Be aware of your surroundings.
When traveling throughout CCU, familiarize yourself with the layout of the campus. When entering a room or building, take a second to locate the exits. In the event of an emergency, reaching safety is the first step you should take.
Be alert when traveling around campus.
Plan the safest route to your destination. Use crosswalks wherever possible and avoid texting or using your cellphone when crossing roads/highways. Avoid using headphones when walking around campus as this can prevent you from hearing any danger that may come your way. Always have a key ready to use to quickly enter your vehicle or residence. Walk clear of blind spots/hiding places. Walk away from unknown people or situations. Walk in the opposite direction of an approaching vehicle.
When driving around campus, remember to obey all traffic signs and signals, and pay close attention at pedestrian crosswalks. Drive the speed limit, especially in parking lots.
Drink Spiking
If you think you or a friend have been drugged, it is important to ensure they are in a safe place.
Call 911 or go to a local emergency room, and advise the medical staff of your symptoms and suspicions.
Symptoms may include:
- Feeling drunk despite drinking little to no alcohol.
- Becoming physically ill.
- Blacking out (not remembering how you got somewhere or what occurred the next day after drinking).
- Experiencing a sudden, unexplained change in consciousness.
Safety tips:
- Adopt the buddy system. Make a plan of how you will look out for your friends and stick to it.
- Never accept a drink from a stranger.
- Avoid drinking large quantities of alcohol around strangers (sharing a drink from a bucket).
- Watch your drink being poured.
- Never leave your drink unattended.
Drink spiking is deliberate, illegal, and can lead to incidents of sexual assault.
IF IN DOUBT…POUR IT OUT!
Lock your doors.
Theft is one of the most avoidable situations on college campuses. Keeping the doors to your room in a residence hall, apartment, house or vehicle locked can deter thieves from entering and taking your belongings. To avoid being targeted, store valuables out of sight, such as in your car’s trunk. To register your personal property, visit https://www.coastal.edu/safety/police/property/register.php.
Use the buddy system.
Consider walking with a friend or a group, especially at night. It is recommended to attend social gatherings with people you can trust so you can watch out for each other. CCU Public Safety offers safe rides across campus. For a safe transport ride, call 843-349-2177.
Attend safety classes.
CCU Public Safety hosts women’s self-defense classes (Rape Aggression Defense system or RAD) and active shooter training (S.A.F.E. Response to Violence) on a regular basis. RAD classes are offered within the CCU PALS curriculum and can be found in the CCU Course Catalog under PALS 178. S.A.F.E. Response to Violence registration can be located on the Office of Training and Development and Service Excellence website at coastal.edu/tdse/.
Know how to contact help.
Most people carry their cellphones with them wherever they go. Know who to contact in cases of emergency. Store the CCU Public Safety contact information in your cellphone contacts.
Anonymous reporting is also available by visiting https://www.coastal.edu/services/safety_and_security/publicsafety/policedivision/anonymousreporting.
CCU has emergency blue-light phones located throughout campus that can be used to contact CCU Public Safety. Noting the locations of these machines is a way to prepare for a possible emergency.
Sign up for CCU Alert.
CCU’s emergency notification system utilizes text messaging, email, social media channels and E-boards to notify the campus community of potentially hazardous situations. Be sure to sign up for CCU Alert for updates on closings, evacuations and other potentially dangerous situations/conditions that may occur.
CCU also uses an outdoor mass notification system to alert students, faculty, staff and visitors if a situation exists that poses an immediate risk or threat to life safety. The high-powered speakers broadcast tones and intelligible voice messages providing instructions for the University community to take action.