Rather safe than sorry!

Thursday quote: “Safety and security don’t just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear.”  – Nelson Mandela –

In light of the tragic event that happened over the weekend in Las Vegas, I thought it would be good to talk about safety at Montgomery College. I do not know about you, but so far I have felt very safe at Montgomery College. Maybe because it is always busy and that gives me the comfort of knowing that with a lot of people around me, I am safer.  You can walk from the campus to restaurants close by or you can park your car and know that the majority of time it would be safe. I am not saying that crime never happens here, but most of the time you feel safe in the space you come to learn. Whether it is an active shooting, a burglary or sexual harassment, it is good to know how you can prevent or get helped out of a situation like that.

Let us start off by telling you a little bit more about the security at the College:

The campus has security 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are responsible for protecting the College community including students, visitors, faculty and staff.  They assist in first aid and emergency assistance; they could serve as escort services when it is asked for. They are in charge of parking regulations, and they are in control of the lost and found area.

It would be a good idea to have the telephone number of the campus you go to on your phone in case of an emergency:

Germantown: 240-567-7777 and the office is located at SA 282.

Rockville: 240-567-5111 and the office is located at CB 101.

Takoma Park/Silver Spring: 240-567-1600 and the office is located at ST 117.

Here are a few tips to keep you alert and safe:

1. When you walk or park, make sure you do it somewhere well lit and where there is constant activity going around.
2. Do not walk alone at night whether it’s going to your car or going to the gas station.
3. Always be alert about what is going on around you.
4. Try to avoid situations and places you know can be dangerous.
5. When you park your car, make sure you lock it and do not leave any valuable belonging in there.
6. Always keep an eye out for your belongings like your backpack, cell phone and wallet.
7. If you feel unsafe or uneasy, please make use of the security personnel on campus and do not feel awkward or afraid to go and talk to them.

Please make use of the emergency telephone boxes that are provided on campus. This is an example of what it looks like and when you call from there, it dials directly to the Office of Safety and Security on campus.

You can also sign up for MC Alert where you will register your telephone number, which will inform you by text of any emergency or potential dangerous situations. Simply log into MyMC and click on the MC Alert icon. You will be directed to the MC Alert page where you can update your information so that you can receive texts and emails.

If you want to learn more about Montgomery College’s Public Safety and Emergency Management click the link provided below:

http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/EDU/Plain2.aspx?id=102282

Also here is a video on “What to do” if an active shooting takes place at one if the Montgomery College campuses:

http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/edu/plain2.aspx?id=4087

Be alert and be safe but most of all enjoy your time as a student and have fun at College!