Emergency215-573-3333
Penn Guardian is a free smartphone application that is available to anyone with a Penn email address.
Penn Guardian is a service that allows you to rapidly provide information about yourself to the Division of Public Safety during an emergency. By building a personal profile, information about you can be immediately accessed by PennComm dispatchers should you call Public Safety from a registered cellphone. Penn Guardian can also provide police with GPS coordinates from your phone, which can decrease response time and allow first responders to locate you should you not be able to give them your location.
Email us with any questions or concerns: pennguardian(at)publicsafety.upenn.edu
Registering for Penn Guardian
Registering for the Penn Guardian System is quick and easy! It is a free app for on your smartphone. Simply visit:
App Store for iOS devices
Google Play for Android devices
and sign up with your Penn email address. Update your profile by adding information such as your physical description, a photo, your address, known allergies or other optional medical information. Lastly, choose a unique PIN number and you are fully registered to use Penn Guardian.
The App was developed by the University’s safety partner Rave Guardian, a service utilized on college campuses across the country. You can visit the Rave Guardian website to learn more: http://www.raveguardian.com
With Penn Guardian you can build a unique personal profile that instantaneously provides DPS dispatchers with critical information should you call them from your registered phone number. All information provided by you is 100% optional and is only seen when you call 215-573-3333 for assistance.
The app also allows users to create a Smart911 profile, in which medical conditions, medications, allergies, and disabilities can be included. This information can also be viewed at other Smart911-enabled emergency response centers across the country should you need to call them.
Penn Guardian allows for GPS tracking to be activated on your phone. If you need immediate assistance, but are unable to give your location, Penn Guardian helps Police and emergency responders locate you. This information will only be available to Penn Police when you call the Penn Emergency Communications Center (PennComm) directly, either through the app or at 215-573-3333.
Text Message Service
If a call is made to PennComm, and you are unable to speak—perhaps because of an allergic reaction—a call taker will send a text message to your phone. You can then communicate directly via text.
(note: a phone call must be placed to PennComm first. Users can not initiate the conversation with a text message.)
The app provides a confidential way to submit a tip to Penn Police—with a photo, if necessary—through a text message.
We want you to feel confident that any information you provide for the Penn Guardian system is kept completely confidential. DPS never sees your information or tracks your location unless you contact us for assistance.
DPS also has worked with the Office of Audit, Compliance & Privacy to ensure our Vendor follows the University of Pennsylvania’s standards for data protection.
Have questions? View our frequently asked questions section to learn more about Penn Guardian. You may also contact the Division of Public Safety at pennguardian(at)publicsafety.upenn.edu and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
