General Campus Safety and Fire Prevention
Although September is recognized as National Campus Safety Awareness Month and Campus Fire Safety Month, the following information can be used any time of the year to help keep you safe while on campus.
Campus Safety
- Be aware of your surroundings and frequently conduct a 360 degree scan of the area around you.
- Trust your instincts – they are usually right.
- If you feel uneasy on campus, request a SIUE police escort.
- Let a trusted friend know where you are going and when you will return.
- Do not leave unfamiliar people alone in your room or office.
- Lock you residence, vehicle and office doors.
- Do not leave items of value in plain view in your vehicle, room or office.
- Do not leave valuables unattended, even for a brief period of time.
- Do not give passwords, security codes or keys to other people.
- Never provide personal information over the Internet, unless the contact was initiated by you.
- Park in high-traffic and well-lit areas.
- Walk with confidence and be prepared – have your car/residence keys in your hand.
- Walk toward on-coming traffic so a car cannot ease up behind you.
- Do not walk or jog alone after dark.
- Do not let the use of alcohol or drugs cloud your judgment and make you a victim.
Fire Safety
- According to the United States Fire Administration:
- There is a strong link between alcohol use and fire deaths on campuses.
- More than 50 percent of fire-related deaths among adults involved victims who were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the fire.
- Alcohol abuse often impairs a person’s judgment and hampers evacuation efforts.
- Cooking is the leading cause of fire-related injuries on college campuses.
- Be aware of what the evacuation process is and where emergency exits are for your dormitory, work area and other campus buildings that you frequent.
- Do not disregard a sounding fire alarm. Ignoring fire alarms often hampers evacuation during an actual fire.
- In case of a fire:
- Feel the door handle. If it is hot, do not open the door. Instead, go to the window and call for help.
- If the door handle is not hot, open the door cautiously and check for smoke before exiting the room.
- Pull the fire alarm, knock on doors and yell “Fire” on your way out.
- Don’t look for other people, gather your belongings or stray from your path as you exit the building.
- Smoke rises so the fresher air will be low. Crawl low to the floor as thick smoke can make it impossible to see and toxic chemicals from smoke can be deadly in minutes.
- Close the door behind you as this might keep the fire from spreading and protect your belongings.
Remember, if you witness a crime, are the victim of a crime or see activity of a suspicious nature, call 9-1-1 immediately.
