Category: Campus Safety

The cooler weather is finally upon us, and with the drop in temperature comes the use of space heaters. Each year, about 1,700 fires, 80 deaths and 160 injuries are caused by portable space heaters, as estimated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Space heaters also use considerably more energy than other heating sources.

WSU Fire Safety would like to remind you that the use of space heaters is prohibited in campus buildings. Please remove all space heaters from campus buildings, whether they are in use or not. Please review WSU Policies 11.20 Space Heaters and 11.27 HVAC Systems Standards.

As we head into the mid-point of the fall semester, please remember these tips to continue to have a safe and productive year. 

• Hide any valuable items that are in your vehicle, take your keys and lock your vehicles. 
  
• Be alert and aware of your surroundings and utilize the buddy system when walking at night or very early in the morning.  
  
• WSU Police are here for you. If, at any time, you feel unsafe or would prefer to have an escort on campus, you can contact the WSU Police Department at 316-978-3450, dial 911 from an on-campus phone, use the emergency call boxes (blue lights) or use the RAVE Guardian App.  
  
• Please report any suspected criminal activity on campus to the WSU Police Department. 

The university has resources available to support victims of crime, including confidential counseling support available through Counseling and Prevention Services (CAPS). CAPS can be contacted at 316-978-4792.   

As we head into the mid-point of the fall semester, please remember these tips to continue to have a safe and productive year. 

• Hide any valuable items that are in your vehicle, take your keys and lock your vehicles. 
  
• Be alert and aware of your surroundings and utilize the buddy system when walking at night or very early in the morning.  
  
• WSU Police are here for you. If, at any time, you feel unsafe or would prefer to have an escort on campus, you can contact the WSU Police Department at 316-978-3450, dial 911 from an on-campus phone, use the emergency call boxes (blue lights) or use the RAVE Guardian App.  
  
• Please report any suspected criminal activity on campus to the WSU Police Department. 

Did you know that 85% of university housing fires are cooking fires? Unattended cooking is by far the leading contributing factor in college cooking fires, and there are more than 3,000 university cooking fires each year, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Please observe the following safety precautions while cooking on campus.

• Cook only where it is permitted.
• Never leave cooking unattended.
• Frying poses the greatest risk. In case of a grease fire, put a lid over it. Never put water on a grease fire.
• If a fire starts in a microwave, keep the door closed and unplug the unit.
• If you use electric appliances, be careful to not overload circuits.
• Stand by your pan. If you leave the kitchen, turn the burner off.
• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.

The office of Student Conduct and Community Standards is looking for students to join its Academic Integrity and Student Conduct hearing boards. The committee offers students an opportunity to gain community service hours and have a lasting impact on their college campus.

Along active and engaged board member training, students who join the Student Conduct Board will help create the future of what these boards look like.

Serving on the Academic Integrity Committee or Student Conduct Board will students to meet and work with Wichita State faculty and staff, engage with their peers and broaden their network.

As the new school year begins, Wichita State and other college students across the country are returning to campuses as in-person learning resumes for many higher education institutions. Through their annual Campus Fire Safety for Students campaign in September, the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) and the Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS) are working together to help ensure living spaces are safe for students.

Every September, Campus Fire Safety Month helps raise awareness about the threat of fires in both on- and off-campus housing and puts relevant information into the hands of students, their parents, campus housing staff and administrators.

According to data from CCFS, from January 2000 to April 2022, 94 fatal fires have been documented that claimed 134 lives on college campuses, in Greek housing or at off-campus housing within three miles of campus. Of the 94 fires documented, 38 were accidental and involved cooking, candles, smoking or electrical equipment, and took the life of 51 students.

NFPA research shows that September and October are the peak months for campus fires, particularly during the hours between 5-9 p.m.

“As students return to college life this fall, we encourage them to review fire safety tips to learn how to prevent fires; the more prepared we are, the more we can do to reduce fire risk,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of outreach and advocacy and CCFS advisory council member. “Campus Fire Safety Month provides a great opportunity to share materials and action steps and to foster a culture of awareness and preparedness about fire safety on our college campuses.”

These tips from NFPA and CCFS can help students reduce the risk of fires and save lives:

• Know and practice your building’s evacuation plan and look for alternate routes out of the building.
• Cook in intended areas only and never leave cooking equipment unattended when in use, even briefly.
• Test smoke alarms monthly in an apartment or a house. Ensure smoke alarms are installed in all sleeping areas, outside of all sleeping areas and on every level of the apartment or house. Never remove or disable smoke alarms.
• Keep combustible items away from heat sources and never overload electrical outlets, extension cords or power strips. Many fires are caused by portable light and heat sources, like space heaters and halogen lamps.
• Keep common areas and hallways free of possessions and debris. Never block exit routes.

For more information about the Campus Fire Safety for Students campaign and to find free resources, visit the NFPA website or the CCFS website.

Students, faculty and staff can also contact the WSU Fire Safety office at 316-978-5803 or 5531.

As the new semester starts, the Wichita State Police Department is reminding students, faculty, staff and campus innovation partners to hide their valuable items, take their keys and lock their vehicles. It only takes a minute for personal items to end up in the hands of someone else, so please remember to lock your car when you park.

Wichita State has parking signs in every campus lot to help you figure out where you can park.

The signs feature prominent block letters: “V” for visitors; “S” for students; and “F” for faculty and staff. Reserved lots and parking spaces are still marked with red signage as before. For the first time, the signs will include lot numbers, allowing for easier wayfinding.

Visitors to WSU may park without an ePermit three times each semester before an ePermit is required. ePermits are only required during the enforcement period: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. on weekdays when school is in session.

Shocker students, faculty and staff who ride electric unicycles on campus, please be aware of the following warning from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The CPSC urges consumers to stop using the unicycles with model number KS-16S immediately and dispose of them at a recycling facility or household hazardous waste collection point.

CPSC is aware of one fire associated with the electric unicycles that resulted in smoke inhalation injuries to two consumers and caused substantial property damage to a commercial building. The CPSC tested the product and determined the battery pack can overheat and presents a fire risk.

The electric unicycles are made by King Song Intell Co. Ltd., of China, and are imported and sold by EWheels LLC, of Miami Beach, Florida, and other firms.

King Song and EWheels have refused to recall the product.

The unicycle has King Song printed on the the pedals. The electric unicycles are white, silver, matte black or black with a black tire and have multi-colored lights that light up on the outside of the unit when in use. The serial number of affected products begins with “KS16S.”  The serial number is printed on a label on both pedals. The model number KS-16S is represented by KS16S at the beginning of the serial number.

CPSC urges consumers not to purchase or sell these electric unicycles due to the hazard identified. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury visit the www.SaferProducts.gov website.

For more information on recalls and consumer safety information or to sign up for direct recall
notifications, please visit www.cpsc.gov website.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Wichita, including the City of Andover and the main Wichita State campus. The boil advisory issued June 7 included water sources on Wichita State’s campuses within the city limits, including sinks and water fountains.

The Rhatigan Student Center Starbucks will reopen today, June 9, with a limited menu. Other services in the facility will open at normal hours with regular services.

According to the City of Wichita website, the boil advisory is still in affect for the following public water supply systems that purchase water from the City of Wichita: City of Rose Hill, City of Valley Center, El Paso Water Co. (City of Derby), Sedgwick Co RWD 2, Sedgwick Co RWD 3, City of Kech.

For more information, visit the City of Wichita website.