Personal Safety Tips
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Be aware of your surroundings and the people around you.
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Be alert to potential danger. If something doesn't
look right or feel right, trust your instincts.
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Anticipate possible problems and know where emergency and
courtesy phones are located. Note:
Emergency phones are identified by a blue light on top.
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Don't walk alone at night. Walk with friends whenever
possible. If you must walk alone, stay in well lit and
well traveled areas.
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Have your keys out and ready before reaching your door or
vehicle.
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When walking to your vehicle, do a visual check of the area
and other cars parked close to yours. Be aware of any
places where someone could be hiding. Check in and
around your vehicle before you get in.
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If you think someone is following you, change directions and
call the police.
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Program Campus Police (828) 251-6710 and other area law
enforcement phone numbers into your cell phone.
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If you see something suspicious, such as someone driving
aimlessly through parking lots or walking around looking
into windows of parked vehicles, call the police
immediately.
Residence Hall Security Tips
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Take responsibility for your own security.
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Keep your room door locked at all times. It only takes
seconds for items to disappear.
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Don't give out your dorm security code.
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If you loose your key, report it immediately.
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Help keep the residence hall entrance doors secure during
prescribed hours. Don't prop them open.
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Don't bring valuable jewelry, antiques or heirlooms to
campus.
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Record model and serial numbers of your stereo equipment,
computers, ipods, televisions and appliances. You can
register these items with Campus Police and request to have
an ID number or name engraved on them.
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Don't make purchases from door to door sales people.
It is against university policy and more often than not,
these are con artists focusing on college students.
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Keep a close eye on your cash, credit cards and checkbook.
Pay particular attention to checks missing from the middle
of your checkbook.
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Don't bring firearms or other weapons such as knives,
swords, air powered guns, bows and arrows or fireworks on
campus. It is a violation of state law and it puts
everyone else at risk.
Vehicle
Security Tips
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Keep your car doors locked and windows up at all times.
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Don't leave purses, wallets or other valuable items in plain
view. Put them under the seat, in the trunk or take
them with you. Thieves take items they can see so don't give
them an easy target.
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Nice stereos, speakers and cd's are favorite targets for
thieves, even if your doors are locked. It is not
uncommon for thieves to bust windows or slim jim the locks.
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Park in well lit and well traveled areas.
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If you have a bicycle, record the brand name, model and
serial numbers and register it with Campus Police.
Suspicious Mail / Package Procedures
Recent events have prompted UNC Asheville to implement
procedures to help screen mail for suspicious items. UNC
Asheville's Campus Police Department has instructed the Mail
Services staff and student workers on safety precautions and
mail screening. Campus Police is staying in contact with
federal, state and local public health and law enforcement
officials to ensure all procedures and information remain up to
date. All available evidence indicates that there is little, if
any, anthrax risk to the UNC Asheville community. Although UNC
Asheville Mail Services will provide initial screening of
incoming mail, the campus is urged to use care and vigilance in
handling envelopes and packages at work and home. Should a
suspicious letter or package be identified, call Campus Police
at 828/251-6710 or 9-911. Campus Police will respond and
immediately secure the area and begin a preliminary
investigation. Campus Police may be assisted by the Asheville
Fire Department's Haz Mat Team or the Bomb Squad, and
appropriate state and federal authorities, as needed. All
reported incidents will be treated as a very serious matter and
instances of hoaxes will be dealt with severely. Below is a
summary of mail handling guidelines from the Centers for Disease
Control and the U.S. Postal Service. There is also a series of
related links located at the bottom of
this page.
Be alert: Be aware of letters or packages that have any kind
of suspicious traits. These traits include the following:
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Any powdery substance on the outside.
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Handwritten or poorly typed addresses
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Misspellings of common words
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Incorrect or non-existent departments or position titles
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Excessive postage
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An unusual amount of tape
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Oily stains, discolorations or strange odors
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Have no return address, or have one that can't be verified
as legitimate
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Are marked with restrictive endorsements, such as "Personal"
or "Confidential"
If
you identify a suspicious letter or package, do not panic:
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Do not shake or empty the contents of any suspicious
envelope or package.
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Place the envelope or package in a plastic bag, wastebasket
or other container and cover the container with clothing,
paper, another wastebasket.
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Leave the room and close the door, or section off the area
to prevent others from entering.
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Wash your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any
powder to your face.
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Call Campus Police at 251-6710 or 9-911.
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Make a list of those who were in the area of the letter or
parcel and give the list to Campus Police.
If
you have opened a letter or package that contains powder, do not
panic:
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Do not try to clean up the powder.
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Cover the powder immediately with clothing, a trash can or
other available means, and do not remove cover.
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Leave the room and close the door, or section off the area
to prevent others from entering.
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Wash your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any
powder to your face.
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Call Campus Police at 251-6710 or 9-911.
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Remove, if possible, heavily contaminated clothing and place
in a bag or waste basket. Give the clothing to the emergency
responders for proper handling.
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Shower with soap and water as soon as possible. Do not use
bleach or other disinfectant on your skin.
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Make a list of those who were in the area of the letter or
parcel and give the list to Campus Police.
Room contamination by an aerosol product:
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Turn off fans or ventilation units in the area.
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Leave the room and close the door, or section off the area
to prevent others from entering
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Call Campus Police at 251-6710 or 9-911.
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Campus Police will contact Facilities Management to shut
down the air handling system
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Make a list of those who were in the area and give the list
to Campus Police.
Links for more information:
Center for Disease Control Home Page
U.S. Postal Service Guidelines
CDC Guidelines for Handling Packages
Anthrax FAQs
Bioterror Protection: Debunking the Myths, WebMD
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