By Marc R. Masferrer, University Communications and Marketing
USF Campus Safety Day will be held on all three campuses on Monday, Feb. 5. The event provides an opportunity for all members of the USF community to learn about safety, disaster preparedness and crime prevention.
At USF Sarasota-Manatee, representatives of public safety agencies that serve the campus will be in the FCCI Rotunda to share information about how students, faculty and staff can keep themselves safe, both on and off campus.
Scott McMillion
“Campus Safety Day is a chance to share with the USF community important ways they can protect themselves and their property, and to raise awareness of possible risks,” said Scott McMillion, the assistant director of campus security and safety at USF Sarasota-Manatee. “A little preparation and planning can go a long way toward staying safe."
Besides campus security, other agencies that will be represented at the fair include the New College Police Department, the Manatee County’s Sheriff’s Office, the Cedar Hammock Fire Control District, the USF Office of Student Success at USF Student Health and Wellness.
McMillion said each USF campus has its own unique challenges. For example, the Sarasota-Manatee campus is located along on a busy highway across from a major commercial airport. It also is solely a commuter campus — although that will change in August with the opening of the new student center and residence hall.
McMillion and his team are already preparing for the new safety and security needs that will come with the new building, which include the first-ever residence hall in the history of the campus.
In the meantime, McMillion said there five ways students, faculty and staff can be safer while on campus:
- Download the USF Safe app to phone as it is the official safety app for receiving campus alerts and has other safety resources, to include the mobile BlueLight.
- Know the locations of the Automated External Defibrillators, or, AEDs, at areas you frequent.
- Have a plan for various types of emergencies.
- Be aware of your surroundings when moving about the campus, particularly when entering and exiting buildings and your vehicle.
- If you see something, say something. Report any suspicious activity.
The Campus Safety Day event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Feb, 5, in the FCCI Rotunda.