Medication Disposal Box

We have added a new, secure box for our community to dispose of unwanted medications in a safe way. The medical box is located in the lobby of Public Safety, which is open 24/7. This box came via a partnership with Student Affairs and Associate Dean of Health and Wellness Lauren Strunk. It is a part of our coordinated approach to harm reduction and overdose prevention. Flushing medications or tossing them in the trash can contaminate water systems and harm the environment. 

We encourage anyone to use the medical box to dispose of expired or unwanted medications. The box may be used for disposal of prescription and over-the-counter dry medication, but should not be used to dispose of needles, liquid medications or inhalers.

Swatting Incidents

Public Safety has updated our internal protocols based on uptick in swatting incidents a criminal behavior that unfortunately is not going away. We recognize that these incidents involve serious threats to campus safety and understand that our community is rightly concerned about timely communication during such emergencies. Our emergency alert process includes alerts sent over the campus loudspeaker system, email, text, phone call and BSAFE app alert, as well as desktop takeover on Bucknell devices and lockdown of card access to doors. We have updated our protocols to state clearly that moving forward, a campus emergency alert message will be sent out before any card access is removed and doors are locked.

We work diligently to confirm or disapprove swatting calls and are evaluating how additional technology might  aid us in quickly proving that a call is false. We recognize the distress and risks that even false reports of threats cause for our community, and are hopeful that technology can help us reduce these disruptions. However, we will always err on the side of caution, and will continue to send alerts about any incident presenting a threat that cannot immediately be disproven. Public Safety hosts training opportunities on a variety of topics, including active shooter incidents, upon request. If you are interested in a training session for yourself, your office, a club or other group, please contact us.

Holiday Season Safety Tips

With holiday breaks approaching, we remind students to keep personal safety and property security in mind. Make sure to lock all doors and windows in your residence, secure valuables out of sight, and unplug nonessential electronics to reduce fire risk. Please ensure you lock your vehicle and do not leave valuables in your vehicle overnight. Avoid posting detailed travel plans on social media, as this can alert others that your space is vacant. When traveling, share your itinerary with a trusted friend or family member and keep emergency contacts easily accessible. If driving, ensure your vehicle is in good condition and allow extra travel time for winter weather. Staying alert, planning ahead and taking a few simple precautions can help ensure a safe and worry-free break.

BSAFE App

If you have not downloaded the BSAFE App, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible. Here are some of the app’s benefits and features:

• Your phone can act as a mobile blue light if you choose to enable the location feature. Tap the blue light function button to request Public Safety to respond immediately to your location. 
• You can report a tip to Public Safety through the app and add photos or video to aid in our response and investigation.
• You can request a “friend walk,” which allows you to share your location and have a friend or family member virtually follow you to your destination. They can trigger a call to emergency services if needed.
• A “social escape” feature provides assistance in getting to a safe location if you need to leave an uncomfortable or awkward situation.
• Public Safety can send emergency alerts through the app, and users can view a history of previous alerts.
• The app includes an easily accessible list of support resources with phone numbers and email addresses.
• The University’s emergency plans will be added to the app for quick access for review.

Blue Light Phones

The remaining blue light emergency phones have been removed from campus. The University made the decision to remove these phones after careful evaluation, based on several key factors:

• Usage History: Over the past 20 years, there have been virtually no instances of the blue light phones being used for emergency purposes.
  
• Maintenance Costs: The cost of maintaining and upgrading the outdated phone line infrastructure has grown significantly, making it an increasingly inefficient use of University resources.
  
• Modern Safety Tools: The BSAFE app, available to all members of our campus community, provides a more effective and accessible way to request help. With BSAFE, users can immediately alert Public Safety from their mobile phone, share their location with responders, and use features like a virtual walk-home companion. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to download and familiarize yourself with the BSAFE app today. Visit this link for more information and setup guidance.

The safety of our campus remains our top priority. By focusing on more modern and widely used technologies, we can better respond to emergencies and ensure faster, more accurate support.

Thank you for your continued commitment to keeping our campus safe.