Emergency Preparedness & Emergency Procedures
What does
preparedness entail?
Preparedness
involves:
-
Educating
yourself about emergency procedures.
-
Being
in the know; registering for alerts and staying connected so you're not
caught uninformed.
- Proactively
preparing with ICE (In Case of Emergency)
packs.
- Having
a plan for many potential emergencies.
Civil
Disturbances (Protests)
- Most
protests are peaceful.
- If
the situation becomes threatening, alert UPD immediately (x 3999 or 911).
- Alert
others in the area.
- Lock
your doors, windows, close blinds.
- If
necessary, send employees home.
Structural
Collapse
- Immediately
contact UPD.
- Move
away from the building to a safe location - there could be a secondary
collapse.
- Do
not attempt to enter and rescue others.
- If
you know the identity or location of someone who is trapped, notify
emergency personnel.
Criminal/Violent
Incident
- Preferably,
alert UPD when suspicious persons or situations arise - before they become
violent.
- Tell
UPD the location, nature, description of persons.
- Assist
UPD by supplying information when they arrive.
Health Concern -
Pandemic
- Prevent
infection and the spread.
- Cough
or sneeze in a disposable tissue and discard appropriately.
- If
a tissue is unavailable, use the crook of your arm, or in your sleeve.
- Wash
hands with soap and water. Antibacterial soaps are not necessary. Regular
soap, warm water, and adequate rinsing
is the best.
- When
soap and water is not available, an alcohol-based
hand sanitizer is the next best thing. Again, antibacterial hand
cleansers are not recommended.
- Follow
College or government instructions during serious health outbreak.
Fire
- You
are required by law to evacuate during a fire.
- Pull
a pull station.
- If
you've been trained in extinguisher use and can safely address the fire,
do so.
- Evacuate
the building and report to your Emergency Evacuation Coordinator.
- Close
windows and doors, if time permits.
- Use
stairs only.
- Warn
others on your way out.
- Move
away from the building - upwind side or your Immediate Assembly
Area.
- If
you become trapped in a fire, do not panic.
- Isolate
yourself away from the fire.
- If
a phone is available, call UPD and let them know your location and
situation.
- If
a window is available, place a brightly colored piece of clothing or the
cover of the emergency book in the window to signal emergency crews.
- Stay
near the floor to avoid smoke and fumes.
- Make
noise at regular intervals to help crews find you.
Bomb Threat
- Do
not handle or touch suspicious packages.
- Call
UPD from a safe location.
- Do
not activate the power switches or fire alarm system.
- If
you receive the call with a threat, do not hang up. Attempt to
engage the caller and ask the following:
- What exactly is the threat?
- When will it explode?
- Where was the bomb left?
- Where is it right now?
- What does it look like?
- What kind of bomb is it?
- Who placed the bomb?
- Who is the target?
- Why was the bomb placed?
- What is your name and address?
- Was
the caller familiar in any way?
- Note
male/female, young/old, slur/accent, emotional state, and BACKGROUND
NOISE.
- Write
down as much data as possible.
Suspicious
Packages
- Do
not touch them.
- For
suspicious unopened envelopes or packages, do not empty contents; place it
in a plastic bag or other container that prevents leakage.
- If
you don't have a container, cover the package with anything (clothing,
newspaper).
- Leave
the room and close the door.
- Wash
your hands to prevent spreading substance.
- Report
incident to 3999 and if possible, tell us all people who were in vicinity.
- If
there is concern you were contaminated, you may be asked to remove outer
layer of clothing (to be bagged) and/or take a decontamination shower (on
scene) and receive medical evaluation.
- A
suspicious package might include excessive postage, poorly typed address,
oily stains, discoloration, odor, no return address, excessive or lopsided
weight, protruding wires or visible aluminum foil, restrictive
endorsements, or postmark that doesn't match return address.
Medical Emergency/Accident
- Calling
UPD at 3999 or 911 will trigger the EMS system.
- Stay
on the phone with UP until instructed to hang up.
- For
employee-related injuries, your
supervisor must be notified and complete an Employee Accident Report.
Mental Health
Emergency:
- Any emergency involving
individuals in distress who are unable to appropriately manage themselves.
- Could
include suicidal behavior, an individual threatening harm, a psychotic
break resulting in loss of contact with reality.
- An unusual or prolonged reaction
to a traumatic event.
- Call
3999 or 911 or Counseling Services at 4050.
- Never
try to handle a potentially dangerous situation - call UPD. Clearly
state that assistance is needed, where you're calling from, and the nature
of the problem.
Severe Weather -
Tornado
- Tornadoes,
although uncommon in New York, can happen on the trailing edge of a
thunderstorm.
- Go
to a windowless, interior room or basement, the lowest possible level of
the building.
- If
you can't drop a level, at least use an inner room or hallway - possibly a
bathroom or closet.
- Stay
out of view of windows and get under sturdy furniture.
- Use
your arms to protect your head and neck.
- Don't
shelter in areas with wide-span roofs such as the gym, auditorium, or open
gathering spaces.
- If
caught outside or in your car, get in a low-lying spot such as a ditch and
lay flat.
Shelter-in-Place
- The
term shelter-in-place means to seek immediate shelter and remain there
during an emergency rather than evacuate the area. This is only used when
evacuation is not an option.
- For
weather-based emergencies, follow the same instructions for tornadoes above.
- For
violent emergencies, your best location is one where you can lock the door
and be out of view.
- Secure
yourself, stay quiet.
- If
you can't lock the door, barricade yourself and/or conceal yourself
effectively.
Utility Failure
- For
gas leaks, remember not to touch the light switches.
- Do
not take time to open windows or close doors - immediately evacuate,
notifying others as you leave.
- Call
UPD at 3999 or 911.
- For
other utility issues, notify UPD.
- UPD
will notify Facilities Services.
Evacuation
Procedures
- If
a decision to evacuate occurs, do not disobey the order and please
cooperate with special requests (e.g.,
driving students who didn't bring a car to school) away from area.
- When
you leave, turn all appliances off.
- It
is a good practice to have an ICE pack to take with you in an emergency.
ICE Pack (In
Case of Emergency Pack)
- An
ICE pack should be made up to take with you in case of a need to evacuate
an area or to be restricted in another area. For example, should there be a pandemic flu or
evacuation. Your ICE pack should include:
- Bottles of water
- First-aid supplies-band aids, antibiotic ointment, ace
bandage etc.
- Flashlight and fresh replacement batteries
- Matches/lighter
- Stow able blanket
- Medication needs-prescription and over-the-counter
needs (e.g., analgesics)
- Emergency numbers-should be programmed into cell
phones
- Make up emergency cards with medical information
including any illnesses, disabilities, allergies, current medications,
doctor's name and number
- Protein bars, granola bars, fruit snacks and other
non-perishable nutritious food supplies