Category: News & Highlights

At the beginning of each semester, Risk, Safety, & Resilience (RSR) and the Department of Police & Public Safety want to remind everyone to become familiar with the university’s recommended procedures on how to prepare for and respond to emergencies that may occur on campus. The university is committed to creating an environment in which everyone in our community can thrive.

Be Prepared: All students, faculty, and staff are strongly encouraged to register one or more cell phone numbers with Mason Alert, the university’s emergency notification system, to receive timely notification of events that affect your safety. Information on how to prepare for and respond to potential emergencies is available at ready.gmu.edu. Please also visit the university’s Active Threat Response webpage for information about how to respond to violence on campus and to register for Active Threat Training.

Online Emergency Preparedness Training: Students and employees are required to take Emergency Preparedness Training.  This online training provides details on how Mason prevents, mitigates, responds to, and recovers from emergencies on campus. This training is mandatory for all employees and students. Faculty and staff can access training through MasonLeaps.

In-Person Training: RSR offers Active Threat, Hands Only CPR, Automated External Defibrillator (AED), Stop the Bleed and Narcan (Opioid overdose) training programs. Training is free for faculty and staff; register online here. Group classes can be arranged upon request, email [email protected].

Public Safety App: The Rave Guardian public safety app offers a virtual safety escort feature, allows you to submit tips to University Police anonymously, and functions as a virtual blue light phone that can relay your profile information and location if you activate an emergency call from the app. The application also has a map of all AED’s, Bleeding Control Kits and Narcan on campus. This application is free to all students, faculty and staff through the iTunes store and the Google Play store.

See Something Say Something: It is important to remember that everyone can play a role in sustaining a safe and secure campus. If you suspect a person can harm themselves or others, witness a crime, or observe a suspicious incident, report your observation to University Police immediately by dialing 911 or 703-993-2810. Remember, if you see something, say something; take the challenge. If you have any questions or concerns about Mason’s readiness for potential emergencies on campus, please contact RSR at [email protected] or 703-993-8448.

 

Risk, Safety, & Resilience is committed to supporting the health and wellness of our employees. The Employee Health & Well-Being team have several events coming up designed to help you stay informed, stay healthy, and feel your best!

Join Us September 17 for Tuesday Treks

Date: September 17
Location: Tuesday Treks Route
The Employee Health & Well-Being team will be out on the Tuesday Treks route offering complimentary blood pressure checks and distributing valuable information on managing and understanding blood pressure. Swing by during your walk for a quick check-up and some helpful tips to keep your heart healthy!

Flu Clinics – Protect Yourself This Season

With flu season approaching, it’s important to protect yourself and those around you. Employee Health & Well-Being, in partnership with Student Health Services and Human Resources, is hosting flu clinics across several campuses, so mark your calendars and get vaccinated!

• Fairfax Campus
  Date: October 10
  Sign Up Here
• Mason Square Campus
  Date: October 16
  Sign Up Here
• SciTech Campus
  Date: October 3
  Sign Up Here

Take advantage of these convenient opportunities to safeguard your health. Sign up today, and encourage your colleagues to do the same!

Stay Informed, Stay Healthy!

Whether you’re stopping by for a quick health check during Tuesday Treks or rolling up your sleeve for a flu shot, we hope you’ll join RSR in taking proactive steps towards a healthier future.

Dedicated to providing invaluable learning opportunities, the Risk, Safety, and Resilience (RSR) Emergency Management & Fire Safety team at George Mason University regularly hosts events that bring together professionals to share best practices and gain insights from one another. These initiatives not only highlight George Mason’s contribution to these critical fields, but also underscore its role in fostering a collaborative and informed professional community. 

Fire Safety Symposium: A Tradition of Excellence 

On June 21, RSR organized the 12th Annual Fire Safety Symposium, held at the University of Virginia. Spearheaded by Gregg Black with support from Gina Reistrup and Matthew Forker, the symposium welcomed 38 fire safety professionals from higher education institutions across the Commonwealth. This event provided a unique platform for the State Fire Marshal to address all institutions of higher education (IHE) simultaneously, emphasizing its importance as a singular opportunity for unified communication and collaboration in fire safety practices. 

Since its inception in 2011, the Fire Safety Symposium has become a cornerstone event for George Mason, consistently facilitating the exchange of knowledge and fostering relationships among fire safety professionals. The annual gathering not only reinforces best practices but also highlights Mason’s ongoing leadership and dedication to fire safety in the higher education sector. Risk, Safety, and Resilience founded this annual event and has continued to plan, organize, lead, and deliver the Fire Safety Symposium at institutions across the Commonwealth.  

UCC Boot Camp: Cultivating New Leaders in Emergency Management 

The same day at Mason Square, another significant event took place — the International Association of Emergency Managers Universities and Colleges Caucus (UCC) Boot Camp. Organized by David Farris, this event catered to emergency managers new to the higher education environment, providing them with essential training and insights specific to their roles. 

With over 40 participants, the boot camp was a resounding success, marking the second time it has been at George Mason. David Farris, alongside Marc Barbiere (Georgetown University), who serve as UCC region III co-chairs, played pivotal roles in ensuring the event’s success. By focusing on the unique challenges and responsibilities of emergency management within higher education, the UCC Boot Camp stands as a testament to George Mason’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of emergency managers. 

A Legacy of Impact 

Through events like the Fire Safety Symposium and the UCC Boot Camp, RSR continues to make significant contributions to the fields of emergency management and fire safety. These initiatives not only enhance professional development but also strengthen the network of professionals dedicated to maintaining safe and resilient educational environments. George Mason’s dedication to hosting and organizing these events underscores its pivotal role in shaping the future of safety and resilience in higher education. 

Safety, Emergency, & Enterprise Risk Management is proud to present its annual report, covering activities and accomplishments from fiscal year (FY) 2020 through FY 2022. This report details SEERM’s extensive COVID emergency response as well as routine operations over the last three fiscal years.

To download this report as a PDF, click here.

To view this report in an interactive format, click here.

This course provides information on how to respond to an active threat situation (a person with a weapon intent on causing harm), hands-on experience using a tourniquet,  and providing first aid to someone who is the victim of an attack. Participants will learn the RUN-HIDE-FIGHT response to active threat situations. This class offers participants the ability to ask what-if questions regarding active threat situations. This class is open to all faculty, staff, and students.

To register, click here or email [email protected] for support.

Dear Patriots,

You have either heard of or experienced last month’s erroneous active threat announcement. Fortunately, this was not a real event, but instead an error caused by an external vendor which has been resolved.  For more information about this situation, please visit our advisories page.  Many members of our community reacted quickly using their training to find a safe location, barricade/lock doors, and helped others as necessary. Although we regret this incident, it does remind us of the importance of individual and institutional preparedness. We continue to explore ways to make our campuses as safe as possible.  Please help us in this endeavor by educating yourself on recommended preparedness and response procedures and report emergencies or suspicious conditions to University Police by calling (703) 993-2810.

Mason Alert: All students, faculty, and staff are strongly encouraged to register one or more cell phone numbers with Mason Alert, the university’s emergency notification system. Mason Alert text messages provide timely notification of events affecting your safety.

Active Threat Prevention and Response: Please take 15 minutes to review the university’s Active Threats Awareness and Prevention Video designed to help you identify and report concerning behaviors. This video also reviews actions that should be taken if a person with a weapon is reported on campus.  To register for a scheduled viewing of the Active Threats Awareness and Prevention Video in the Johnson Center Cinema facilitated by University Police and the Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHS) with a question and answer session, please click here. University Police provide routine Active Threat Training Opportunities or training upon request.  To sign up or request training please click here.

Rave Guardian Public Safety App: Mason offers a free public safety app to all students, faculty and staff. Rave Guardian is integrated with Mason Alert and offers a number of important features, including a virtual safety escort function, the ability to submit tips anonymously to University Police, and a panic call button that relays your location to University Police.  The Rave Guardian app is free through the iTunes store and the Google Play store. 

Be Prepared: Information on how to prepare for and respond to emergencies that might occur on campus is available at ready.gmu.edu. This site also has resources to help faculty and staff prepare for emergencies that interrupt classes or impact research activities.

If you have any questions or concerns about Mason’s readiness for potential emergencies on campus, please contact EHS at [email protected] or 703-993-8448.

If this page does not automatically redirect, please click here: https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat

This summer, 911 calls placed from university landline phones will start being transferred directly to local county police agencies. This modification will ensure uniformity in all Fire/EMS and Police 911 calls, as all cell/mobile 911 calls are currently answered by the local police agencies.

Should you dial 911 from a university landline, the local police agency will transfer your call to the George Mason Police Communication Center, located at the Police and Public Safety Center on the Fairfax Campus.

All police responses will still be handled by George Mason Police Department, and calls made to the department via the non-emergency line (703-993-2810) and the TDD line (703-993-2817) will be received by the Fairfax Campus Communications Center. The Arlington Campus police line (703-993-8070) and SciTech Campus police line (703-993-8370) are also unchanged.

Changes in the transfer of university landline 911 calls will go into effect on the following dates:

• Arlington Campus: July 9 (Arlington County 911 Center)
• SciTech Campus: July 16 (Prince William County 911 Center)
• Fairfax Campus: July 23–25 (Fairfax County 911 Center)

Questions about these changes may be directed to University Police at 703-993-2810.

 

This announcement was originally posted to News at Mason on June 23, 2019 – follow this link to view the original post: https://www2.gmu.edu/news/577966