Your arrival routine: getting home and getting in

The Personal Safety module covers getting home at night. This lesson zooms in on the last few minutes: the walk to your door, getting in, and letting someone know you are safe when nobody is waiting for you.

Before you reach your building

• Have your key or access card in your hand before you reach the door, so you are not searching in your bag on the doorstep.
• Take headphones out and put your phone away for the last stretch so you can notice what is around you.
• If someone seems to be following you, do not go home and lead them there. Go somewhere busy and lit, such as a shop or reception, and call for help if needed (999 in the UAE and the UK).
• In shared buildings, do not let people you do not know follow you through the main entrance (Aston Students' Union).

Check before you go in

• Look at your door and windows as you arrive. Signs that something is wrong include a damaged lock, a door that is open or a broken window.
• If anything looks wrong and someone could still be inside, do not go in. East Cambridgeshire District Council advises calling 999 if you think intruders may still be inside.
• Go to a neighbour, reception or a safe public place to make the call. Lesson hs-05 covers what to do next.
• Once inside, lock the door behind you straight away, then put your keys in their usual spot.

Let someone know: the check-in

• When you lived with family, someone noticed if you were late. Living alone, you need to build that safety net on purpose.
• Agree a simple rule with a friend or relative: you message when you are home after a late night, and they follow up if they do not hear from you.
• On an iPhone, Apple's Check In feature in Messages can tell a friend automatically when you arrive. Both of you need iOS 17 or later (Apple).
• If your iPhone stops making progress towards your destination, Check In gives you 15 minutes to respond before your contact is alerted and shown your location, battery and signal details (Apple).
• On Android phones with the Safety app, Emergency sharing lets chosen contacts see your real-time location and battery level, and it ends automatically after 24 hours (Android Help). Features vary by phone and country.

Lifts, stairs and corridors

• If someone in the lift or corridor makes you uncomfortable, it is fine to wait for the next lift or walk back to reception.
• Do not feel you have to hold the door for a stranger into a secure area; say 'Sorry, building rules' and let them use their own key or call.
• Report broken entrance doors, faulty lights in stairwells or lost access cards to building management promptly.