Program in Biophysics Graduate Student Handbook

Safety Precautions

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V. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

A. PERSONAL SAFETY RULES

In October 1995, a tragic incident occurred on the UIUC campus, which prompted us to include a section on safety precautions. Many of these precautions were disseminated campus-wide by the University Police and the Chancellor's office following the murder of a University employee, and wife of a former Biophysics and Computational Biology professor, by a graduate student she knew (the student took his own life later the same evening). Luckily, incidents like this are very rare on campus however, it is important to always be alert!

In 2006, in two separate incidents, Biophysics & Computational Biology students' locked lockers were broken into at the Intramural-Physical Education Building (IMPE) while they were using the gym facilities. These types of incidents are very common on campus and the surrounding communities. To check out the current crime statistics on and around campus, please go to www.dps.illinois.edu.

Unfortunately, we live in a world today where, in order to protect our possessions and ourselves, we must be suspicious and always on guard. Predators are everywhere and are looking for an opportunity to strike. This doesn't mean we have to live in constant fear, just constant awareness of what is happening around us.

Here are some general tips on staying aware while walking on campus (or anywhere). These precautions were gathered from various sources, such as the U of I Division of Public Safety website, and as many as possible are included here:

• Walk alertly and keep your mind on your surroundings, and on who is in front and behind you.
  
  
• Communicate the message that you are confident and know where you are going. Stand tall, walk purposefully, and make eye contact with people around you.
  
  
• Trust your instincts! If you feel uncomfortable in any situation, leave as quickly as possible.
  
  
• Use well-lit and busy sidewalks. Try to avoid deserted sidewalks, vacant lots, alleys, construction sites, and wooded areas. Always take the safest route, even if it's a little longer.
  
  
• Walk facing traffic to see approaching cars.
  
  
• Don't wear stereo headphones or talk on cell phones while walking or jogging - they prevent you from hearing what is going on around you.
  
  
• If you feel you are being followed, cross the street; head for nearest well-lit, populated area; yell for help; and call the police. If you are calling from a campus phone, dial 9 first then 911. From an off-campus phone, dial 911. Also, take note of the police call boxes located at several locations around campus...one is on the west side of Mathews Street, north of Noyes Hall, near the sidewalk. See the Emergency Phone Locations Map (Appendix 6) for other locations.
  
  
• Carry a cell phone, whistle, or personal alarm to alert people you need assistance.
  
  
• Put an ICE (In Case of Emergency) entry in your cell phone, with the name and phone number of a loved one who can be contacted by emergency services workers in case of an emergency.
  
  
• Walk in pairs or groups whenever possible.
  
  
• Never, never, never hitchhike (ask to take a ride in a vehicle of someone you do not know).
  
  
• Drink responsibly - many crime victims on the U of I campus are intoxicated and are easy prey for criminals. Drinking can diminish your ability to respond quickly and can impair your judgment when it comes to acting responsibly.
  
  
• Do not establish a set pattern of behavior - Remember, variety is the spice of life! If you leave at a set time every night, try to vary it somewhat and have two or three well-lit routes to take and vary them often.
  
  Champaign-Urbana and campus area crime reports are available through the local newspapers or Daily Illini (the campus paper).
  
  Escorts are available for students walking at night. Please call one of the following numbers, depending on the circumstances in which assistance is needed:
  
  

  Office	Number	Type of Escort
  Motorist Assistance Program www.parking.illinois.edu/motoristassistanceprogram.htm (Campus Parking general number: 333-3530)	244-HELP (-4357)	Runs from 7:00am-5:45pm M-F (no holidays). Will escort students from campus buildings to any campus parking lot. They will also help with car problems/lock outs in campus lots during normal University hours.
  Mass Transit District (MTD) SafeRides http://www.cumtd.com/ridingmtd/services/SafeRide.aspx (MTD general information: 384-8188)	265-RIDE (-7433)	Runs from dusk-6:15am beginning in Fall (begins at 5:00pm Oct 29-Mar 10). Will give rides across campus and to some close off-campus locations.
  University Police Student Patrol Walking Escorts www.dps.illinois.edu/safetyresources.htm#spescort	333-1216	Student Patrol Officer will provide late night escorts on campus.

  
  

  Other Important Safety Numbers	Number
  University Police (Non-Emergency)	333-1216	For emergencies use 9-911 when dialing from campus phones; 911 from outside phones
  Rape Crisis 24-Hour Hotline	355-5203
  Crimestoppers Program	373-TIPS	To anonymously report a crime

  
  
  B. PERSONAL SAFETY TIPS FOR WOMEN
  
  [NOTE to our male students: Please remember this--men are not immune to personal attacks! A majority of attacks are against college-aged men walking alone, late at night, most of who have been drinking. So, even though these tips are aimed at women, men should also read, and practice, them.]
  
  University campuses are known by criminals to be easy places to carry out their illegal activities. They are large, somewhat impersonal places where criminals can easily slip in and out, virtually unnoticed. In April 1997, a serial rapist was hitting Midwest campuses in a four-state area. He would select women who were alone in isolated areas, such as computer rooms, labs, or offices, and the crimes would occur inside the campus buildings. The Campus Rape Aggression Defense Instructor/Crime Prevention Coordinator, Tony Ortiz, sent out these personal safety tips for women. Please visit the U of I Police/Student Affairs web site at www.dps.illinois.edu/programs.htm for more information.
  

• If you are studying or working in an area, make sure the doors are properly locked. This includes dorm room doors!
  

• Never let a stranger in to your room, office, or building, especially if you are alone in that area.
  

• If you are working alone and someone walks in and makes you feel uncomfortable, trust your instincts and leave the area.
  

• When possible, study or work with a friend or group.
  

• Study in populated areas.
  

• Do not let a service or delivery person enter your area if you are by yourself. Ask for proper identification and if you feel uncomfortable, don't open the door or entrance.
  

• Locate the emergency phones and fire alarms in case you need help. Fire alarms are to be used for getting help in fires and any life-threatening emergencies.
  

• Don't isolate yourself in an open, easily accessible area. This provides the criminal with the opportunity to commit the crime.
  

• When possible, study or work in an area that has several exits. The more exits you have, the more options of escape you have.
  

• Remember -- awareness and risk reduction are 90% of avoidance!! Stay alert and don't take risks! If you believe something is wrong, it is. Trust your instincts.
  
  You may have noticed that one of the recurring themes is for you to trust your instincts! If you feel uncomfortable about someone, there is probably a very good reason to be and you should leave immediately! Don't worry about whether you will seem silly or if you'll hurt someone's feelings...if someone is making you uneasy, then get out. Women's intuition is not a myth, it is reality, and you have to learn to trust in it. If you think you are in danger or feeling threatened, you probably are.
  
  If you'd like information regarding women's safety issues, crime statistics, sexual assaults, and counseling information, you should contact the Office of Women's Programs at 333-3137. Information on women's self-defense courses can be obtained through Division of Public Safety, at 333-1835. Officer Ortiz can also give you advice on rape aggression defense training. You may email him at jaortiz@illinois.edu. You may also check out the Division of Public Safety web site at: www.dps.illinois.edu
  
  C. MISCELLANEOUS SAFETY TIPS
  

• Keep your doors and windows locked at all times in your lab, office, home, or dorm room. Also, keep your blinds closed at night.
  

• When driving, keep your car doors locked and the windows rolled up, especially at night. Always lock your door when you leave your car. Never leave your keys in the ignition or leave your car running if you leave. Park your car in areas that will be well-lit and heavily traveled when you return. Before entering your car, always check under and around the car and in the back seat to make sure no one is hiding there. And never pick up hitchhikers or stop for strangers. If someone flags you down, go to the nearest phone and call the police. Let the police check it out.
  

• If taking a bus, use popular and well-lit bus stops; sit near the driver; be aware of who gets off the bus with you. If someone bothers you while on the bus, tell the bus driver. If you feel uncomfortable after exiting the bus, walk to a place near other people.
  

• When using an elevator, always look into the elevator before entering. If a passenger looks suspicious, don't get on. If you are waiting for the elevator and you are uncomfortable about someone waiting with you, walk away. If already on the elevator and someone suspicious enters, get off. Stand near the controls. If you are threatened and/or attacked, hit the alarm and as many floor buttons as possible.
  

• Let roommates or friends know where you are going and with whom, and when you expect to return, whenever possible.
  

• Never leave personal property unattended, even for a few minutes. Take your backpacks and laptops with you when you leave the area - or make sure they are locked in a desk or locker.
  Here are a few final words on safety:
  

• If you are victimized, try to remain calm; call the police immediately; and get as detailed a description of the assailant as possible (hair color, eye color, clothes, height, weight, race, tattoos, scars, marks, complexion). If a vehicle was used, take note of the license plate number and description of the car.
  

• Remember, not all assailants are strangers. Actually, most are people you know or are acquainted with. If you feel your rights have been violated, you can file a criminal and/or University complaint against the offending party.
  

• Above all, don't ever think crime can't happen to you...because it can! Remember, it is up to you to take care of yourself. So, please, be careful and be safe!

  
  D. IDENTITY THEFT
  
  Identity theft is on the rise across the country. Predators do not even need any physical identification in order to steal your identity. A friend of mine had his credit card number stolen and used by someone living across the country! It took him months to clear his credit history of the fraudulent charges. The important thing is to safeguard your information. Do not give out your social security number or credit information to just anyone. Shred your credit card receipts and old banking statements - anything with identifying information that could be used to open a fraudulent account.
  
  If your wallet is stolen, make sure you contact your credit card companies and banks immediately to cancel your cards and put a fraud hold on your accounts. One of the students whose wallet was stolen from IMPE had his credit card stolen and used within hours of the burglary. He immediately put a fraud hold on his account and was not responsible for those charges.
  
  You are entitled to one free credit check a year with three of the credit consumer reporting companies. Here is the website for your free annual credit check: https://www.annualcreditreport.com.
  
  Equifax: 1-800-685-1111; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
  
  Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com
  
  TransUnion: 1-877-322-8228; www.transunion.com; Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
  
  For more information, you should visit the Federal Trade Commission website at: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/

  
  E. TORNADO SAFETY
  
  Now that you live in the Midwest, you will need to get accustomed to the unusual weather here. March through October is "tornado season" in Central Illinois, but they can occur any time of the year. A tornado is a funnel-shaped cloud that touches the ground. They can be up to 1 mile wide and can remain on the ground from seconds to minutes. These storm clouds can destroy everything in their paths. In April 1996, an outbreak of tornadoes rumbled across the width of the state and right through the area, touching down in several places in Urbana, causing millions of dollars worth of damage to property, and almost entirely wiping out the small town of Ogden, east of Urbana. I'm not saying this to scare you, just to alert you to the very real danger that exists when these storms come through.
  
  The Central United States is the area of maximum tornado frequency, with Illinois ranking eighth highest among the central states. We have had plenty of practice dealing with the tornado threat. Here's what you need to know to stay safe (this information has been collected from various expert sources). For more info see http://www.ocep.illinois.edu/tornado.htm
  

• When a Tornado Watch is issued by the National Weather Service, it means conditions are optimal for a storm outbreak. At this level of alert, you should watch for changing weather conditions and you should stay tuned to local television and radio stations for up-to-the-minute weather reports. Emergency Civil Defense workers are in the fields, watching the skies for funnel clouds aloft and weather forecasters are in front of their radar screens looking for tell-tail tornado "hook echoes". If a funnel is spotted aloft, on the ground, or indicated on radar, a warning goes into effect immediately.
  

• As soon as a Tornado Warning has been issued in your area, you should seek safe shelter immediately. When tornado-spawning thunderstorms roll though, electric power can be disrupted. You should have a flashlight with you and a battery-powered radio to listen to for information on the path of the tornado. *Emergency Sirens will go off around town -- a long 3-minute blast with a siren -- that is repeated every 30 minutes while the warning is in effect. In some cases, there is not enough time to issue a siren, which is why you must be prepared on your own to seek shelter when conditions look threatening. It only takes a few seconds for a tornado to touch down, wreak havoc, and return to the skies.
  
  [Note: *Emergency sirens are tested on the 1st Tuesday of every month at 10:00 a.m. Listen at that time so you know what to expect when an actual tornado is spotted. When you hear the siren at any other time, you should respond as if it is the real thing, until you have had time to determine if it is a false alarm or a real threat.]
  

• Ideal shelter would be a basement or crawl space of a house or building, in the southwest corner (or whatever direction the tornado is coming from), under a sturdy table, away from glass and exterior walls or doors, covered with a blanket. Unfortunately, this is not always possible, so here are your best alternate choices:
  
  Inside options:
  

• Go to the lowest level possible in a building, using the stairs (do not use the elevator), to an interior hallway or other enclosed area, such as a closet, staying away from windows, exterior walls and doors.
  

• Do not go to a large room, such as an auditorium or gymnasium, as the roof may collapse or be ripped off.
  
  In a wooden structure, such as a house, the basement is the safest place. If a basement is not available, get under a heavy piece of furniture in the center of the house. Interior hallways or in the bathtub are the next safest places. Remember to stay away from glass and exterior walls.

  Outside options:
  
  Outside is the worst place to be, as the debris field thrown off by a tornado is as dangerous as the tornado itself! If you hear a siren and you are outside, the best thing is to take cover immediately inside a steel-framed or concrete building or building marked with the Tornado Shelter sign (see pictures below). For a list of all the Tornado Shelters located on the University of Illinois campus, visit: http://www.ocep.illinois.edu/tornado1.htm
  
  
  
  If you are not near a building, take cover in a ditch, ravine, or lowest ground depression you can find...something that is not always easy in basically flat Central Illinois.
  
  If you are in a car and are in the path of a tornado, get out! Get in a building, low-lying area, or under the girders of a highway overpass (though in recent years, there has been a debate whether it is really safe to hide under overpasses, with most agreeing it is NOT). Don't try to out drive the tornado if it is coming toward you, as they are unpredictable and fast. If you can drive at a 90° angle away from the path, you may be able to avoid it. Be safe!

  
  F. FIRE SAFETY
  
  Fires are something we all need to be prepared for, especially for those living with roommates or in multi-apartment complexes, or working in labs with flammable or combustible materials. In these cases, you may be cautious, but those around you may not be so concerned about the way they handle flammable materials or fire. Fires can start in an instant and spread quickly. Sometimes they can be contained right away with minimal damage. Other times, unfortunately, people are in shock and slow to react and the fire can cause major damage. Therefore, we must have precautions in place to protect ourselves. Here are some preparation tips gathered from various sources. For further info on lab safety please visit www.ehs.illinois.edu
  

• Install one or more smoke detectors (one in the kitchen, others near bedroom doors, in your lab…) and check the batteries once a month.
  

• Locate several exit routes and study them carefully. You may become disoriented in a fire and your chances are better of escaping if you know the fastest, safest way out. Remember, do not use elevators during a fire -- make sure you are familiar with the location of the stairwells.
  

• Know the location of fire extinguishers and know how to use them. Read instructions before an emergency.
  

• Post emergency phone numbers on or near your telephone. To report a fire or a life-threatening emergency call 911 (9-911 from campus phones).
  

• Report any unsafe conditions/safety hazards in campus buildings to the Occupational Safety and Health at 244-0415. These conditions include: obstructed aisles, corridors and egress routes; illegal storage in corridors, fan or equipment rooms, or under stairs; improper handling and/or storage of flammable materials and chemicals; wedging open of fire doors; improper smoking habits or smoking in non-permitted areas; overloading of extension cords, ungrounded plugs and un-fused multiple outlet adapters for appliances.
  
  If, after all your efforts to prevent it, a fire does occur here are some rules to follow to keep everyone as safe as possible:
  

• Remove everyone in the immediate area of the fire.
  

• Activate the nearest fire alarm box.
  

• Call 911 to report the fire (or 9-911 from campus phones). Tell the 911 Dispatcher your exact location and situation. Tell them as calmly and as clearly as possible. Time is of the essence.
  

• Confine the fire by closing doors and windows.
  

• Attempt to extinguish the fire only if it is safe to do so. If it is out of control, you should leave it to the experts.
  

• If there is smoke or heat, stay low to the ground. Smoke and heat rise, so the air is cooler and clearer the lower you are. Most fire injuries are caused by smoke inhalation, so avoid breathing the smoke. Also, many household items can emit poisonous gases when heated and you want to avoid breathing the noxious vapors.
  

• If you must evacuate the building, use the stairwells, always moving down and out until it is safe to exit. Do not use elevators. Elevators can stop during power outages and you could be trapped; or the elevator could stop on the floor with the fire, the doors could open, and the fire could enter the elevator or elevator shaft and spread to other floors.
  

• Before opening any door, feel it near the top. If the door or door handle are hot, do not open the door. Put a towel or sheet, preferably wet, under the door so the smoke doesn't come into the room. Close as many doors as possible between you and the fire. Hang a light-colored cloth out the window to attract the attention of the firefighters below. Do not jump from an upper story - you could be hurt or killed in the fall. Help is on the way, try to be patient and remain calm. If the door is not hot, open the door cautiously - stand behind the door and be prepared to close it quickly if there is excessive smoke. Do a final check before leaving - if it is safe to do so and do not go back for your things if ordered to leave. Assemble outside and do not go back into the building once outside, until notified by the proper authorities that it is OK to re-enter the building. If you are unable to vacate the building due to physical limitations, stay where you are inside and call 911. If there is not a phone available, go to the stairwell landing, if clear and safe, and wait for help.

  
  Final note:
  
  We hope you never have to use these safety tips, but you should familiarize yourself with the information in this section. It may seem unusual to have this section included in a Student Handbook, however, we feel it is important to make you aware of the possible dangers that do exist in a campus setting, even at a relatively quiet Midwest university. We hope it will give you peace of mind to be informed of how to protect yourself in an emergency, whatever the situation. It may even save your life, or the lives of those you love.