Transcript Slide 1
EMERGENCY
PROCEDURES
This Handbook is intended to help faculty, staff and students
respond to emergency situations that may occur on the Warren
Wilson College campus. Such emergencies can occur at any
time, and without warning, but their effects can be minimized if
proper emergency procedures are established and followed.
Warren Wilson College is committed to the safety and security of
all members of the College community. In times of emergency,
the College will provide appropriate campus-wide response to
assure safety and minimize losses.
Emergency preparedness is also an individual responsibility. This
handbook will serve as a quick reference for effective action.
Faculty, staff and students should take the time to become
familiar with the contents of this guide before an emergency
occurs.
The following policies shall be followed to protect the safety of faculty, staff and
students of Warren Wilson College:
No firearms (with or without permit) are allowed on campus with the exception of privately
owned homes.
No open flames are permitted inside any building except laboratories, maintenance shops,
buildings with fireplaces and heating systems designed for this purpose.
No fireworks, other explosives, or incendiary devices shall be used or stored on campus.
Flammable materials such as gasoline or camping stove fuels shall be stored in safety cans
and/or in flammable liquids storage cabinets. No flammable materials are permitted in
residence halls.
Smoking and tobacco use of any kind are prohibited in all buildings operated by the College.
Tobacco use is allowed only in designated areas around campus.
Excessive speed and reckless driving are prohibited on campus. All moving vehicles must
follow the posted speed limits.
Any act or threat of violence that endangers the safety of students, employees, contractors or
the general public will not be tolerated.
TO REPORT AN EMEGENCY CALL
Fire/Police/Ambulance
Main WWC Number
911
(8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M)
298-3325
Public Safety Cell
230-4592
Off-Campus 24-Hour Crisis Lines: Our Voice (828) 255-7576
Helpmate (828) 254-0516
Public Safety Office (Staff available during the day, answering service after midnight)
771-HELP (771-4357)
State: “THIS IS AN EMERGENCY”
Give your name and phone number.
The nature of the emergency.
Your location. DO NOT hang up until you are told that no further information is required,
unless there is an immediate threat to your safety.
Students must notify Public Safety of any emergency that is being reported.
Please respect the need for authorized staff and emergency services personnel to access the
emergency. PLEASE STAY OUT OF THE WAY!
WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY
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ASSESS THE SITUATION—is it an emergency that requires evacuation? If smoke, fire,
toxic fumes, bomb threat or other condition occurs that could potentially harm people,
consider it an emergency.
IN CASE OF FIRE—use your discretion. If it is bigger than a trash can—leave.
Report the incident to the Public Safety Officer on duty.
Evacuation of other buildings—Decide if alarms in other buildings need to be pulled and act
accordingly.
When the fire alarm sounds, employees shall turn out the lights and close windows and doors
of the room that they are evacuating.
Once outside the building, faculty and staff shall direct students and others to a SAFE AREA.
Everyone shall remain in the SAFE AREA until directed to return to the building. SAFE
AREAS are usually grassy areas a safe distance away from the threat or danger.
Each person must be accounted for at a SAFE AREA. Do not go back into a burning building
to look for someone. If someone is missing, notify the fire department personnel.
WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY continued
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Under no circumstances shall anyone leave the campus during an emergency. Roads must be
kept clear for safe passage of emergency vehicles.
FIRE/RESCUE RESPONSITBILITIES
FIRST RESPONDERS will ensure that all dorm rooms, offices, classrooms, hallways,
stairwells and bathroom/restrooms are evacuated.
FACULTY/STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES
Faculty, Staff, Resident Directors and Resident Advisors shall direct students/crewmembers,
visitors and others to the appropriate exit and SAFE AREAS.
Faculty and staff shall review the Emergency Evacuation Routes for classrooms in which they
teach and for their work areas.
At the beginning of each semester, every faculty and staff member is responsible for
informing students and crewmembers of the evacuation procedures and routes. They must be
prepared to assist any student or crewmember requiring special accommodation to ensure safe
conduct to the SAFE AREA.
WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY continued
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Faculty and staff will direct the orderly evacuation of students/crewmembers and others who
may not be familiar with evacuation routes.
Faculty shall bring class rosters and begin the process of accounting for their students.
Supervisors shall begin accounting for staff and crewmembers. Resident Directors shall
account for all students if a residence hall is involved.
If an evacuation route is inaccessible or unsafe, faculty and supervisors, resident directors and
resident advisors will direct evacuees to the nearest alternative route.
Evacuation of people with disabilities
Faculty and Supervisors: know ahead of time which of your students or crewmembers may
require assistance and devise a plan for their safe evacuation.
Anyone may be asked to assist a disabled or impaired person during an emergency
evacuation.
Do not render assistance of any kind that may result in injury to yourself or the disabled
person unless failure to do so would pose a greater threat.
Enlist the help of others as needed to ensure the safe evacuation of any person with a
disability.
BASIC EVACUATION PROCEDURES FOR ALL
Turn out the lights and close windows and doors of the room you are evacuating.
Go to the appropriate SAFE AREA via the appropriate route designated by evacuation maps.
Make sure all students/crewmembers, contractors and guests go all the way to a SAFE AREA.
Look around to see if anyone needs assistance. This is everyone’s responsibility during an
evacuation.
Each person must be accounted for at a SAFE AREA. Faculty shall bring class rosters and
begin the process of accounting for students. Supervisors are to begin accounting for staff
and crewmembers. Once all students, staff and crewmembers are accounted for, anyone
missing should be reported to emergency services personnel.
REMEMBER—Never use an elevator in an emergency.
IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE
If you see a fire or heavy smoke, pull the fire alarm at the nearest pull station that will activate
the fire alarm system. If there is no pull station, call 911 from a safe area.
If the fire is in the incipient stage (beginning) and you have had fire extinguisher training, use
the fire extinguisher to put out the fire. Ask someone to assist you.
Notify the Public Safety Officer on duty that you started the evacuation and called 911. Give
details of the fire.
SEE BASIC EVACUATION SECTION
IN THE EVENT OF A BOMB THREAT
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Report any unusual observations to emergency services personnel. DO NOT TOUCH ANY
SUSPICIOUS OBJECTS.
If you receive a bomb threat via telephone, remain calm and stay on the line. Take as much
information as possible from the caller using the checklist on the following page.
When the caller hangs up, call Public Safety Officer. Relay your name, location, telephone
number and the information obtained from the caller. Thoroughly complete the Bomb Threat
Checklist and submit to Public Safety
The Public Safety Officer will call 911, advise emergency services personnel of the threat.
Follow instructions given by emergency services personnel.
If the building is evacuated, faculty shall bring class rosters. Faculty shall begin the process
of accounting for students. Any missing student shall be reported to emergency services
personnel. Supervisors shall follow similar procedures to account for their employees and
crewmembers.
BOMB THREAT CHECKLIST continued Page 2 of 3
Be Calm, Be Courteous, Listen and Do Not Interrupt
Call Received_____________________ Call Ended____________________
(Date and Time)
(Date and Time)
Person Receiving Call ________________________________________
(Name and Phone Number)
Department ________________________________________________
Write Down Exact Wording of the Threat
__________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Questions to Ask
Listen while the caller talks and try to ask the following questions:
When is the bomb going to explode?
Where is the bomb right now?
What kind of bomb is it?
What will cause it to explode?
Did you place the bomb?
Why was the bomb placed?
What is your name?
What is your address?
Where are you calling from?
What is your phone number?
Are you calling from a pay phone?
Gender of Caller:____ Impression of Race of Caller:_____ Impression of Age of Caller:____
BOMB THREAT CHECKLIST continued Page 3 of 3
Be Calm, Be Courteous, Listen and Do Not Interrupt
Circle all that apply
Caller’s Voice/Threat Language________________Background Noises/Location
Calm Excited Angry Slow Rapid
Soft Loud Normal Distinct Slurred
Nasal Stutter Lisp Deep Breathing Raspy
Deep Ragged Cracking Voice Clearing Throat
Disguised Foul Language Well Spoken
Irrational Incoherent Accent
Street Noises Voices PA Music House Noise
Laughter Crying Motor Office Factory
Dishes Animal Noise Static Phone Booth
Long Distance Taped Clear
Did the caller seem to be reading the message?__________
Was the voice familiar?____ If so, who did it sound like?
______________________________________________________________________
Remarks:
______________________________________________________________________
IN THE EVENT OF A CHEMICAL SPILL OR BIOHAZARD
Evacuate the immediate area, close the doors and place a towel at the foot of the door if
possible. Warren Wilson College employees and students shall not reenter the contaminated
area until cleared to do so by emergency services personnel.
Notify the Public Safety Officer on duty who will then inform emergency services personnel
of the nature of the hazard.
If contamination has occurred, affected people must be attended to and removed from
exposure.
The Public Safety Officer will meet the emergency services personnel at the building entrance
and provide them with information on the nature and location of the hazard.
Persons in adjacent areas should be notified if the hazard has the potential to spread.
The Director of FMTS and/or HVAC Supervisor will assist with ventilation information. This
may involve limiting exposure by containing the fumes in the isolated area or diluting the
fumes by opening the area for fresh air ventilation as the situation may require.
IN THE EVENT OF A POWER FAILURE
Remain calm and wait for instructions from College representatives.
The Public Safety Officer will check for persons who may be trapped an elevator.
If you are in an elevator that stops between floors or the doors will not open, use the elevator
phone to call for help or dial 911.
Never attempt to pry open the doors or the overhead hatch of the elevator.
IN THE EVENT OF A GAS LEAK
If you smell gas or know you have a leak, verbally communicate for everyone to evacuate the
area. DO NOT turn ON or OFF anything electrical.
From a safe area call:
Public Safety Officer at 230-4592
Maintenance at ext. (771) - 3074
IN THE EVENT OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY
Fire/Police/Ambulance
911
Main WWC Number
(8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M)
298-3325
Public Safety Cell
230-4592
Off-Campus 24-Hour Crisis Lines: Our Voice (828) 255-7576
Helpmate (828) 254-0516
Public Safety Office (Staff available during the day, answering service after midnight)
771-HELP (771-4357)
If situation is serious, call 911 and then the Public Safety Officer.
IF THE VICTIM IS CONSCIOUS, ALWAYS ASK PERMISSION BEFORE
ADMINISTERING FIRST AID.
Stay with the victim. If the victim is conscious, ask what is the problem. If the victim is
unconscious, check for breathing and bleeding. Only trained individuals should administer
first aid and/or CPR. Avoid contact with blood, vomit or other body fluids.
Keep the victim still and warm. Protect the victim from any disturbances.
Ask the victim if he/she has identification or medical conditions. Search for emergency
identification (ID Bracelet).
Remember that information about the student may be protected under the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Do not release personal information to the media.
Refer to this handbook’s section entitled “REPORTING AN EMERGENCY” for
additional helpful information.
IN THE EVENT OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL CRISIS
Psychological Crisis (suicide, domestic issue, disorientation, confusion, panic)
If situation is serious, call 911 and then the Public Safety Officer.
Explain the nature of the problem. Give your name, telephone extension, your location and
the location of the crisis.
Stay apprised of the crisis unless your safety is threatened or until emergency services
personnel arrive.
Remember that information about a student may be protected under the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act. Do not release personal information to the media.
IN THE EVENT OF A TORNADO OR SEVERE WEATHER
If weather conditions appear threatening, listen for the campus-wide voice alarms and for cell
phone text messages. The campus voice message and the cell phone text messages will
provide information concerning imminent severe weather threats.
In the event a tornado warning is issued by the National Weather Service or local weather
services and is threatening the Warren Wilson College campus, a voice warning and a text
message warning will be issued. All faculty, staff and students are to immediately move to
the building’s designated Weather Assembly Area or to ground or basement floors, in interior
hallways away from doors and windows. If outside, seek shelter immediately.
Give special attention to the disabled.
If you receive any information pertaining to a tornado contact Public Safety.
DO NOT return to work, class or other activity until the all clear has been given.
To receive a cell phone text message, the phone must be registered. You may register your
phone by going on the Warren Wilson College Home Page, Insider Page.
IN THE EVENT OF A HOSTILE VISITOR
Remain Calm
o Be courteous and confident.
o Maintain distance between you and the visitor.
o Do not touch the individual.
o Protect yourself—do not become a victim.
Find a staff member to join you and try to keep the meeting in an open area.
Listen to the visitor, giving him or her an opportunity to vent.
o Attempt to be helpful. Use phrases such as:
o “What can I do to make this better?”
o “I understand the problem and I am concerned.”
o “We need to work together on this problem.”
o Make no promises you cannot keep!
Do not make any threat to the individual either through body language or verbal
communication.
Without touching, visually inspect the person for suspicious bulges or any other indication of
a weapon.
IN THE EVENT A WEAPON IS OBSERVED
Immediately notify the Public Safety Officer who will notify emergency services.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DISARM THE SUSPECT.
Collect as much information as possible from the witness:
Name of the suspect with the weapon
Location where the weapon was seen?
What did the suspect do after the weapon was displayed?
Where is the suspect now?
Have information gathered about the suspect to give to emergency services personnel.
The Public Safety Officer shall go to the area where the suspect is reported to be and observe
him/her until authorities arrive. No effort shall be made to intervene until emergency services
personnel arrive.
IN THE EVENT OF A LOCK DOWN
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*Upon arrival of Law Enforcement, they are in control of the incident and their directions must be followed.
Lock Down During Class
Shut and lock the classroom door. If the door is not equipped with a lock, barricade the door
with desk, chairs, cabinets, etc.
Have students sit on the floor out of sight of windows and door windows. Close blinds or
curtains if equipped. Turn off lights.
Place the green card in the window if there are no injuries. (Card in pocket at back of this
guide.)
Place the red card in the window if medical help or other emergency assistance is needed.
(Card in pocket at back of this guide.)
One person in the lockdown area should call Public Safety at 230-4592 or log onto email if
possible to advise your location and to receive updated instructions.
If evacuated, bring the role sheet (in pocket at back of this guide), complete and give to
Emergency Services Personnel.
IN THE EVENT OF A LOCK DOWN continued
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Lock Down in Other Areas
If in a large room, open area or office, stay there.
Allow students into unlocked offices, cafeteria, rooms, and lock the doors if equipped with
locks. If door cannot be locked, barricade the doors with tables, desks, chairs, etc. Lock
exterior doors to buildings if possible.
Move to an area “out of sight” and sit on the floor.
Place the appropriate color placard in the window.
One person in the lock down area should call Public Safety at 230-4592 and/or log onto email
if possible to advise your location and to receive updated instructions.
If evacuated, stay with your group to the evacuation area. One person should bring the role
sheet (in pocket at back of this guide) and submit names of persons who were in the room.
Sporting Events and Large Public Gatherings
Be calm and assist other around you.
Follow your instincts
Emergency Responders may not be immediately available to direct your actions.
Become familiar with exit locations
Put distance between yourself and the incident. Move to a safe location.
Follow Law Enforcements instructions.