A new academic year has arrived, bringing plenty of energy and enthusiasm to main campus. As the Fall semester begins and activities ramp up, keep safety at the forefront as you go about your daily life and consider the following as you enjoy all that Clemson has to offer.
Sign up for CU Alerts
Sign up for Clemson University’s emergency notifications, known as CU Alerts. Validate your phone number in your my.Clemson profile and you will receive text messages — in addition to our emails — in the event of an emergency.
If you see something, say something®
Safety is everyone’s responsibility. A safe Clemson University community requires the joint effort of all community members. If you see something that doesn’t look or feel right, say something and report it:
- Call 911 if it’s an emergency or call the Clemson University Police Department (CUPD) to report suspicious activity at 864-656-2222.
- Text 911 is now available on main campus and in the City of Clemson. While calling is still the best option, anyone can text 911 to report an emergency.
- Use the Text CU Dispatch feature in the Rave Guardian app to report suspicious activity anonymously.
Learn more about what suspicious activity looks like and how you can report it on the CUPD website.
Be responsible with alcohol
Alcohol and other substances can turn any situation into a nightmare. If you choose to drink, be responsible and follow these tips.
- Plan not to exceed a certain number of drinks and alternate with water.
- Monitor your drinks to prevent being impacted by date rape drugs or other harmful substances.
- Make sure to have a friend along and agree to watch out for each other.
- Recognize when someone’s in trouble and engage in bystander intervention.
- Never drink and drive. CUPD takes DUI enforcement very seriously. Getting DUI drivers off the roadways is a key element to preventing injuries and death resulting from vehicle crashes.
Only take medications prescribed for you
- Do not take drugs that you did not receive from a doctor or pharmacist.
- Counterfeit prescription pills mixed with fentanyl or other dangerous drugs can have life-threatening consequences when taken by someone who thinks they are taking legitimate pharmaceuticals.
- These drugs are available on the internet or come from acquaintances, may contain a dangerous mixture of substances and can cause serious medical emergencies or death.
Be prepared with Run, Hide, Fight and Stop the Bleed principles
- Understand your role during an active threat situation.
- Be familiar with the Run, Hide, Fight principles.
- Consider Stop the Bleed training and understand how to utilize a trauma kit.
- Be informed, have a plan and follow instructions from emergency responders. Be familiar with lockdown buttons.
- These actions will assist you and allow you to assist others should a critical incident occur on campus or in the surrounding community.
Visit the Active Threat Preparedness section of the CUPD website to learn more about Run, Hide, Fight and how you can prepare for an active threat situation. Additionally, Run, Hide, Fight and Stop the Bleed training is available for students, faculty and staff.
Other important safety reminders
- As a reminder, e-scooters and other micro-mobility devices are prohibited from any Clemson University facility and cannot be charged on campus. In addition, anyone using these devices must adhere to the rules of the road, just as a bicycle or moped does.
- Be aware of potential scams. Do not provide personal information to people you do not know and never send money to someone who is offering jobs or services that you cannot verify. If the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is a scam. Also, be careful about sharing personal pictures or images that can put you in compromising situations. Scammers will use anything to get money including extortion.
- Protect your property. Clemson is a safe place but there are still those who are willing to take advantage of you should you leave your property unattended. Be smart, safeguard valuables and do not become a victim.
Be aware of campus safety resources
The following resources are available throughout main campus for easy access in the event of an emergency:
- ONEbox Opioid Emergency Kits are strategically located near trauma kits in key locations on main campus. These kits contain Narcan®, a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose or poisoning from opioids.
- AEDs, or automated external defibrillators, are located across main campus to provide life-saving aid to someone suffering sudden cardiac arrest.
- Trauma Kits can be found in many of the same locations as the AEDs. They provide the necessary equipment for immediate treatment in a serious bleeding emergency, such as is needed in an active threat situation.
- Emergency “Blue Light” Phones are available throughout main campus to connect you with emergency dispatchers with the push of a button.