As students and faculty lined up to create their own emergency preparedness kit, the GW Safety Expo held in University Yard this Wednesday had other ways of showing students how to keep themselves safe.
As part of National Preparedness Month, the expo included presentations from local community partners, such as Target and Blue or new groups like Animal Rescue League, which showed how to care for animals in case of emergency. Campus organizations, such as the GW University Police Department, had demonstrations on how students can protect themselves in cases of assault.
Office of Emergency Management Director George Nuñez said that as many as 1,500 people came out to the expo and he hopes more people and groups attend in years to come.
"It shows that GW is an engaged community," Nuñez said. "One goal we have is have as many as 1,000 people make their own preparedness kit."
The kit, which included band-aids, masks and latex gloves, serves as an on-hand tool set that will allow students to help bandage up themselves or friends in case of emergency.
UPD Lieutenant David Heffer noted that self-defense can be useful, but it is also essential to have a certain knowledge of one's surroundings when going out.
"The basis is still awareness," Heffer said, "but if you're going out, do some research on the area where you're going beforehand."
Members of the Office of Health and Safety stressed the importance of random searches of student dorms to make sure they do not have materials they would not be allowed to have on campus.
"It really helps students know what they should avoid bringing, but also what items they have to avoid bringing home for the holidays," said Health and Safety Inspector Chad O'Connor.
Although Nuñez stated that the Office of Emergency Management is busy year round, including the summer, he stated that the website is at its busiest during the winter.
"Lots of students want to know whether classes are cancelled or if it's going to snow," Nuñez said.
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