Service Safety Tips

These guidelines will help you have a safer and more effective experience as an ISCOPES participant.

• Don't take what you don't need. Leave personal items such as, expensive electronics and jewelry at home.
• Be aware of your instincts. Trust your gut feeling! If you feel uncomfortable, move to a more populated place or ask someone for help.
• Give the phone number of your agency and a schedule of your hours to a roommate, friend, or relative.
• Familiarize yourself with local police or security.
• Don't leave visible items in your car's interior or unattended while you are volunteering.
• Work in pairs, if possible.
• Stay informed of issues affecting the area in which you serve.
• Do not borrow from or lend money to clients or staff of the agency.
• Do not give out your home address or telephone number.
• Take extra special precautions when going to sites at night.
• Never use alcohol or drugs on site.
• Please respect the smoking policy of the agency.
• Be sensitive to your own needs and limitations.
• Maintain an appropriate level of interaction with the staff and clients at the site and don't counsel clients unless you are trained to do so.
• Don't expect to know all the answers. It is okay to admit that you don't know something. If faced with a question you are not familiar with try to get the answers or direct someone to the proper person that can provide an answer.
• Don't hesitate to report an uncomfortable incident to your community site advisor and the ISCOPES office.
• Be aware of sexual harassment policies and what forms sexual harassment can take. It is unsolicited and unwelcome sexual advances, either verbal or physical. It refers to behavior which is not welcome, personally offensive, and which debilitates morale.
• Be clear about what is and is not considered appropriate behavior.
• In the event of an emergency, remember your life is more valuable than anything! Give up your wallet or whatever item the perpetrator is trying to steal from you.

In the event of an emergency in the community:

1) Call 911
2) Call UPD: 202-994-6111 to file a report
3) Call ISCOPES Director: 202-994-3274
4) Contact Site Representative and follow site protocol

In the event of an emergency on-campus:

Guidelines were taken from the Office of Community Service: Risk Management website (http://gwired.gwu.edu/ocs/RiskManagement/)