Baylor’s Department of Public Safety hosts Sic ‘Em for Safety Day Sept. 14

September 9, 2022

Mock Dorm Room Burn — Mock residence hall room fire demonstration to raise awareness of fire safety and prevent fires in residence halls by showing just how quickly a fire can spread.

Baylor University Department of Public Safety to host fun and educational event for campus safety awareness.

Media Contact: Shelby Cefaratti-Bertin, Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-327-8012
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WACO, Texas (Sept. 9, 2022) - From a simulated fire in a residence hall room to a visit with Liberty, American Medical Response's therapy goldendoodle, the Baylor University Department of Public Safety (BUDPS) will host its annual Sic 'Em for Safety Day with events for students from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, on Fountain Mall.

Sic 'Em for Safety Day serves as an ongoing community-building opportunity for students to learn about emergency services, Baylor and local resources available to them and potential safety hazards. The event is hosted by each unit within the Baylor Department of Public Safety: the Baylor University Police Department (BUPD), emergency management and fire safety, parking and transportation services, technical and physical security, and global safety and security.

Sic ‘Em for Safety activities will include:

Mock residence hall room fire demonstration to raise awareness of fire safety and prevent fires in residence halls by showing just how quickly a fire can spread.
Firefighter Challenge, a competition for teams of three students. Each student will take on one obstacle: donning firefighter gear, deploying the fire hose line and dragging a tire across the course. The fastest team will be awarded prizes.
Free t-shirts for first 700 students
Free Kona Ice snow cones
Games and activities, including cornhole, axe throwing with Waco Axe and a dunking booth
Campus bike registration
Giveaways, including a bicycle donated by Bicycle World
Showcase of first responder vehicles
Visit by goldendoodle Liberty, AMR’s therapy dog

“The live mock dorm fire is my favorite part of the Sic ‘Em for Safety event as this provides a memorable and educational opportunity for all who feel the heat and witness how fast a room can become fully engulfed in flames,” said Michael Marascia, associate director of emergency management and fire safety.

The Sic ‘Em for Safety event is a fun way to share important safety information with students about why it is essential that they participate in personal safety measures.

“The Baylor Department of Public Safety strives to provide the gold standard of campus safety, security and law enforcement,” said Mark G. Childers, associate vice president for public safety at Baylor. “However, we cannot do it alone. Working as partners, the BUDPS and the Baylor community can keep campus safe through collaboration and communication.”

Childers encourages students, faculty and staff if they observe suspicious or concerning activities or behaviors to immediately contact the BUPD at 254-710-2222.

“Simply put,” Childers said, “if you 'See Something-Say Something’.”

Baylor DPS will be joined at the annual Sic ‘em for Safety event by community partners, including the Waco Police Department, Waco Fire Department, McLennan County Sheriff's Office, American Medical Response (AMR/EMS), American Red Cross, Waco-McLennan County Public Health District and Waco-McLennan County Office of Emergency Management.

Another way that students, faculty and staff can work alongside BUDPS is by using the smartphone safety app called Baylor Campus Guardian that provides many safety features and is available to all members of the Baylor community. Baylor Campus Guardian – available for download in the Apple or Google play app stores by searching for Rave Guardian – provides individuals the resources of the Baylor Police Department at the tip of their fingertips.

Students can choose friends, family and even BUPD to be their “Guardians” as they walk on campus. The app also provides the ability send anonymous tips to BUPD, two-way texting with a police dispatcher, establish a safety profile with address and medical conditions and a one-click emergency call button, all on the app’s Home Screen.

ABOUT BAYLOR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

The Baylor University Department of Public Safety serves as an umbrella department for the Baylor University Police Department, emergency management, fire safety, global safety and security, technical security and parking and transportation. The DPS is set on providing students, faculty and alumni with excellent security and safety through instant notification systems, extensive surveillance cameras and highly-trained staff.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.