teachers or purchasing new classroom resources just doesn’t make financial sense.

School Carpool Lanes Can Be a Danger Zone

Kristin Varela, Cars.com — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:07:30 +0000

Doing the math, I’m surprised by how many times I’ve driven through my kids’ school carpool lane: two to three times per day for the past nine years. And, in that time, the amount of disregard that I’ve seen parents have for the safety of their child passengers while under the perceived safety net of the school zone is shocking. I regularly see parents allowing their kids to unbuckle from their child-safety seats, hang their bodies out of the car window and wave to their friends or stand out of the sunroof to greet their buddies. I’ve even seen one child sitting on mom’s lap “helping” her steer through the school’s parking lot. Can you imagine what would happen if that mom were rear-ended, causing the airbag to deploy while her daughter was on her lap? I would hope that common sense tells most of us that if the car is moving — even at a stop-and-go rate — there’s a danger of getting into a collision. All the safety rules that we follow while going 70 mph down the highway should also apply to the school zone or carpool lane. Unfortunately, that common sense is escaping many of us. A distracted driving study by SafeKids USA observed drivers in 20 active school zones across 15 states, including my own state of Colorado.

School zones with a lowered speed limit showed a higher percentage of distracted drivers compared with school zones without a lowered speed limit.

The study found that one in six drivers was distracted, and by a variety of activities:

Using cell phones and electronics
Eating, drinking and smoking
Reaching or looking behind
Grooming
Reading

In the study, school zones with a lowered speed limit showed a higher percentage of distracted drivers compared with school zones without a lowered speed limit. This supports my experience: the idea that some parents think pulling through the carpool lane slowly is a license to loosen up usually sharp judgment.

This school zone safety study didn’t account for other distraction factors, such as our emotional and mental state (flustered after your hubby just called to tell you he’s running late and will miss the science fair this year … again?) or cognitive distractions, such as listening to the radio, or trying to ignore an irrational toddler in the backseat.

According to an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study in 1995, 18 percent of crashes in urban areas occurred when a vehicle that was stopped, or in the process of stopping, was struck from the rear. Unfortunately, school zones and carpool lanes are not immune to this statistic.

For parents to think their kids are invincible while pulling through carpool lane — and slacking off on all the normal safety rules we'd implement in the car any other time — is a potentially deadly oversight.

Kristin Varela is the senior family editor at Cars.com.

Be Safe: Get to Know Your Crossing Guard

Brendan — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:15:00 +0000

Pedestrian accident fatalities are on the rise, and school crossing guards play a critical role in ensuring child safety. Stationed at busy intersections, crossing guards are the ultimate public safety multitaskers, juggling oncoming traffic and pedestrians with ease. Many crossing guards also keep an eye out for strangers loitering around the school, and help ensure a general safe environment for students.

Crossing guards come from all walks of life, although many are retirees who enjoy the excitement of serving as a part-time guard. If you’re a grandparent, there’s no better way to spend time with your grandkids and get to know their friends than safely guiding them to and from school each day. Spending time outside in the fresh air also makes part-time work as a crossing guard a popular choice, especially in a sunshine state like Florida.

The Duties

Most crossing guards serve two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon, depending on the school district’s hours. Guards typically receive compensation for their hard work ($25 to $35 per day, on average), and some may even receive retirement benefits depending on the number of years served. Crossing guard assignments vary based on the state, but assignments are normally busy intersections. These intersections see at least 40 school pedestrians or more in a two-hour period. Guards need to be in good physical shape, and be capable of standing for up to two hours at a time. Guards wear a reflective vest, carry a stop sign, stand in the middle of the intersection, and safely escort children across the street. The biggest challenge faced by a crossing guard is the inclement weather. From thunderstorms to snowstorms, crossing guards work in all weather conditions to protect children’s safety. Some even give a hand to stranded motorists, helping to push stalled cars to the nearest gas station. As any crossing guard will tell you, there’s never a dull day on the job.

Making the Grade

Think you’re up for the challenge of serving as a crossing guard? Becoming a crossing guard may require a background investigation, pre-employment drug screening, and the successful completion of a polygraph test, depending on state regulations. Candidates will also likely need to complete a crossing guard training course, depending on state requirements. For example, Florida residents will need to complete an eight-hour crossing guard and child safety course from the Florida Department of Transportation. This course includes six hours of classroom instruction and two hours of field training. The course is designed to help crossing guards become familiar with standard safety protocol and gain real-world experience. Other states, such as California, provide training through the local police department. What is the best part of the job? According to Anne, a crossing guard in Palm Beach, it’s receiving a big hug from students at the end of the day. Nothing beats a heartwarming hug as a “thank you” for a job well done.

Carpooling 101

Pamela — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:48:37 +0000

Being a mother, the dangers of driving are much more real to me. When I put that kind of responsibility in someone else's hands, my worries multiply tenfold. Following these tips helps to settle the butterflies in my stomach when I see someone drive off with my children in their care.

In the Beginning

Meet the Moms - If you don't already know the other childrens' parent(s), organize a playdate where the kids can have fun while you and the other potential carpooling parents can get to know one another.
Calendar is King - In order to maintain your role as carpool mom, everything should be written on the family calendar. In addition, there are online tools for actually setting up a carpool in the first place.

Carpool Etiquette

Be respectful of other people's time - Your kids, other kids and other parents are counting on you. Make sure you’re on time.
Accept differing parenting styles - Every individual has his or her own view on what it means to be a good parent. As long as the kids are safe, chances are you'll have to make some adjustments to keep the peace.
Let your kids be their own diplomats - You can (and should) establish ground rules for your car, but it's not always easy to enforce them. Children can learn valuable skills about negotiating their own quarrels if you give them the chance.

Master the Details

Information - Maintain an emergency contact sheet with names and phone numbers, but also include things like food allergies and any other quirks for each kid.
Work with the system - Schools have elevated transportation management to an art form. Check out your school's website or contact school administrators for rules regarding speed limits and pick-up locations.
Maintain your vehicle - This can involve more than just getting your oil changed. For example, you might not know that parents who volunteer to drive for school functions often need to meet specific insurance requirements.

Simple Safety

Seats - Booster seats are a must, and it's important that you make sure they're sized and installed correctly.
Seatbelts - Invoke the buckle-up brigade. There's nothing more important to car safety than buckling your seatbelt. As a parent, I know the rules, such as not sharing seatbelts and not letting kids ride in cargo areas. Make sure all the kids in your car know them as well.
Minimize distractions - Whether you're scanning the street to ensure no children are in the way, or you're making sure that all of the kids make it safely to their houses, your full attention should be on the job of carpooling every time you get behind the wheel.
No parenting while driving - Refrain from arguing, persuading or in any way trying to affect behavior unless your foot is firmly on the brake. Pull over if you need to intervene.

Have your own tips? Share them below!

Keep Your Stuff Safe on Campus

Lindsey — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:08:38 +0000

Though I graduated from college a couple years ago, my college roommates and I are still crazy close. (After all, we did survive the school cafeteria together.) During our days of dorm living, we shared everything—from clothes and class notes to the latest juicy gossip. But with so many people in such a tiny living space, it was tough to keep track of my stuff.

I never felt this more than during my junior year, when I was the victim of campus theft. While I was interviewing for a summer internship in another state, my roommates had a bunch of people over to our place. After I got back from my trip, it took me a while to realize things were missing: At first, I couldn’t find the digital camera I’d left sitting on my desk; later, it was the shoulder bag filled with my class projects, iPod and—worst of all—master keys to two university buildings. I had my friends ask around, but no one would fess up to the crime. While being surrounded by people in classrooms, cafeterias, common rooms and dorm halls is great for your social life, it can make for a risky situation when it comes to your stuff. In fact, theft is the number-one crime reported on college campuses, with portable electronics, bicycles, textbooks, televisions, jewelry, and credit and debit cards topping the most-taken list. After my things were taken, I started to get serious about security.

Keep your property personal

If you live in a dorm like I did, your stuff is probably protected under your parents' homeowners insurance, but you might want to have them check their coverage if you’re in off-campus housing. (If their insurance doesn’t cover you, or only takes care of a small percentage, think about checking out renters insurance.) Ask university officials if there are theft prevention programs in place to protect you, and in the meantime, take the following steps to safeguard your stuff:

Lock your dorm and bedroom doors and keep valuables out of plain sight. If you leave your dorm room unlocked, like 40 percent of college students do, you make it easy for thieves to walk off with your favorite toys.
Engrave expensive items with your name or a design to reduce their resale value. Though labeling last night’s leftovers won’t always keep other people’s paws off your lo mein, not everyone will want to steal a computer with pink hearts scribbled on the side.
Take pictures of your valuables (and their serial numbers) so they can be identified later. Who knew cameras come in handy for things other than concerts and road trips?
Avoid loaning neighbors, classmates or the pizza guy keys to your place, and make sure direct access is restricted to your roommates.
Don't leave your personal property unattended in study areas, cafeterias, libraries or other public places. If you choose to use your car as a storage locker, keep important items stowed under a seat or in your glove compartment.
Take valuables with you if leaving campus during a holiday break or long weekend.
Keep bikes or scooters locked to a stationary bike rack when you’re inside—even if you think you’ll only be a minute.

If you think you were the victim of theft, don’t hesitate to turn to a resident assistant, campus security or the local police. And remember to cancel your credit and debit cards, as well as your cell phone plan, if necessary.

Going Back-to-School…Safely!

Janette — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:09:00 +0000

Another school year is underway, and it’s always a bittersweet time for parents (our precious ones are growing up!). Most of us can easily recall our own days of reading, writing and arithmetic. If, like me, you’ve been around the block once or twice, you probably remember the good times you had walking to school with your siblings and pals. I find it a little sad that most of our kids won’t have those memories. Forty years ago, nearly half of all kids walked or biked to school compared to only 13 percent today, according to a study published in this month’s Pediatrics. Most get rides in private cars, not school buses. Whether your children walk to school, take a bus or ride in a car, there are some things you should keep in mind about kids and motor vehicle safety. Accidents don’t just happen on public roads. Driveways, parking lots, school property and garages can be very dangerous. In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 115,000 children age 14 and younger were injured in non-traffic incidents involving vehicles. The most common non-traffic incidents that injure or kill children are “backover” and “frontover” tragedies and then heat stroke. Be aware of blind zones. If you do drive your child to school, realize that you have a large blind zone when you’re backing out of a driveway or a parking space. Thousands of children are seriously injured or killed every year because a driver simply didn’t see them. Take a walk all the way around your vehicle before moving it and then go slow and be extra cautious! When kids are around, always put the cell phone down. Waiting in a car pick-up line or school parking lot is not the time to let your guard down. While you’re texting, a child could walk in front of your car or drop something underneath your vehicle. Don’t count on children to pay attention—that’s your responsibility! Never let your child walk alone. You and other neighborhood parents might want to think about forming a “walking school bus.” You can take turns collecting the kids on foot and shepherding the whole group to school. Everyone wins with some good exercise and building fun memories at the same time!

Teach your children these four things:

Be aware that just because you can see a vehicle or school bus, that doesn’t mean the driver sees you. Make direct eye contact with the driver before you move so you know they have seen you.
Always assume that parked cars might suddenly move—it’s up to you to stay out of the way.
Go slowly and look both ways when you’re crossing streets and driveways or getting off a bus.
Don’t ever run in school parking lots. It’s always a busy place and drivers simply cannot see you if you dart out between parked vehicles.

Unfortunately, schools don’t have a bubble to protect our children from being injured by a vehicle. For parents and your children, awareness, education and a solid plan about how to behave around those mighty machines are your best defense.

Janette Fennell is president and founder of KidsAndCars.org and is recognized as the national leader for child safety as it relates to the dangers children face in and around motor vehicles.

Shopping Strategies: Smart Tips to Save Money on End of Summer Sales

Brendan — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:09:57 +0000

End of summer sale season is the best time to purchase those big-ticket items you have been waiting to buy. For instance, now is the best time to buy a lawn mower, outdoor furniture, or outdoor grills. You will be able to get these items at a much better price then you would expect in the spring time; plus, there is still time to enjoy some of your purchases for the rest of the season. However, don’t fall into the “good-deal” trap and buy it just because it is on sale. You will just be wasting money. Make a list of your needs and wants before you head out to the home improvement stores. Be on the lookout for those discount sticker prices and, most importantly, ask the store managers if they are willing to give a further discount on products on display or that are out of the box. Don’t be afraid to ask!

End of summer also means “Back to School.” This is the time you can make the best of the end of the summer clearance sales on clothing. Make a list of what your children need, and predict the sizes they will be in the spring and summer of next year. Normally children will be a size up from what they are currently wearing. Items such as T-Shirts, Shirts, Shorts, flip -flops, swimsuits, and more will be on those clearance racks.

Be sure to combine those clearance prices with in-store coupons.

Some of the items will be useful throughout the fall as well. Be sure to combine those clearance prices with in-store coupons. Many stores will have coupons for additional savings on items that are already reduced. Learn how to engage your children in the coupon clipping process in a fun and unique way. End of season sales can also help you on gift giving. Make a list of people for whom you need to purchase gifts for the upcoming holidays and birthdays. Toys, especially outdoor toys and beach items, often go on sale at the end of July as well. Become familiar with the each store’s return policy in case you have to return anything. Don’t buy items unless you can use what you have bought or will be given away as gifts. If you purchase because it is on sale, well then you didn’t really get a “deal.”

Shannon is a guest blogger from Coupon Princess. In exchange for sharing this content, the Allstate Community has compensated her via cash payment.

Tips to Help Get Your Car Ready for Back to School

Sandy Spavone — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 22:10:12 +0000

Back-to-school time can be very busy for students and parents alike. One item not usually on the top of to-do lists is car care maintenance. Whether they’re attending high school or heading off to college, this can be an opportune time to conduct a maintenance review to help get your student’s car ready for the school season. Consider this car care checklist to help get your student—and their car—ready for a great school year.

Check the vitals under the hood. To help prevent maintenance issues or potentially costly repairs, mechanics suggest opening the hood of your vehicle and checking the following:

Fluid levels of engine oil, coolant and transmission, and brake and power steering fluid—your owner’s manual will illustrate where everything is located and the proper levels to maintain.
Battery
Date of the battery (located on top). Consumer Reports suggests that you have your battery checked if it’s more than two to three years old and your car’s entire charging system checked once a year.

Check the tires. Check the tires for uneven tread wear, nails or other potential hazards. Road &Travel magazine says one easy way to check tread depth is inserting a penny into a groove—if any part of Abe Lincoln’s head is obscured, you have enough tread. Check the pressure on each tire with a gauge when they’re cold (not driven).Follow the vehicle manufacturer’s suggested pressure, which is located on most vehicles on a sticker inside the driver’s door, center console, glove compartment lid or in the owner’s manual. Also, make sure the spare tire is inflated and a jack, lug wrench and jumper cables are in the trunk. Check the lights. This is a good time to get your teen involved in the preventive maintenance checklist review. Have him or her get in the car and turn on the headlights, turn signals and emergency flashing lights as you walk around the vehicle to make sure they are working. Check the brake lights by having him or her press the brake pedal, too. Find local resources for students going away. Maintenance issues still can occur despite your preventive maintenance efforts, so it’s wise to identify resources near campus. Find a trusted mechanic or local dealership that services your type of vehicle, as well as a tire store. If your driver is college-bound, the university itself can be helpful, too, so touch base with its parking services or safety department. They may have suggestions for local car services and can offer helpful services themselves. For example, the University of Louisville has a Motorist Assistance Program that offers 24/7 help on campus for things like a dead battery, flat tire or empty gas tank. If you have any concerns after your own inspection, having a qualified mechanic perform a safety check can help minimize maintenance issues and get your student on the road to a fantastic school year.

Sandy Spavone is the Executive Director of NOYS and works to promote youth empowerment and leadership. She builds partnerships that help to save lives, prevent injuries, and promote safe and healthy lifestyles among all youth.