After a two-year hiatus, The Office of Emergency Management hosted a Campus Safety Day on each campus to spread awareness of safety risks for students.
The event on the Marietta Campus was held on Sept. 1 on the lawn between Norton and Howell Hall and the event on the Kennesaw campus was held on Sept. 22 on the Campus Green. Both featured a mock dorm fire controlled by local firefighters to demonstrate the spread of a fire.
Wellstar Health System provided free flu shots during the event. Student Health Services reported that they gave 157 flu shots at the Campus Safety Day on the Kennesaw Campus. Covid-19 boosters and monkeypox vaccines were also distributed by Cobb & Douglas Public Health to those eligible.
Courses for fire safety and active shooter drills were held. The Cobb County Police Department’s bomb detection robot also provided a demonstration. KSU’s Office of Emergency Management brought a critical incident response trailer to the event as well.
Agencies in attendance also included: KSU’s Police K-9 units, the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office Swat Unit, KSU PD Community Outreach, Atlanta Gas Emergency Services, the American Red Cross, Georgia State Patrol, the Marietta Fire Department and KSU’s Environmental and Health Services.
According to James Westbrook, acting director of Emergency Management, the most common avoidable risks in dorms are cooking-related. This includes putting flammable material in a microwave or falling asleep while cooking something. Westbrook also said that the overuse of an electrical outlet or incorrect use of electrical devices, like space heaters, are also common safety risks in residence halls.
“Outside of fire risks, most avoidable safety risks come down to being aware of your environment and situation,” Westbrook said, “Being aware of what is going on around you can often help you notice a risk before it becomes an emergency.”
Westbrook also said that students should be active reporters of anything that may be a safety concern to them or others. He called this the “‘see something, say something mentality.”
Students can report anonymously through the LiveSafe app, which provides direct contact with campus police and contains important safety information reference guides. Users are also able to call or chat with campus officials in times of need or send them a picture or video of a concern. LiveSafe also provides access to SafeWalk, a virtual escort feature for students who feel unsafe traveling alone.
Students can register with the LiveSafe app through their KSU emails.
“Be aware of your surroundings, knowing how to use a fire extinguisher, knowing how to evacuate your buildings in case of a fire or other emergency, and knowing where safe sheltering locations are in case of a tornado are just a few tips,” said Westbrook.
