Campus safety: Are students informed?
Eau Claire a relatively secure place, but students should be alert, source says
Sara Nemec
Issue date: 3/4/10 Section: Campus News
Freshman Kaitlin Shea knows how to protect herself in an emergency. Shea said she learned in high school how to shield herself from an active shooter in the building and practiced mandatory lockdown drills with her classmates. Though she said she feels relatively safe at UW-Eau Claire, she does not rule out the possibility of someone coming on campus with a gun.
"You never feel that it would happen to you, but it could," she said.
More than 280 school-associated violent deaths - homicides, suicides or other non-accidental violent deaths - have occurred in the U.S since 1999, according to National School Safety and Security Services. Of these, 130 deaths were due to school shootings.
Though Eau Claire has not experienced a school shooting, guns may have been brought on to campus. According to UW-Eau Claire Police Department crime statistics, since 2004, UW-Eau Claire police have dealt with 10 cases of a person caring a concealed weapon.
Sgt. Christopher Kirchman of the UW-Eau Claire Police Department said that although Eau Claire is a relatively safe community, students should be attentive and ready to act if a situation presents itself.
"Anybody can walk on here every day …, (but) students and faculty shouldn't be afraid," he said. "They should be alert."
The police sergeant said one way of educating students and faculty about and preparing them for emergency situations is Eau Claire's "Emergency Procedures Guide," which is placed in classrooms, residence halls and other buildings throughout campus.
The "Emergency Procedures Guide" is a "quick reference guide that can be used to prepare for and respond to emergencies on campus," according to the document. The guide includes emergency response phone numbers and information about how to handle emergencies such as bomb threats, chemical/hazardous waste spill, disturbances, fires, medical emergencies, severe weather, flooding, active shooters and what to do with a suspicious letter or package.
"You never feel that it would happen to you, but it could," she said.
More than 280 school-associated violent deaths - homicides, suicides or other non-accidental violent deaths - have occurred in the U.S since 1999, according to National School Safety and Security Services. Of these, 130 deaths were due to school shootings.
Though Eau Claire has not experienced a school shooting, guns may have been brought on to campus. According to UW-Eau Claire Police Department crime statistics, since 2004, UW-Eau Claire police have dealt with 10 cases of a person caring a concealed weapon.
Sgt. Christopher Kirchman of the UW-Eau Claire Police Department said that although Eau Claire is a relatively safe community, students should be attentive and ready to act if a situation presents itself.
"Anybody can walk on here every day …, (but) students and faculty shouldn't be afraid," he said. "They should be alert."
The police sergeant said one way of educating students and faculty about and preparing them for emergency situations is Eau Claire's "Emergency Procedures Guide," which is placed in classrooms, residence halls and other buildings throughout campus.
The "Emergency Procedures Guide" is a "quick reference guide that can be used to prepare for and respond to emergencies on campus," according to the document. The guide includes emergency response phone numbers and information about how to handle emergencies such as bomb threats, chemical/hazardous waste spill, disturbances, fires, medical emergencies, severe weather, flooding, active shooters and what to do with a suspicious letter or package.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Jorge
posted 3/08/10 @ 12:51 AM CST
It's good to have the emergency procedures guide on hand - although - I do wonder if it wouldn't be worth having every body read it over in class at the beginning of semester? Having it on-hand is a start, but it's familiarization with the content that will make the difference when the time comes. (Continued…)
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