9/6/2024

Greetings Loggers,

If this is your first semester at the University of Puget Sound I am thrilled to welcome you to campus and if you are a returning student we are so happy to see you back on campus for another outstanding year. At the start of each fall semester, a special feeling fills the air as we celebrate our Logger family. As we begin another academic year, the University of Puget Sound Security Services Department would like to share information that can further enhance your safety on campus.

Reporting Suspicious Behavior
You should always report suspicious activity by dialing “3311” on any campus phone or calling Security Services at 253.879.3311 from your cell phone. Please take a moment to program our number in your contacts. If you see something, please say something.

If you need immediate help while walking on campus—look for a blue light. The blue light identifies the location of an emergency telephone. Press the emergency phone button (no dialing is necessary) to be connected to our Security Services Dispatch Center. Describe your emergency to the dispatcher. A Campus Safety Officer (CSO) responds to every call from a blue light phone. Note the location of the blue light telephones as you move about the campus. You may never need to use one, but it is better to be prepared in case of an emergency. During emergencies on campus, we can utilize the speaker system's text-to-speech capabilities to broadcast notifications to our community.  

Emergency Notifications
The University strives to inform the community about potentially dangerous situations, immediate threats to health or safety, and major crimes against persons or property as quickly as possible. At Puget Sound, the University notifies our campus community by sending information through our emergency messaging system — the Logger Alert System. Students are automatically registered to receive emails and text messages. The Logger Alert System is a critical resource in our efforts to keep you safe, and I encourage you to ensure your contact information is updated. New for 2024-25 we are happy to announce the addition of desktop alert notifications. Desktop alerts are a powerful tool for emergency notification. Full-screen alerts are intrusive, guaranteeing they will get the computer user’s attention. We can also utilize the computer’s text-to-speech capabilities to ensure your alerts are heard and not just seen.

We will have a lockdown drill on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, to test our emergency communication and plans. More information will be provided closer to the drill date.

Safe Walk
Although the campus area is safe, there are times when you might feel uncomfortable walking to your car or to and from your residence hall. To assist you, Security Services is offering a program called “Safe Walk”. Simply put, if you feel uncomfortable walking alone, day or night, just call Security Services at 253.879.3311 (ext 3311 on any campus phone), or stop by the office and make arrangements for a Campus Safety Officer to walk with you. The program is available for students, staff, and faculty.

Vehicle and Bike Safety
Living in an urban community increases your chances of your vehicle being broken into or stolen. Since campus safety is a shared responsibility at Puget Sound, we ask that everyone participate in the Clean Car Campaign! Keeping a clean car means removing all items such as tablets, computers, laptops, cell phones, blankets, purses, wallets, and other valuables when your vehicle is unattended. Leave those valuables in your residence hall room, or take them with you when you leave your vehicle.

How to protect your vehicle from being stolen

  • Install a steering wheel locking device.
  • Install a GPS tracking device.
  • Lock all windows and doors.
  • Never leave your car running, while you aren’t in it.

Bicycle theft is another issue facing our Tacoma community; please utilize a U-bolt-style lock to help prevent bicycle theft. Always remember to secure bicycles through the frame and remove expensive accessories.

Pedestrian Safety
We ask that you follow these simple safety rules when crossing the street at N. Union, along 11th Street and Alder.

  • Whenever possible, walk on the sidewalk; follow the rules of the road, obeying all traffic signs and signals.
  • Cross streets at crosswalks, and use the flashing sensor to help alert traffic
  • If no crosswalk is available and your view is blocked, move to where you can see oncoming traffic.
  • Look left, right, and left again before crossing the street, making eye contact with drivers of oncoming vehicles to make sure they see you
  • Stay alert – avoid cell phone use and wearing earbuds.

Security Services also offers free training upon request to learn de-escalation tactics, how to protect yourself in case of an active shooter, and more. When needed, CSOs can respond and provide needed assistance to our community.

In addition, students should remember the following tips:

  • Avoid walking alone at night. Call Security Services and request an escort or safety walk.
  • When walking on campus, put your phone down, keep your eyes up, cross only at marked crosswalks, and watch for vehicles.
  • Drivers should eliminate distractions and keep an eye out for pedestrians.
  • Lock doors and secure belongings
  • Have a safety plan when going out

Fentanyl Facts

  • Due to its high potency, availability, and low cost to produce, fentanyl is being used as a cutting agent in heroin and other illicit drugs.
  • The potency of these drugs has led to a significant increase in overdose-related deaths throughout the nation. According to the Center for Disease Control, in 2022 nearly 71,000 drug overdose deaths involved synthetic opioids. Synthetic opioid-involved death rates increased by over 22% from 2020 to 2021.
  • Signs of fentanyl overdose may include, slow breathing or no breathing, drowsiness, disorientation, sedation, pinpoint pupils, skin rash, or clammy skin. Symptoms usually occur within minutes of exposure or ingestion. Fentanyl overdose lowers the heart rate and depresses the respiratory system.
  • If someone is suspected of ingesting or being exposed to fentanyl: seek immediate medical attention. If someone exhibits overdose symptoms, contact Security Services our Campus Safety Officers who can administer Naloxone (Narcan). If fentanyl is ingested through the mouth or eyes and the person is conscious, rinse the eyes and mouth with cold water. If there was skin contact with fentanyl, immediately wash the area with soap and water. DO NOT use hand sanitizer as it may increase absorption of fentanyl through the skin.  

AEDs and "Stop the Bleed"
Puget Sound has a variety of Philips Head Start Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) located throughout campus. Time is a critical factor in a sudden cardiac event. AEDs are a proven aid in the survival of those suffering from a sudden cardiac event and are designed to be used by bystanders and others with some basic training.  While the units are quite simple to use and could be used by an untrained person, it is recommended that anyone having access to an AED get basic CPR and AED training to understand better how to use the device as quickly and effectively as possible.

No matter how rapid the arrival of professional emergency responders, bystanders will always be first on the scene. A person who is bleeding can die from blood loss within five minutes; therefore it is important to stop the blood loss quickly. "Stop the Bleed" is a nationwide campaign to empower individuals to act quickly and save lives. Bystanders can take simple steps to keep the injured person alive until appropriate medical care is available. The greater the number of people who know how to control bleeding in an injured patient, the greater the chances of surviving that injury. You can help save a life by knowing how to stop bleeding if someone, including yourself, is injured. Bleeding control equipment has been placed in all university-owned buildings. You can find them right next to our AEDs.

The Security Services Department at Puget Sound is committed to protecting our campus community and keeping you safe. If you have any questions, thoughts, or concerns, don’t hesitate to talk to our officers on campus or stop by our office which is located on the ground floor of McIntyre Hall.

I look forward to seeing you around campus and serving our campus community.

Stay Safe and Go Loggers!!

David Ferber, Ph.D. | Director of Security Services