The Nevada Sagebrush

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With basic safety on students’ minds, Officer Eric James offered the following tips for students to follow.

“I’m not reinventing the wheel, but these are things students need to know,”James said.

Limit the opportunity for crime

“Criminals look for opportunity,”he said. “The less opportunity that we give someone, the better it is and the less likely that they actually try to do something.”

• Lock doors.
• Close windows.
• Don’t leave possessions out in the open.
• Don’t prop doors open.
• Don’t let someone in your building or house if you don’t know him or her.
• Don’t walk alone.

Basic tips for staying safe

• Stay on well-populated, well-lit streets.
• Wear bright clothing when exercising outside.
• Walk confidently.
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Turn music down on players so you can hear what’s going on around you.
• Keep your hands free.
• Take a self-defense class.
• Never let your fuel gauge go below a quarter of a tank.
• When you leave, tell someone when to expect you back.
• Vary your routes and do not get into routines.
• Follow your intuition.
• If you see suspicious behavior, call the police.
• Talk on the phone while you walk.
• Know the nearest fire escape and exit.
• Don’t hitchhike.
• Avoid shortcuts through parks or behind buildings.

What to carry

• Carry pepper spray and have it ready in your hand.
• Carry a Taser gun. You must be certified to carry one.
• Carry a noisemaker like a whistle.

What to do if attacked

• Draw attention to yourself if something is wrong.
• Use your phone to take a photo of your attacker.
• Scream if you feel threatened.
• Get an accurate description of an attacker or suspicious person if you can. Pay attention to distinguishing marks and details.
• Use what you can to get away. Throw your coffee, backpack, shoe or whatever you have at the attacker and run.
• Fight dirty. Go for the eyes, groin, neck and nose.
• Say what you can to scare an attacker away.
• Say something like, “There’s a camera over there and a camera over there because I helped install them.”
• Grab onto people or objects if someone tries to take you.
• Don’t run home if someone is following you. Go to a public place where you can get help.

Emergency Numbers

• 911
• Reno Police Department: 775-334-2697
• University Police Services Office: 775-784-4013
• Campus Escort: 775-742-6808

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