Campus Preparedness - Emmanuel College

Feb/March 2007

As you begin to make plans for spring break traveling, please keep these very important tips in mind:

Choose reputable hotels.
Completely check the room for security (be sure to check all entrances).
Securely shut and lock doors whether you are in the room or out.
Never open the door for unknown people.
Use the buddy system when out, avoid walking alone at night and stay on well-traveled streets.
Avoid packing valuables.
Never leave luggage unattended.
Leave a travel schedule and copies of all personal information (credit cards, plane tickets, etc.) with family or friends.
Make sure you are drinking plenty of water. Sun and salt water are dehydrating; alcohol will only make you thirstier.
Over 10,000 people will die of skin cancer this year. Protect yourself! Cover exposed skin and use sunscreen — often and correctly — with SPF 15 or higher.
Do not go home with someone you just met. Realize you may be with strangers whom you know little or nothing about.
Beware of people you already know. Expectations are high on spring break.
Every year, hundreds of spring breakers are rushed to hospitals with alcohol poisoning. Some will never see another spring break.
If you are drinking, do NOT drive OR swim! Do not leave your drink unattended.
Do not accept open drinks from a stranger.
Only drink from cans or bottles that you have opened yourself or drinks that you have seen prepared.

As the winter finally arrives, it is important to prepare you and your families for our New England weather. For you and your home:

Prepare for possible isolation in your home by having sufficient heating fuel; regular fuel sources may be cut off. For example, store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove.
Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic.
Winterize your house or any other structure that may provide shelter for your family and neighbors. Clear rain gutters; repair roof leaks and cut away tree branches that could fall on a house or other structure during a storm.
Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic and allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing.
Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in your house knows how to use them. House fires pose an additional risk, as more people turn to alternate heating sources without taking the necessary safety precautions.
Learn how to shut off water valves (in case a pipe bursts).
Know ahead of time what you should do to help elderly or disabled friends, neighbors or employees.
Hire a contractor to check the structural ability of the roof to sustain unusually heavy weight from the accumulation of snow — or water, if drains on flat roofs do not work.

For this information on how to prepare your car for the winter weather visit the FEMA website at http://www.fema.gov/hazard/winter/wi_before.shtm