As a new academic year begins, it is important for all members of the Illinois State University community to be familiar with the many safety and security resources available on campus.
The recently enhanced and expanded Safe Redbirds app puts current campus safety messaging, as well as a wealth of other emergency preparedness resources, at your fingertips. Among the many new and updated features on the app are an Emergency Guide with short videos on what to do in a variety of emergency situations, a Virtual Blue Light feature, information on Redbird Safe Walks, campus maps, information on making reports to University Police and other campus offices, as well as links to Safe Redbirds social media accounts. Safe Redbirds is available for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
“The Safe Redbirds app has been a popular and valuable asset for students, faculty, and staff in the years since it was first introduced in 2019,” said Illinois State University Emergency Management Director Eric Hodges. “The enhanced features on the app have taken it to a whole new level. The app is easy to find online, quick to download, and provides users with real peace of mind.”
Knowing the locations of emergency equipment in campus facilities is also a vital step in being prepared.
“It is always good to know the location of things such as AED stations, which now also contain Bleeding Control kits; evacuation assembly areas; fixed blue light emergency phones; and other campus safety resources,” said Hodges. “Knowing where those things are and being familiar with how they work build confidence, and it will save vital time in any emergency situation.”
While students are automatically enrolled, all faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to sign up with the ISU Emergency Alert notification system. Initial alerts are issued by the University Police Department following confirmation of a reported emergency and an assessment that there is an immediate threat to the University community. These alerts and subsequent updates will also be posted on the Illinois State homepage.
The University Police Department and Emergency Management provide a number of information and training sessions on safety-related topics throughout the year. Active shooter training sessions that focus on prevention, preparedness and response will be offered for campus units this fall. More details and registration information can be found on the Emergency Management website.
More information can be found on the Campus Safety and Security page.
