You should compile a list of the local emergency numbers, including poison control and the local hospital emergency room. Call the emergency telephone numbers if you need help immediately in a life-threatening situation. For example, you should dial 911 if a crime is in progress, someone is badly injured or ill, there's a fire, or you fear for your life. For example, if a car is blocking your driveway, someone broke into your apartment but is no longer there, or to report vandalism. Safety Precautions Violent crime in the United States has been decreasing in recent years, and you are more likely to be a victim of a crime against property than a crime against person.
College campuses tend to be very safe, even when located in urban areas.
Nevertheless, cities in the United States are not as safe as those in Europe and Japan. Ask the foreign student advisor at the school which neighborhoods are safe and which should be avoided. The following common sense rules will help prevent you from becoming the victim of a crime. Tips for the Home. Remember to lock the doors and close the windows to your apartment when you are not at home.