WITH the convenience of modern technology at their fingertips, today’s students tend to live in their own little world.

Many students, particularly females, are highly unaware of the danger they put themselves in everyday.

For example, you walk to college everyday with your i-Pod Nano blasting Avril Lavigne in your ears.

Although your college is only a 10-minute walk from your home, bear in mind that it only takes a split second for a person on the street to catch you off guard and snatch your bag, or worse, abduct you.

As part of their community relations effort, Taylor’s University College (Taylor’s) recently held a ‘City Survival Skills’ training workshop for new female students to instill greater safety awareness and make them more street-smart.

Held at its campus in Subang Jaya, the workshop was conducted by Malaysian Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association chairman Capt K. Balasupramaniam, who is a safety activist, and OSH Dymamics Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Michael Chong.

The workshop was highly relevant as it taught students how to make their own ‘home intruder’s trap’, identify dangers, convert handbag tools into defence weapons, make safe cash withdrawals from ATMs, handle road bully scenarios, handle abduction in bus stops, parking lots or during car breakdown situations.

The students also gained priceless information, such as how to detect two-way mirrors in a changing room or CCTV spy cam in hotels and public toilets, demonstrations on steps in defence and escape methods, how to handle telephone assaults or sexual harassment in workplace as well as apply rape prevention techniques.

Although the topics covered were serious and sensitive issues, the trainers had the students in stitches of laughter with their comical dialogue and antics, thus making their delivery eminently effective.

Third Year Mass Communication student Ellyn Patricia, said the workshop had helped her to understand the possible dangers people face.

“I now know how important it is to be more aware of my surroundings and protect myself, especially when I walk alone.

“The part on how we can detect CCTV and two-way mirrors are the most shocking for me as I had no idea such things could happen.

It really opened my eyes. I’ll be more careful from now on and use Captain Bala’s tips whenever I use changing rooms in shopping complexes.

“I’m extremely grateful that I attended the talk.

The knowledge I gained is invaluable,” said the 20-year-old Indonesian. American Degree Programme student Ng Chi Yin, 17, said the workshop was necessary and nicely presented.

“It’s a good idea to have this type of talks organised for us during orientation week. I now know it’s important for us to look out for our own safety apart from being concerned about getting good results, making new friends and getting used to a new environment,” she said.

Ever since Taylor’s started the workshop three years ago, over 1,500 female students and staff have been trained.

By the end of 2008, another 1,000 students will have undergone the workshop.