Students leaving school / collage this year and moving to university will experience a newfound life of independence and freedom. For most students, Uni is their first experience of living without supervision, making their own decisions and experimenting with different social scenes and being surrounded by new and unfamiliar faces.
While college life may seem exciting at first, students will at some point face situations in which they feel unsure of how to protect themselves.
It is essential that every student has a clear understanding of the few simple factors that could be critical in the event of an emergency, and most important to remember the basic factors such as emergency numbers and evacuation procedures, etc.
Though most universities do not incorporate self-defense classes in their core curriculum, many brief their students about their campus security measures through various orientations, workshops, handbooks, portals and notice boards to raise their level of security and safety awareness.
Below Self Defense expert Damian Ross gives you some tips on how to protect yourself in dangerous situations.
Always trust your instinct. If your gut is telling you something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't (you are more perceptive than you think). Go back to where you came from, contact campus security or find people as quickly as you can.
Always travel in groups. Never walk alone at night. Avoid "shortcuts". Criminals, like predators, try to isolate their prey from the herd. Groups are less likely to be confronted, so "buddy up" for the walk home.
Never trust your assailant. Criminals are cunning and can be extremely persuasive. Most likely they will approach you in a friendly manner and appeal to your common sense. No matter what they say or how convincing they are, never believe them.
Never leave the area. Your attacker needs to isolate you. In order to do that, he will use force or any persuasive maneuver to convince you that going with him is in your best interest. Don't go, even when faced with an armed assailant.
Always take advantage of campus safety services. Become familiar with your college campus police department. Most offer escorts and shuttle services to and from campus dorms after hours.
Study the campus and neighborhood. Become familiar with the routes between your residence and class or activities schedule. Make note where emergency phones are located.
Share your class and activities schedule. Let parents and a network of close friends know your schedule. This creates a type of "buddy" system.
All about self-preservation
Self-defense instructor Stephen Drake has been teaching the techniques from The 10 Lesson Self Defense Program™ to students at Jumeirah Collage in Dubai for the last two years.
Many students here in the UAE prefer to travel abroad to complete their education. And the vast majority ends up either in the United States or the UK to continue their studies.
Self-defence is really 90 per cent awareness – being aware of your environment, your instincts, and gut feelings. Only 10 per cent is delivering a physical response
Pictured above are students from Jumeirah Collage who are University bound with a life skill from The 10 Lesson Self Defense Program™
