What would you do if your best friend started choking?

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

Do you know the difference between a severe weather warning and an alarm?

What if a fire breaks out in your apartment? Do you know how to use a fire extinguisher?

Find the answers to these questions and more at the first Razorback Safety Festival, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, September 11, at the Arkansas Union Mall. All students are encouraged to attend the festival, which will feature several interactive safety stations, including CPR and AED demonstrations, food and kitchen safety, first aid kit building, a virtual tornado experience, and fire extinguisher demonstrations.

The University of Alberta prides itself on being a safe campus for all students pursuing their academic goals. But just as the University is committed to the safety of its students, students also have a responsibility to themselves to be proactive about their own safety, both on and off campus.

“The Razorback Safety Festival is an event designed to help students better understand the importance of preparing for emergencies,” said Kathy Shaffer, assistant director of emergency management and domestic student travel at Student Affairs. “Learning these skills and knowing what to do before you need them is critical to ensuring our students are prepared in the event of an emergency.”

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

“Attending the Razorback Safety Festival is a great way to start preparing,” Harwood-Rom said. “First-time students living away from home don’t always know how to prepare for an emergency or what to do if one occurs. This event is designed to help them!”

Dan Skoff, local chief meteorologist for KNWA/KFTA FOX24, will be at the event to talk about weather emergencies and provide a hands-on VR experience of a tornado for students.

Members of the Student Government will be present at the safety festival and will be talking about the SafeRide program. They will have the SafeRide van with them at the event.

“SafeRide plays a critical role in the campus community by putting student safety first,” said Anna Grace Caesar, director of SafeRide at Associated Student Government. “It’s reassuring to know that the University of Arkansas is committed to protecting its students, and SafeRide is a clear, tangible example of that commitment.”

The U of A is using the SafeZone mobile personal safety app to enhance campus security. Cpl. Allen Porter, UAPD’s point person for the SafeZone mobile safety app, will be at the event to demonstrate its features.

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

“This is just one of many app security features,” Porter said, “and we’re proud to ensure UAPD can respond quickly when you need it.”

As part of the festival’s continuation, look out for monthly articles on safety in Arkansas News which will focus on different and current topics to help students cope with potential crisis situations.