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Safety and security of all of our team members and students is of the utmost importance at UVA Health. While law enforcement and security services are here to protect us, we all play a vital role in our own personal safety, too.

“At UVA, the safety of our team members is a priority,” says Bush Bell, Administrator, Hospitality and Support Services. “We want to make sure that everyone has access to the available resources to stay safe when they are coming to and from work.”

Awareness, engagement, preparedness, and knowledge go a long way to staying safe. As such, listed below are tips, resources, classes, and an app to help you stay safe. 

Please take a moment to review these.

Tips for Your Safety  

• If possible, don’t walk alone during late-night hours. Walk in groups whenever you can. There is safety in numbers.
• If you feel threatened on Grounds or in nearby areas, look for a blue light emergency phone or call 911.
• The University Police Department offers two types of self-defense classes to the University community. The first class is the R.A.D. women’s self-defense course. This is a 12-hour multi-session course. The second class is a one-time, two-hour basic self-defense course. There is no cost to attend these classes.
• Stay in well-lit areas as much as possible. Avoid alleys, vacant lots, wooded areas, and other short-cuts or secluded areas. They are usually not well-lit or heavily traveled.
• Always be aware of your surroundings. If you are wearing headphones, don’t turn up the volume so high that you cannot hear outside noises.
• If harassed or assaulted, scream and attempt to run for safety.
• Know your neighborhood. Identify police and fire stations, libraries, emergency telephones — as well as the hours of operation of local stores and restaurants.

Safety Resources

• UVA Text Alerts | Anyone who wishes to receive official UVA Alerts via text may now opt in by texting “UVA” to 226787. This is a free service.
• Submit Tips to UVA Police | TipSubmit is available to anyone who wants to send secure and anonymous tips to our police department. Tips can be sent either via the web or SMS texts. Send your text to 274637 (crimes). In the message type “UVATIPS” followed by the tip or information. 
• Social Media | Follow Twitter accounts for UVA Police and the Department of Emergency Management
• Stay Informed | Access the UVA Police daily crime log and crime mapping tool or the Charlottesville Police crime mapping tool
• Safe Travels | Team members and students are encouraged to use the University Transit System; UtoCar service also provides UVA Health Team members with a safe ride after hours (6 p.m.-6 a.m.)

Get the Rave Guardian App

UVA has partnered with Guardian to provide the University community with a new mobile safety app. The result is easy-to-access safety information and tools all in one easy-to-use app.

With the Guardian app you can:

• locate University safety resources
• send a concern or tip to UVA police, even anonymously
• invite your friends on a "virtual walk" and set a timer for your arrival
• be connected by phone to resources on and off Grounds
• call 911
• receive emergency notifications targeted to your geographic location, and much more!

Your mobile information is always confidential. Your device is never tracked unless you reach out to request emergency assistance. Additionally:

• Rave Guardian will provide a location to responders if the app is used to call 911 or someone submits an urgent concern/tip to UVA police though the app.
• If a concern or tip is submitted to UVA police anonymously, the phone’s exact location will not be discernible.
• If the Escort feature is used, only the invited trusted persons can see the user’s location; Guardian or police cannot.
• Guardian also uses location to deliver geographic-based alerts from safety officials. 

Available via the Apple App Store or Google Play.