Razorback Safety Festival Helps Students Be Ready

College can be the first time students must handle emergencies, make important decisions on their own and look out for themselves and others.

The Razorback Safety Festival will help students build confidence and preparedness by connecting them with practical safety knowledge and resources from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, Sept. 25, at the Arkansas Union Mall.

The third annual Razorback Safety Festival is free and open to all U of A students and campus partners.

Designed as a drop-in event, the safety festival will feature interactive demonstrations, hands-on activities and resources from campus and community partners, including the Fayetteville Fire Department, Washington County Emergency Management and Dan Skoff, chief meteorologist at KNWA/FOX24 News.

Skoff will discuss severe weather preparedness and host virtual reality tornado demonstrations that allow attendees to experience severe weather in a safe environment.

Russell Hall, director of emergency management for the U of A Division of Student Affairs, said the event makes critical safety information conveniently accessible to students.

"College is often the first time students are managing many of these situations on their own," Hall said. "This event gives them an opportunity to learn about resources and gain practical knowledge they can use during their time at the U of A and beyond."

Members of Associated Student Government will showcase a Safe Ride van and share information about Safe Ride and the new Safe Ride Sunday program.

Students attending the festival can:

• Learn about SafeZone, a free mobile app that allows users to share their location with U of A Police and access safety features when walking alone or studying late.
• Watch CPR and choking rescue demonstrations presented by University Recreation.
• Learn how to protect personal information and avoid online threats with cybersecurity experts from the university's IT Services.
• Explore transportation resources and learn how Safe Ride helps students get home safely.
• Pick up food and kitchen safety tips from Chartwells.
• Learn about healthy relationships and available support resources from the Sexual and Relationship Violence Center.
• Discover best practices for laboratory and research safety from the College of Engineering.
• Learn about mental health resources available on campus from Counseling and Psychological Services.

The Razorback Safety Festival is hosted by the Division of Student Affairs and brings together campus and community organizations with a shared goal of helping students feel informed, prepared and confident as they navigate college life.

About the Division of Student Affairs: The Division of Student Affairs supports the whole student by cultivating transformative experiences and environments that promote well-being, a sense of community and student success. We prioritize student well-being and post-graduation preparedness, and building a strong organizational culture across our division. For more information, visit studentaffairs.uark.edu.