Personal Safety

Be aware: Laptops and other portable electronic devices can make life simpler but can be a target for thieves. In addition to the cost of replacement, personal information and data stored on these devices can be difficult or impossible to recover if lost. Campus Safety strongly encourages you follow the tips below to prevent being victim of crime. 

• Hide your valuables. Smartphones and other mobile devices can be a target for thieves. Keep them concealed when not in use.
• Never leave your laptop, cellphone, or other devices unattended, even for a brief moment.
• Do not leave valuables in your locker.
• Keep doors and windows to your home or residence locked at all times.
• Back up your information.
• Use your laptop's Universal Security Slot (USS) to attach a laptop lock that wraps around a desk or table.
• Consider carrying your laptop in a non-descript carrying case, briefcase or bag. Placing it in a case designed for computers is an immediate alert to thieves that you have a laptop.
• Avoid storing sensitive information like credit card numbers, social insurance numbers and other personal information on your device.
• If storing in your vehicle, leave your devices out of plain sight. 

To reduce the risks at home we recommend that you: 

• Take care of keys and keep duplicates to a minimum
• Use timers on radios and lights
• Do not reveal information to unknowns either by phone or at the door
• Leave doors locked whenever possible
• Lock windows when leaving
• Use operation identification to mark your property
• Keep inventory of your possessions
• Have adequate insurance coverage on home and contents
• Store credit card, identification and other valuables in a safe place
• Don't leave notes on the door
• Have neighbors keep watch while you're away on vacation
• Consider installation of a security system

TRAVEL SAFETY INFORMATION 

Travelling in an unfamiliar country can be extremely rewarding, but also brings a number of risk exposures that may not exist in Canada.  These risk exposures may include unfamiliar laws leading to detention, civil unrest, natural disasters, high crime rates, endemic disease exposure, public health emergencies, war and terrorism.  To help faculty, staff and Graduate Students stay safe and healthy when travelling abroad, Trent University strongly recommends that you consult the following resources when planning your trip, and follow the procedures, advisories and guidelines they provide.

1. Registration for Canadians Abroad (ROCA) through Global Affairs Canada (GAC). This service enables the Government of Canada to contact you and assist you in case of an emergency abroad or a personal emergency at home.
2. GAC Travel Advice and Advisories. Faculty and Staff are strongly recommended to follow the four levels of travel advisory and to check for changes to the advisory level both when planning a trip and shortly before departure.  This site also provides important information on health including required travel vaccinations, justice, security, transportation, finances and many other country-specific topics.
3. TheGAC Country Insights webpage.   This page provides information on local culture, interpersonal interactions and the do’s and don’ts that differ from those in Canada.
4. AIG Global Watch Travelguard. This informative site provides travel resources including on-line travel security awareness training to help keep you safe abroad.  Please use policy number 21566496 to log into the site.
5. Universities Canada has developed two information bulletins specifically designed to assist researchers and staff with international projects:
6. Mitigating Economic and/or Geopolitical Risk in Sensitive Research Projects
   1. Travel Security for University Researchers and Staff
   2. Travel Insurance.  Trent University offers some medical benefits and Medi-Passports for eligible faculty and staff travelling abroad.  With these benefits, you have access to Allianz Global Assistance, service provider to Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada. Be sure to review and know what you are covered for prior to travel. As well, it is important to understand that Allianz Global Assistance reserves the right to suspend, curtail or limit its services in any area, without prior notice; due to conditions such as war, political unrest, epidemics and geographical inaccessibility, travel assistance services may not be available in certain countries. For an up-to-date list, call Allianz Global Assistance before your departure. Additional information on what to look for in travel insurance may be found on the GAC website.
7. Trent University Resources.  The Activity Risk Management Policy and Procedure will assist you in identifying and mitigating the risks of international travel.  

If you experience an emergency situation while travelling, please notify Campus Security at 705-748-1333 24/7.  Security will notify appropriate authorities at Trent and in-Canada, as well as your emergency contact, if requested.

Obscene and nuisance phone calls can be frustrating and upsetting. If you receive an obscene call:

• Hang-up when you hear an obscenity
• Don't play detective by extending the call
• Don't try to be clever - no witty responses
• don't try to be a counselor
• Record details of call
• Call Campus Safety (705) 748-1328 (Peterborough) or (905) 435-5111 (Durham)

Your safety matters - below you can find some helpful tips for staying safe and protected: 

• Be aware of Campus Emergency Numbers
  • Peterborough (705) 748-1333 or Durham (905) 435-5111
• If working alone, advise Campus Safety
• Use campus walk program after hours
• Walk with confidence. Be aware of your surroundings
• Trust your instincts
• Travel and park in "well lit areas"
• If you think you're being followed, make a scene
• If harassed by occupants of a vehicles, walk in opposite direction
• While using public transportation, avoid waiting by yourself
• Keep a few coins for pay phone emergency use
• Carry your keys in your hand when returning to your vehicle
• Check the interior of your car before you get in
• Avoid carrying large sums of money
• Try not to use ATMs (Automated Teller Machine) alone at night
• Tell others when and where you are going
• Never hitchhike or pick-up hitchhikers
• Report suspicious person(s)/abandoned vehicles/attempted thefts
   

Vehicle Theft Prevention

• Park in bright, well lit areas at night
• Store valuables in trunk or out of external view by using a cover blanket or box
• Ensure all doors nd truck are locked
• Do not tag keys with address or license number
• Engrave any valuable vehicle equipment

Bicycle Theft Prevention

• Secure your bike to the bike rack using a good quality lock
• Engrave a driver's license number on bike frame
• Register your bike with the police
• Remove valuables when bike is unattended

The Emergency Communication System at Trent consists of audio announcements on building speaker systems and text announcements on Trent University computers, digital signs and a message on the new TrentU Safety app. 

Campus Security will activate the Emergency Communication System as soon as they are advised of a violent intruder on campus.  If you witness a violent intruder or hear a violent intruder announcement, you should:

RUN, HIDE, FIGHT

RUN: leave the building or campus if you can do so safely and get to a safe place where you can take cover. Call 911 and provide as much information as possible, then call Campus Security at 705-748-1333 so they can initiate an emergency broadcast and assist police responders.

HIDE: i.e. LOCKDOWN; If you cannot escape, find a room that you can secure.  You may have to leave the one you are currently in.  Close doors and blinds, turn off lights and silence mobile devices that might signal your presence.  Secure the door by locking, tying or barricading to deter the intruder. Do not let anyone in unless advised that it is safe to do so by the Emergency Communication System or a uniformed police officer.

FIGHT: formulate a plan to incapacitate the intruder(s) if they enter your space. Being committed to defending yourself by any means available will increase your chances of survival.

At all times, follow the instructions and answer the questions of law enforcement personnel.  Show them empty hands and do not run towards them.  They will keep moving past you to find the intruder. Police officers are trained to respond to a hostile intruder by entering the building immediately and proceeding to the area where the incident is unfolding.  They will move quickly and directly.  Early in the incident, they may not be able to rescue people because their main goal will be to neutralize the suspect. Please try to remain as calm as possible during any such incident and obey the officers’ directives so as not to interfere with police operations.  A rescue team is formed shortly after the first responding officers enter the building; they will be the officers who help get everyone out of the building safely.

Please take a moment to view the video “Shooter on Campus: Know you can survive” put out by Campus Alberta.  Please note that the content may be disturbing to some viewers.

For more information on campus violence and what you can do about it, view the Workplace Violence and Harassment policy on the Trent Policy SharePoint Library.

If you are working alone on the Peterborough Campus after normal working hours, you are encouraged to contact Campus Safety (705-748-1328) to let them know where you are and how long you plan to be there. 

You can arrange check-ins, by phone or security patrol, while you are working. Lone workers are advised to lock the door to their workspace and call Campus Safety if there is any suspicious activity in their area. 

You are also encouraged to call Walkhome for an escort to your vehicle, or bus stop.