New app available to ensure safety on and around campus

The Radford University Department of Public Safety has implemented Radford Safe, a free app that sends important safety alerts and provides instant access to campus safety resources. It is available now on Google Play or from the  App Store by searching for “Radford Safe.” This app replaces Rave Guardian which previously served as Radford’s safety app.

Radford University Chief of Police Eric Plummer, Ph.D., said that all Radford Alert messages will be pushed to the Radford Safe app, so Highlander parents, spouses and other loved ones may also want to download the app to receive those emergency alerts.

The app includes these key safety features:

• Work alone/study alone allows you to set up automated check-ins and emergency escalations if you are working or studying alone in an area.
• Mobile Bluelight turns your phone into an emergency “blue light” system, providing RUPD with your location and establishing immediate voice contact.
• Virtual Police Walk allows RUPD to monitor your walk if you feel unsafe when walking on campus. An RUPD dispatcher will monitor your journey until you reach your destination.

• Friend Walk sends your location to a friend through e-mail or SMS on your device, allowing your friend to track your location in real time, ensuring you make it safely to your destination.
• Report a tip offers you multiple ways to report a safety or security concern directly to RUPD.
• Emergency Contacts provides you with contacts for services in case of emergency or non-emergency concerns.
• Emergency Procedures gives you access to campus emergency guidance that can prepare you for disasters or emergencies, which can be accessed even when users aren’t connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data.
• Campus Maps help you navigate the Radford University area, locate AED locations and find transit routes currently in service.
• Safety Toolbox enhances your safety with a set of tools provided in one convenient location, including the ability to communicate live with safety staff at Radford University via chat; find previous push notifications for this app with the date and time; send your location to a friend by sending a map of your position; and send your location and a message indicating that “I’m OK” to a recipient of your choosing.

“It is important to offer this type of technology in an effort to keep our campus community informed, aware and ready to respond to any situation in which they may find themselves,” Plummer said. “Building a culture of safety is one of our goals, and this technology assists us in moving in that direction.”

Plummer added that the app puts safety tools and resources within reach of Radford students, faculty, staff and visitors, enhancing the current safety efforts on-campus and in the surrounding communities. Many of the features offered through Radford Safe work in both on- and off-campus locations.