Wellness Champions: Yellow poles can be lifeline in emergencies

They look like ordinary yellow poles. But the Emergency Blue Light Pedestals across campus can be your lifeline in a time of trouble.

Be a champion! GRCC is helping students and employees focus on all areas of health and wellness as we emerge together from the pandemic.

Wellness is a full integration of physical, mental and spiritual health. That includes physical health, but so much more. During the next year we’re also looking at emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, environmental and occupational health, and how we all can work to help ourselves and each other.

There are many resources at GRCC to help all of these types of wellness. Each week, we’ll introduce you to people, places, and equipment here on campus ready to support you on your wellness journey.

Being safe and being comfortable are key part of wellness, and GRCC has a variety of resources available to help students, employees and community members.

The Emergency Blue Light Pedestals – also called Blue Lights – are located at seven points on campus. You’ll find them at either end of the President Juan Olivarez Student Plaza, at the Library and Learning Commons, at the Wisner-Bottrall Applied Technology Center, the Calkins Science Center, and two of them at Sneden Hall on the DeVos Campus.

GRCC Police Chief Rebecca Whitman said the Blue Lights have speakers and a button to press in an emergency. Anyone pressing the button will be connected with a GRCC Police dispatcher, who can send help immediately. The button connects to the Grand Rapids Police Department dispatcher during off-duty hours.

Once a person connects with the dispatcher, they should remain near the pole. Officers will look for the flashing blue light atop the pole and come quickly.

Chief Whitman said students, employees, and community members also can find call boxes throughout parking ramps that can also be used for routine calls, such as flat tires or batteries that need a boost.

GRCC Police also are available by calling 616-234-4911 in an emergency, and (616) 234-4010 for routine calls.