It’s very easy to slip into a situation that you’re not quite comfortable with, or for an accident to happen and someone to get hurt.
We want you to be safe during your time at university. Below you'll find ways to prevent accidents from happening, as well as how to report and raise attention when something does happen.
Alcohol
It’s an exciting time, moving away from family, friends and arriving in a city where everything is fun and new. It’s easy to get carried away, especially on an evening with new friends.
- It’s said that around 60% of fires start in the kitchen. If you’ve been drinking, grab a takeaway or some cold snacks instead, don’t cook.
- If you feel you’ve drank too much, then know your limit and when to stop. Being out of control of your body or not remembering what happened the next day can be very scary.
- If your friend seems unwell then get them medical attention. It might seem like nothing, but their drink could have been tampered with.
- Keep an eye on your drink when in a club or around new people. It’s always best to keep watch of your friends’ drinks too where possible.
Security
When you’re new to an area it can be really easy to feel a false sense of security, so make sure you’re keeping yourself and your friends safe.
- It’s always best not to go out alone at night, but if you have to then make sure you stick to well lit areas and try to walk with friends where possible.
- If a situation doesn’t feel quite right, then it probably isn’t. Trust your instinct.
- Not going to be in? Then make sure your doors and windows are firmly locked before leaving your accommodation, whether you’re in a house share or a block of flats, it’s still important.
- If you’ve just got a brand new games console for your birthday, then make sure you don’t have it in full view of your bedroom window, that’s an open invitation for it to disappear!
- Make sure you link in with flatmates regularly, or if you live alone then let people know where you are/where you’re going to be.
- If an incident occurs whilst at university, then make sure to report it. You can find out more information in the links below. The same goes for your accommodation, make sure to report any incidents or near misses to the on site team.
- Make it one of the first things you do when you arrive – get to know the local area as best you can. Visiting somewhere new? Then plan ahead.
- Don't forget there's lots of apps and devices you can download to let people know where you are and raise the alarm if you're in an unsafe situtation. We have information on products like Callie, a personal safety app, at reception.
Health
Before arriving to university, it’s always best to get set up at a GP surgery in the local area, and any other services you might require in an emergency.
- Remember to take your medication. You’ll have lots of fun things going on when you arrive, but your health comes first.
- If you have a health scare or any changes in your medical condition, then remember to report it to the relevant team. This information could prove vital in an emergency.
- If you know first aid and feel confident to get involved then do so, you could save someone’s life. Is there any training that you could take part in locally perhaps?
- Either way, if someone is in immediate danger then don’t hesitate to call 999 for the emergency services. If you’re at the university or at your accommodation then don’t forget to let the teams know as well. We’ve included our own site teams details below too.
Tips for parents and guardians
It’s a big change having your child move to university, but there are ways in which you can help them be well prepared before their arrival whilst still supporting them throughout their studies.
- Discuss different scenarios and how these could/should be dealt with. This includes all of the points raised above.
- Do some research and make sure you both have a list of relevant university contacts, accommodation contacts and local contacts for all of these scenarios.
- Make sure you visit their new home and city – find out where the local facilities are in relation to the university and accommodation sites, that way you’ll be more familiar and can offer support if ever they call you for advice.
- Collect any relevant contacts for the university/accommodation and know what can and can’t be discussed without prior consent.
Be aware, if you have any concerns then in some instances you may only be able to share your concerns with the relevant support team. Due to GDPR they won’t be able to share any information with you about the student unless they have prior written permission from the student themselves.
If you have any questions about either of our sites or need to contact us for any reason, you can do so via the below information.
The Trigon: 0114 294 5680 / trigon@acisstudents.co.uk
Raleigh Park: 0115 855 9008 / raleighpark@acisstudents.co.uk
Sheffield Hallam:
Sheffield Hallam Student Union
The University of Nottingham:
General: