Facing the Crisis: Drug Overdoses on College Campuses and How to Prepare

Safety on college campuses continues to be a significant concern for colleges and universities. In this episode of Let's Talk Ed, Zahi Atallah and Chris Forde interview Brad Smith who has been involved in and researching college campus safety and security for over a decade.Colleges and universities attempt to ensure safety and security n their campuses while endeavoring to provide a welcoming, friendly, and inclusive environment, with the aim of keeping them open and embedded within their community. This week, we will explore strategies and best practices for: preparing and responding to active killer situations, shedding light on the importance of campus-wide safety drills, communication, personal responsibility, and the role of security personnel in keeping students and staff safe. Talking to Brad Smith, we address campus safety planning, including preparations for addressing the unthinkable, such as active killer situations or drug-related overdose incidents. In recent years, the issue of drugs on campus has become prominent. Therefore, we discuss the need to prepare employees to recognize overdose situations, administer first aid, including CPR (CardioPulmonary Resuscitation) and Naloxone (Narcan®) nasal sprays, while having contacted first responders. Moreover, we talk about the need to ensure ample availability of first aid kits that include Naloxone throughout facilities for easy and rapid access. Additionally, we talk about the need to have communicative tools, including campus phones, that can provide location information for first responders in cases of emergency.Balancing safety and a welcoming environment may prove challenging, but not mutually exclusive. In our conversation, we will share insights on how campuses can maintain a secure environment without sacrificing their open, welcoming, and inclusive setting. Also, we emphasize the need for each person on campus to be conscious of potential hazards and survey the safety options of every new environment they find themselves in. For that reason, it is critical to empower each individual to play an active role in their own safety and the safety of others.Join us for this crucial discussion on college campus safety, where we provide practical advice and actionable steps to create a secure, welcoming, and resilient campus community. Like, Share, Subscribe, and join us in revolutionizing education for a better future, a prepared workforce, and a competitive society!
#CampusSafety #CollegeSecurity #SafetyPreparedness #StudentSafety #HigherEdSafety#SafetyFirst #CampusAlert#SafetyAwareness #CampusCommunity #StudentWellbeing#SecurityOnCampus #CampusEmergency #SafeLearningEnvironment #CollegeLifeSafety #CampusResponse #SafetyTraining #CampusPreparedness