Department of Public Safety | Blog

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Public Safety Tip of the Day: Spring Break Tips:

While drinkin’…
Do us all a favor (including yourself) and party smart. Be responsible. Pace yourself if you choose to drink, and avoid hard alcohol or other drinks that are powerful and have fast effects. (And remember that drunks = easy targets.) Also be aware of alcohol poisoning. According to a University of Wisconsin study, 75 percent of college males and 43 percent of females reported being intoxicated on a daily basis during spring break. If you do decide to drink, know the liquor laws of wherever you’ll be vacationing. Drinking & driving is always a dangerous situation, so avoid this by having your safe mode of transportation home planned before you go out.

On the beach…
Drinking + sun can equal a bad sunburn and an even worse hangover. Sun can maximize the effects of alcohol so keep this in mind if you party on the beach. Take it slow and stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. If you start feeling faint or light headed, get shade and water immediately. And don’t be a lobster..use sunscreen of at least SPF 15 and reapply often. Pay extra special attention to ears, nose, face and shoulders. Fair skinned friends should wear sunglasses and even a hat. Avoid sun exposure during the hottest hours of the sun’s rays and remember you can burn even when it’s cloudy

Thank you,

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Good Afternoon,

Recently, there has been an increase in fire alarms at The McCormick Student Village (MSV).

Several of these alarms have been attributed to cooking or overuse of aerosol spray.

One alarm, was caused by the malicious activation of a pull station on the 2nd floor of North Hall.

IITPSD does not suspect that these issues are related.

IITPSD has forwarded the issues to Facilities and Residence and Greek Life to explore possible solutions.

In the interim, IITPSD encourages all students to treat all fire alarms as bona fide and evacuate the building as quickly and safely as possible.

Please review the below Illinois criminal code regarding the malicious tampering of a fire safety device.

(720 ILCS 5/17-11.5) (was 720 ILCS 5/16-22)

Sec. 17-11.5. Tampering with a security, fire, or life safety system.

(a) A person commits tampering with a security, fire, or life safety system when he or she knowingly damages, sabotages, destroys, or causes a permanent or temporary malfunction in any physical or electronic security, fire, or life safety system or any component part of any of those systems including, but not limited to………. fire alarms, smoke alarm systems, smoke detectors, flame detectors, fire detection systems and sensors, fire sprinklers, fire suppression systems, fire extinguishing systems emergency telephones, emergency call boxes, emergency pull stations, annunciators, sirens, lights, sounders, control panels and components….. (b) Sentence. A violation of this Section is a Class 4 felony.

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Public Safety Tip of the Day: Spring Break Tips:

On the road…
Buckle up, disco dancers! Also take turns behind the wheel, and whoever sits shotgun should stay awake to keep the driver company. Make sure everyone has a valid driver’s license and the vehicle registration is in the car before driving off.

In hotels…
Reserve a room that’s above the 1st floor but below the 6th floor. Why? First floor rooms are easier to break into, and rooms above the sixth floor are sometimes too high for fire ladders to reach. If safes are provided, definitely use them for any valuables you may have. Keep doors and sliding doors locked, and don’t let anyone into your room unless you can trust them. Make a mental note of where the nearest fire exits and stairwells are located in case you need to evacuate.

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Have a safe Spring Break.

Thank you

Hello,

To view the Daily Incident Reports, please Click Here

Public Safety Tip of the Day:  Smoke Alarms

Test
When was the last time you heard your smoke alarm? Battery-operated alarms should be tested once a month to make certain they are working.

Change
Replace the batteries in your smoke alarm once a year. Experts recommend you do this each fall when we change our clocks to end of Daylight Saving Time. Install a new battery immediately if an alarm “chirps” to indicate a low battery.

A ten-year lithium battery smoke alarm does not need to have its battery changed. Replace smoke alarms that use extended-life, lithium batteries when the alarm “chirps” or fails to respond to periodic testing. The batteries in these units cannot be replaced.

False Alarms
Use the hush button to silence a false alarm. Never disconnect or remove the battery. If your smoke alarm does not have a hush button use a magazine or kitchen towel to wave fresh air into the detection unit

Replace
Replace your smoke alarm every ten years. After ten years, your smoke detector will have been working consecutively for 87,000 hours. No other appliance in your home works this long. If you do not know how old your smoke alarm is, or if it is ten years or older, replace it as soon as possible.

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Public Safety Tip of the Day: 

SAFELY CARRYING VALUABLES

• Handbags should be closed, carried in front of the body with an arm held loosely across it. A bag dangling by your side is much easier for a thief to grab on the run.
• If wearing a handbag with a strap over the head, choose a thin strap, and wear it under your coat. This makes it harder for the robber to grab the strap. A hard yank on a strap may cause a fall and an injury.
• Many women find they don’t need to carry a handbag all the time. Place essentials (keys, small amount of cash, I.D.) in a pocket.
• Avoid carrying house keys in your handbag. Instead, carry keys in a pocket. Chances are your address is on a document in the bag. If the thief has your keys and address he/she has easy entry to your home.
• Consider reducing the items of personal or sentimental value that you routinely carry. Losing family photos, address books, and important papers is usually more traumatic to victims than financial loss.
• If you must carry a large amount of cash or valuable items, do not carry them in your handbag or wallet. Carry valuables in an inside pocket.

Thank you,

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Public Safety Tip of the Day: 

Pedestrian Safety Continued:

• Remember: Telephone poles, utility boxes and parked vehicles block on-coming drivers ability to see you.
• Arrive early for buses and trains, but not so early that you have a long waiting time.  Stay out of the street and to wait for the bus or light rail train to come to a complete stop before approaching the street.
• Avoid walking while listening to an IPod or MP-3, Walkman, Discman, etc. with earbuds or headphones; this cuts down your awareness of what’s happening around you and impedes your ability to hear oncoming traffic.
• Develop a plan before you see trouble. Crossing a street or entering a store may get you out of a potentially bad situation.
• If a car follows you or beckons you while you are walking, do not approach it. Instead, turn and quickly walk the opposite direction.
• Wear clothing and shoes that you can move freely and quickly in, especially when walking or waiting for the bus or Light Rail.
• Carry minimal items; overloading yourself can make you appear vulnerable.
• Always hold a child by the hand while crossing the street and remember, WALK don’t run.

Thank you

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Public Safety Tip of the Day: 

Pedestrian Safety:

• Look both directions before crossing a roadway.
• Never cross the street against a red light, even if you don’t see any traffic coming.
• Plan a safe walking route to school or the bus/transit stop.  Choose the most direct way with the fewest street crossings and if possible, with intersections that have traffic controls.
• See and be seen — drivers need to see you to avoid you.  Wear bright/light colored clothing or reflective clothing at night so drivers see you.
• Pedestrians should make eye contact with drivers when crossing busy streets to ensure they have been seen..
• Pedestrians do not have the right of way when crossing mid-block.  Cross streets only at street corners or marked crosswalks or intersections.  Crossing at locations that have traffic signals helps motorists see you.
• Give drivers ample time to stop prior to your entering the crosswalk.
• Do not run across a dark street to catch a bus; cross at crosswalks or intersections.
• If a car is parked where you are trying to cross, look for drivers who may pull out and not see you as they looking for traffic.

Thank you

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Public Safety Tip of the Day:

PEDESTRIAN SAFETY:

• Pay close attention to your surroundings, avoid “automatic pilot”
• Pay special attention to all traffic signals and crossing guards.
• Use common sense; plan your route to avoid uninhabited parks, parking lots, garages and alleyways.  Stick to well-lit areas.
• Pick routes with sidewalks with good lighting and clear visibility.
• Walk with purpose; project a confident image.
• Always walk on the sidewalk.  If there is no sidewalk and you must walk in the roadway, always walk facing traffic.

Thank you

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To view the Daily Incident Reports, please Click Here

Public Safety Tip of the Day:

Carjacking: If it happens to you