Safety First
Here are some reminders that can help insure your personal safety as a University of Georgia student:
1. Keep in mind that alcohol plays a large role in safety issues: drinking and driving, drinking and unwanted sex, drinking and violence, drinking and injuries. Making low risk choices about alcohol can have an impact on how safe you stay while in college.
2. Use the “buddy system.” Always let someone know your plans. Tell a roommate or friend where you will be.
3. When you are out walking, walk confidently, and be alert. Notice what is happening around you. Don’t walk or jog in remote, isolated places; choose well-lighted, well-populated areas. It’s better to avoid walking or jogging late at night.
4. Practice self defense. Carry your keys in your hands when walking to and from your car. Wearing a whistle is also a good idea—it’s an excellent means of signaling danger.
5. Jogging tips: Always face the on-coming traffic. Wear reflective clothing or a reflective vest—this is a city ordinance. Carry some form of identification with you at all times, and jog with a partner, if at all possible.
6. Use caution with your possessions. Always lock your car, and don’t leave valuables in full view. Check the back seat and floors as you approach your car. Also, lock your bicycle; be sure that it is marked with an identifiable mark or number not related to personal identification. All valuable property should be properly marked.
7. Remember that if you ride a bike in Athens, bike riders are required to follow the same rules of the road as cars and other vehicles. Always wear a helmet.
8. Be sure that you always lock your doors and windows, where ever you live even the dorms. Practice all rules of home safety, such as fire precautions—don’t overload electrical circuits and have a fire extinguisher handy.
9. If you should receive an obscene telephone call, hang up. Write down date and time of calls, so if calls continue you can inform police. Repeated calls should be reported to University Police.
10. Report unusual situations. Call University Police, or if you are in a residence hall, let your RA or GR know. If you are ever a witness to a crime or a victim, immediately report what you know to the University Police, 706-542-2200.
11. For information regarding UGAAlert, emergency planning, safety while traveling, preparing an emergency kit and other precautions to be taken to ensure your personal safety, visit the Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness’ web site at http://osep.uga.edu.
12. Be sure to check your emergency contact information in the UGAAlert emergency notification system. UGAAlert will be utilized to notify you of campus-wide emergencies requiring immediate action. The phone number reflected on your caller ID will be 706-542-0111. You should program this number into your phone as “UGAAlert” so it will immediately be recognized as an urgent call. See www.ugaalert.uga.edu.
Rape and Sexual Assault Awareness
Rape and sexual assault are serious crimes. Women can help ensure their safety by exercising caution and by following these words of advice:
1. Use common sense. Avoid being in an isolated situation or with someone you don’t know.
2. Be cautious about alcohol consumption. Most acquaintance rapes involve alcohol.
3. In a dating relationship, communicate openly and clearly.
4. If you are raped, talk to someone you trust—a friend or rape crisis counselor, and be sure that the crime is reported to the University Police.
Sexual Assault, University Health Center 706-542-SAFE, 706-542-7233 or Rape Crisis Line 706-353-1912
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY (ICE)
Most people do not carry cards with Emergency Notification information. Yet, most people these days carry a cellphone… and have it with them all of the time.
There is no simpler way of letting emergency services know who to contact should you be involved in an accident than by using ICE. Standing for “In Case of Emergency”, ICE will allow ambulance crews and police officers to quickly contact a nominated person who can be informed of the incident.
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Type the acronym ICE followed by a contact name (forexample, ICE - Mom or ICE - David) into the address book of your cell phone
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Enter their phone number
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Tell your ICE contact that you have nominated them
Follow these guidelines to get the best out of ICE:
Make sure your ICE partner:
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has agreed to be your ICE partner
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has a list of people they should contact on your behalf
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will be available at that number, for example a home number could be useless in an emergency if the person works full time
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knows about any medical conditions that could affect your emergency treatment - for example, allergies or current medications
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For cell phone users under 18, their ICE partner should be a parent or guardian authorized to make decision ontheir behalf -for example if a life or death operation is needed
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Should your preferred contact be hearing impaired,then prefix the number with ICETEXT
