I hope everyone has a happy and safe Fourth of July. Safe travels to everyone planning a trip for the holiday weekend. Here are a few things to pass along from Public Safety:
- National Campus Safety Awareness Month is in September. We have several events planned throughout the month. If your campus group or organization would like to team up with Public Safety on hosting a presentation or event, we would be more than happy to collaborate on this initiative. Please contact me at sloanm1@cofc.edu if you plan to participate.
- Public Safety will be holding a R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) class this summer. R.A.D. is a series of self-defense classes for women. This program will be open to students, faculty, staff, and community members. The class will be held at MUSC, but we will be providing transportation to and from campus. Please stop by Public Safety headquarters or email RAD@cofc.edu to sign up. Below are the dates and times for the summer class:
- Tuesday, 7/21/2015, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Thursday, 7/23/2015, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Tuesday, 7/28/2015, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Thursday, 7/30/2015, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- July is Vehicle Theft Prevention Month in the United States, when more cars are stolen than any other month. Vehicle theft is a very expensive crime, with the cost of stolen vehicles pegged at more than $4.1 billion. Over the past few weeks, there has been an increase in motor vehicle thefts and thefts from motor vehicles in the surrounding area. Never leave the vehicle running while unattended. Be sure to park in well-lit areas and avoid leaving valuable property inside your vehicle. Most importantly, always lock your vehicle. Trends in auto thefts indicate that over half of vehicles stolen are left unlocked at the time of theft. More information can be found here.
- The Department of Public Safety, Fire and EMS, and Emergency Management has teamed up to offer training for the various departments on campus. In this training, we will review emergency response procedures in potential situations such as active shooters, bomb threats, gas leaks, and fire alarms. Those who have attended this training found it to be extremely informative and helpful. In addition to reviewing emergency response procedures, we will also be available to answer any specific questions or areas of concern your team may have. We can attend a staff meeting, or make arrangements to come at another time that works best for your department. Please let me know if this is something you are interested in, or if you have any questions.
- Be social with us! If you have not already, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for departmental news, upcoming events, and other important information. If you are having trouble accessing our pages, please make sure you are signed into your social media account.
Crime Prevention Tip:
The Fourth of July is a popular time for fireworks. If you insist on creating your own demonstration rather than enjoying a professional display, please use extra caution. The person lighting the fireworks should always follow the instructions on the packaging and wear eye protection. Only light one firework at a time, and never attempt to relight a “dud”. Never throw or point a firework at people, animals, vehicles, structures, or flammable materials. Lastly, always have water or a fire extinguisher close by.
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.
Take Care and Be Safe,
PSO Madeline M. Sloan
Crime Prevention Specialist
Department of Public Safety
Office of the President
89 St. Philip Street
Charleston, SC 29424
(843)953-5609