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October 31, 2001
To: Campus Community
From: Vice Chancellor Business and Administrative Services, Campus Police Department, Campus Fire Department, Cowell Student Health Center, Environmental Health & Safety
Re: Campus Preparedness Security, Safety and Health Resources
The tragic events of the past few weeks have impacted all of our lives. Clearly there is a growing anxiety as we each anticipate what might lie ahead. Everyone is struggling with maintaining a balance between being vigilant and aware of our surroundings, while trying to avoid overreaction to common situations.
Given this, let us take a moment to review what we have in place as resources for our campus and what we are doing with our local community services.
The information below will provide you with a readily available list of the contact information and resources available on campus. We assure you that we are actively re-enforcing our emergency preparedness and ability to respond to events that may occur in our community or at UCSC.
Each campus security, safety and health unit is conducting an extensive review of existing response procedures and taking steps to enhance and adapt protocols to address the changing times. Other critical support units such as Communications and Technology Services (CATS), Physical Plant, and Campus Mail Services are closely involved with campus security planning efforts.
Specifically with respect to mail, there are a number of safeguards in place in Campus Mail Services. UCSC postal mail is screened twice before it is delivered. Mail entered into the postal stream is constantly monitored by the U.S. Postal Service, and mail received by Campus Mail Services is also inspected for suspicious-looking markings. Any suspicious mail is identified, segregated and experts are notified.
Preparedness planning and available resources go beyond campus boundaries in that we are working closely with outside local, state and federal agencies to ensure coordinated efforts, continuity in response actions and maintaining up to date information. The Santa Cruz County Health Department, Santa Cruz Police, City and County Fire Departments, State Department of Health Services, United States Postal Service and the FBI are a few of the external agencies we are in communication with to ensure consistency during this time of heightened awareness and rapidly changing priorities.
If you have any questions or concerns we sincerely encourage you to contact us using the details listed below. Also please check the campus website for additional information and updates. (http://www.ucsc.edu).
CAMPUS RESOURCES
Student Health Services (SHS) provides an Urgent Care Clinic for students who are acutely ill or injured, and First Aid for staff and faculty with occupational health problems. During the regular school year routine patient receiving hours of the Urgent Care Clinic are from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM weekdays, and Saturday mornings until 11:30 AM.
Appointments can be scheduled with any of the Physicians, Physician Assistants, or Nurse Practitioners by calling the main appointment line or in person at the Health Center. Physicians at the health center are available to provide expert medical consultation to other campus emergency response departments.
Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) provides consultation and assistance in the prevention of accidents, hazardous materials incidents, work-related injuries and illnesses, and environmental pollution. EH&S personnel are certified in hazardous materials response operations and work in coordination with Fire and Police to mitigate hazardous material incidents. They advise the campus community of responsibilities with respect to health, safety and environmental issues and act as liaison with various external agencies and regulatory bodies.
Fire Department The Campus Fire Department is designated as the emergency first responders to fire, medical emergencies, and hazardous materials within the campus and surrounding community. Campus Fire Fighters are certified in emergency medical response, fire suppression, extrication and disaster preparedness. The Campus Fire Department is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Police Department Officers of the UCSC Police Department are duly sworn peace officers that are armed and possess the same authority under law as municipal police officers. UCSC Police Officers patrol the campus 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They enforce the law, arrest violators, investigate and suppress crime, provide backup to hazardous materials incidents and provide a full range of services to the campus community.
CAMPUS EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
Emergencies requiring police, fire, medical aid, or hazardous materials response can be reported by dialing 911 from any telephone on campus. Emergencies can also be reported by using one of the "Blue Light" emergency phones located throughout the campus.
LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY NUMBER
911 from either a campus or public telephone
NON-EMERGENCY NUMBERS
University Police 459-2231
Fire Department 459-3473
Environmental Health & Safety 459-2553
Physical Plant 459-2238 or Work Order Desk
459-4444
MEDICAL FACILITIES NUMBERS
Cowell Student Health Center 459-2211
Non-emergency calls, general safety or health questions or related requests for assistance can be made in person at the respective department or by dialing the non-emergency number indicated above.
WHERE TO GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The recent nature and scope of threats to the public requires that we as a community enhance our awareness and look at preparedness in new ways. If our systems and resources for ensuring a healthful and safe campus environment are to be effective each of us must take on the responsibility to educate ourselves and be alert to risks. Toward that end, we have created an information and resource web page regarding biological hazards http://currents.ucsc.edu/terrorist_crisis/biohazards.html that includes recommended sources for timely information. We encourage you to stay abreast of current information through the links provided on that page.
Campus security, safety and health units are here to support the campus community so please feel free to contact the appropriate department with your questions or to request assistance with addressing your specific needs.
Maintained by:pioweb@cats.ucsc.edu