Come to the First Razorback Safety Festival Wednesday

What would you do if your best friend started choking? 

What if the campus was in the path of a tornado; would you know where to go? 

Do you know the difference between a severe weather "watch" and a "warning"?

What if there was a fire in your apartment; do you know how to use a fire extinguisher?

Find these answers and more at the first Razorback Safety Festival, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, on the Arkansas Union Mall. All students are encouraged to attend the festival, which will have several interactive safety stations including, but not limited to, CPR and AED demonstrations, food and kitchen safety, first aid kit construction, a tornado virtual reality experience and fire extinguisher demonstrations.

The U of A prides itself on being a safe campus for all students as they pursue their academic goals. But as much as the university does to keep students safe, students also have a responsibility to themselves to be proactive for their own personal safety while both on and off campus.

"The Razorback Safety Festival is an event to help students become more aware of the importance of preparing for emergencies," said Kathy Shaffer, assistant director of emergency management and student domestic travel for Student Affairs. "Learning these skills and knowing what to do before you need them is critical to ensuring our students are ready when an emergency occurs."

Dean of Students Melissa Harwood-Rom agrees, and in her work has seen the consequences of students not knowing about some aspects of personal safety.

"Attending the Razorback Safety Festival is a great way to begin your preparedness," Harwood-Rom said. "Students who are living away from home for the first time do not always know how to be prepared for an emergency or what to do if one arises. This event is designed to help them!"

Local chief meteorologist for KNWA/KFTA FOX24 stations, Dan Skoff, will be at the event talking about weather-related emergencies and will have a tornado VR experience for students to try.

Members of the Associated Student Government will be at the safety festival talking about the SafeRide program and will have a SafeRide van at the event.

"SafeRide plays a crucial role in the campus community, prioritizing student safety above all else," said Anna Grace Caesar, director of SafeRide for Associated Student Government. "It's reassuring to know that the University of Arkansas is committed to protecting its students, and SafeRide stands as a clear, tangible example of that dedication."

The U of A utilizes the SafeZone mobile personal safety app to enhance campus security. Cpl. Allen Porter, UAPD's point of contact for the SafeZone mobile safety app, will be present at the event to demonstrate its features.

The app has a direct connection to the U of A Police Department. It is available 24/7 and allows users to initiate an emergency notification from their mobile phones, instantly sharing their location with UAPD and security personnel on and around campus, ensuring a faster response time.

"This is just one of the many safety features of the app," Porter said, "and we are proud to offer the reassurance that UAPD can respond promptly when you need it."

As follow-up to the festival, look for monthly safety articles in Arkansas News that will focus on different and timely topics to help students navigate potential emergencies.