Safety and Security Tips

Residence Life Emergency Alert Plan

Living on campus today presents students with the unique opportunity to live and learn among a wide variety of peers and have a variety of experiences in doing so. In an effort to make this experience a positive one for students, the Department of Housing takes steps to ensure that certain needs are met, among them the need for safety and security. These steps include keeping outside doors locked 24 hours a day and making sure that a student staff member (RA or PL) is on duty in each area whenever the Community Office is closed.

Here is what we share with residents:

Even though Tech takes these precautionary steps, there are steps you should take, too. In order to have more effective results when it comes to combating crime in the halls, it is important for residents to be empowered to take proactive steps to ensure their security. Developing simple habits from the moment you arrive on campus can head off big problems and headaches in the future.

• Lock your doors and carry your keys whenever you are away from your room. Students should do this even if they are only going next door. Remember that a thief does not need much time to ruin someone's day.
• Do not prop open any exterior doors, or allow them to be propped open. While propping a door open may be convenient for a student or their guests, remember that it is also convenient for a thief.
• Keep a record of the serial numbers on your television, computer, stereo, bike, etc. It is also helpful to keep pictures of these items. Students may also want to consider engraving these items with their initials or social security numbers. Engraving equipment is available from the Georgia Tech Police Department. Taking these steps can be of great help in identifying stolen valuables.
• Protect items such as credit and ATM cards. See to it that your PIN code is not written on either of these cards. Without this code, and ATM card is worthless to a thief.
• Report Theft. If, by some unfortunate circumstance, you should have some of your valuables stolen, you can still take action. The first thing you should do is tell your PL or RA who can then fill out a Residence Information Form (RIF). The incident will then be on record with the Department of Housing. Next, you should file a report with the Georgia Tech Police. You can then give them the serial numbers and copies of pictures that you have taken of your valuables.

Taking the aforementioned steps will greatly reduce the chances of you being victimized by a thief. While this is true, it is important to remember that these measures, which can be effective deterrents to crime, will only work if you take the initiative and responsibility to put them into practice.

Fire Safety

When the fire alarm sounds, you are required by law to evacuate the building, even in the event of a false alarm. The Georgia Tech Fire Marshall will administer a fire drill once per semester. All individuals are to proceed 100 feet away from the building to the designated "gathering point" for that hall. Only when the alarm is silenced and the "All Clear" given by Department of Housing Staff or the Georgia Tech Police, may people re-enter the building. Students who do not vacate will be subject to judicial action. Please note that we only do drills once, early in each semester. Any other time the alarm rings, there is a legitimate reason for it! We do not have a "false alarm" culture here at Tech.

Any student who knowingly or accidentally causes a fire will be handled through the judicial system for the Department of Housing and/or the Institute.

Sprinklers

Sprinkler heads must not be tampered with, or used as a means to hang personal items. Some of our facilities are equipped with sprinkler systems that will extinguish most major fires. These sprinklers put out 250 gallons of water per minute. You may end up flooding your room and many others at the same time. Georgia Tech is not responsible for the loss you may incur as a result of someone else's negligence. A resident who knowingly or accidentally causes a sprinkler to activate may be charged in the judicial process.