Rules for Personal Safety
• Lock and double-check the door when you leave. Don't loan your keys. Promptly report lost keys.
• Record the serial numbers of expensive possessions. Put a secret mark on them for positive identification (serial numbers may be removed). We have an engraver.
• Don't leave money in your room that you can't afford to lose. Open a bank account.
• Don't depend on others to look after you possessions. Don't leave things unattended in public areas.
• Be alert to and report suspicious people, incidents and activities.
• Use the buddy system when walking on campus at night. Security escorts are available by dialing 20#.
• Report thefts and burglary to Campus Safety (20#) immediately. Leave the room as you found it until the police or a Campus Safety officer arrives.
• THINK – You are your first line of defense.
Tornado Emergency Information
The campus will be notified when the weather bureau issues a tornado watch.
• A TORNADO WATCH MEANS: That conditions are right for a tornado or severe thunderstorms.
• A TORNADO WARNING MEANS: That a tornado has been sighted in the area. Notify your building occupants to take cover immediately.
THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH TORNADOS IS THAT THEY STRIKE WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING.
IN CASE OF A WARNING, ALL PERSONS SHOULD GO TO DESIGNATED SHELTER AREAS IMMEDIATELY.
If you are unable to get to a shelter, go to an interior room away from windows. If caught outside, lie face down in the nearest spot and cover your head.
DURING A TORNADO WATCH: Tune in to a local radio or televisions station and be alert to changing conditions. THERE MAY NOT BE TIME TO ALERT EVERYONE IN THE EVENT OF A TORNADO.
General Rules
• When told of a warning, go immediately to the nearest shelter area. Get on your knees in a tucked position with your hands covering your head.
• Stay away from windows.
• A tornado comes swiftly and goes the same way. Stay in the shelter until the all clear is issued.
Bomb Threat
Even though we know that most bomb threats are hoaxes, we cannot afford to ignore any of them. We must assume that each threat received constitutes a clear and present danger to our campus.
Please read and familiarize yourself with the following procedures. They will preserve order and safety should a threat be received.
Procedures
When a threat is received it should be reported immediately to the Campus Security office at 20#. Campus Safety will then consult with the ranking officials present via the Dean of Students. Should the Dean not be available, the ranking senior officer will be contacted directly.
Should conditions or time not permit, the Director of Campus Safety shall have the authority to act until a senior officer can be located and briefed.
The designated building safety committee member will be contacted by telephone or in person. They will be told exactly the following:
• This is Campus Safety and we have a condition - bomb threat. Please act accordingly and call 20# when your search is complete.
Condition 1
QUIET SEARCH: conduct a quiet search of your assigned area. Try not to alarm anyone. If you need help ask a fellow faculty or staff member to assist. If anything unusual is found report it to Campus Security at once.
• DO NOT TOUCH THE OBJECT – KEEP PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE AREA UNTIL CAMPUS SAFETY ARRIVES.
Condition 2
Notify everyone that we have received a threat and they should leave the area. The decision, however, is theirs. Conduct a search of the area as in condition 1.
Condition 3
The building or buildings WILL be evacuated. Notice will be given verbally if time permits or the building fire alarm will be activated.
Campus access will be restricted – faculty and staff only – I.D. cards will be required.
Police and fire units will be summoned to stand by on campus.
Earthquakes
• If indoors , seek refuge in doorways, under desks or heavy tables. Stay away from windows, shelf units, or heavy equipment. Crouch and cover.
• If outdoors , move quickly away from buildings, utility poles, and other structures. Go to outside safe areas.
• After the initial shock, evaluate the situation in your immediate area. If damage seems serious activate the building alarm and leave the building as soon as it appears safe. Protect yourself and others at all times.
• The physical plant director will inspect each building and will consult with Campus Safety and ranking officials as to the safety of the structure.
DO NOT RETURN TO A BUILDING UNTIL TOLD TO DO SO
• After all buildings and areas have been inspected, the ranking senior officer will decide if we should return to normal operations, restricted operations, or close and evacuate campus.
• As with all emergencies, the ranking senior officer and the director of university relations will handle the press.
• Injured persons will be treated as medical emergencies and will be treated by campus first responders until local EMS units can get to campus.
Medical Emergency
During any given day we may encounter a situation that could be considered a medical emergency. While a medical emergency does not in and of itself constitute a need for a general campus alarm, the following procedures should be followed:
• CALL 911
Ask for the EMS dispatcher.
Tell the dispatcher:
• Your name
• Your exact location
• The nature of the emergency
• NOTIFY CAMPUS SAFETY AT 20#
Campus Safety will send a first responder to your location and arrange to meet EMS.
• Send someone outside to direct EMS and Campus Safety if possible.
• Keep onlookers away.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DO FIRST AID UNLESS YOU ARE TRAINED TO DO SO.
• The Campus Safety officer on the scene will begin the notification procedures as soon as the patient is in the hands of the EMS team.
THE NOTIFICATION ORDER IS:
• The RLC on duty
• Director of Residence Life
• Dean of Students: The Dean will make the decision on calling parents, will establish liaison with the hospital and will handle notification of other school officials as necessary.
Serious Incidents
• An individual who discovers a crisis must contact Campus Safety immediately. Campus Safety officers are in charge at the scene of the incident until all appropriate actions have been taken. (Local police are in charge of an off-campus incident.)
• After securing the scene of an incident, Campus Safety contacts the dean of students or another senior officer and the appropriate area/department supervisors. Every effort should be made to preserve the scene of an incident exactly as discovered.
• The dean of students, or a designee, should immediately call a member of the Crisis Response Team (President, Assistant to the president, Director of University Relations, Director of Residence Life and Campus Safety, assistant dean for counseling, campus minister).
• The ensuing order of telephone calls then takes place: The Director of University Relations will call the president and other vice presidents. Each vice president is responsible for contacting appropriate members of his/her staff and the receptive members of the BOT on his/her trustee committee.
A Complete plan is available in the office of the Director of Residence Life and Campus Safety.
General Fire Safety
In case of fire, the fire department should be notified immediately. Call 911
1. Pull the nearest fire alarm.
2. When calling 911 give exact location.
3. Then call 20# and alert Campus Safety. 4. Help clear the building.
• Know the locations of fire extinguishers, fire exits, and alarm boxes in your area and know how to use them. Training and other information is available through Campus Safety.
• If minor fires appear controllable, pull an alarm box , then get a fire extinguisher, aim it at the base of the flame, and pull trigger
• If the fire is not out with one try follow steps 2,3 & 4 above.
• If the fire is already out of control, follow steps 1,2,3 & 4 above.
• Close all doors to help contain the fire and reduce oxygen.
DO NOT LOCK ANY DOORS
• When the building fire alarm sounds, assume an emergency exists.
Assist in clearing the building
Assist the handicapped to evacuate.
REMEMBER, DO NOT USE ELEVATORS DURING A FIRE
Once outside, move everyone to the safe areas.
• Before opening a door, feel it. DO NOT OPEN UNLESS IT IS COOL. Once you have opened it look both ways.
If there is little or no smoke, proceed to the nearest exit and get out.
If the door is hot or smoke, is coming under it, stuff rags or wet towels around openings.
TAKE NO CHANCES. WHEN IN DOUBT, SOUND THE ALARM
CAUTION:
Most building alarms only sound on campus. The fire department MUST be called by phone.
Residence hall fire safety
• When you hear a fire alarm, prepare to leave the building immediately.
Before opening your door
• Feel the door. If it is cool, open it and check both ways down the hall.
• If no smoke or only a little smoke is seen, proceed to the nearest stairwell and go to the first floor exit.
• Make sure you have shoes and something warm to wear or wrap up in.
• Shut your door but leave it unlocked.
• Make your way to designated safe areas.
• Follow the instruction of residence life and campus safety officials on the scene.
If the door is hot or if there is smoke coming from underneath:
• Wet some towels or rags and stuff them around the bottom of the door.
• First Floor persons should crawl out of the window and make their way to their designated safe area.
• Upper floor persons should go to their window and let someone know they are there.
• Hang a towel or anything outside the window as a sign that you are still inside.
• If smoke starts to get in, stay low and put a wet towel over your nose and mouth.
• Continue to make sure your towel is wet.
Outside Fire Safe Areas
Norris/Wingo Hall: Grassy area, south side of parking lot.
Ashby/Jones Hall: Grassy area, south side of parking lot.
Gym: Road, west side of gym.
Women's South: Women's parking lot on the north side of the building as far away from the building as possible
Women's North: Women's parking lot on the north side of the building as far away from the building as possible.
Russell East: Thurmond Center parking lot on the north side of the building as far away from the building as possible
Russell West: Thurmond Center parking lot on the north side of the building as far away from the building as possible.
Russell Lounge: Thurmond Center parking lot on the north side of the building as far away from the building as possible.
Quads: The large parking lot on the east side.
Thurmond Center: Thurmond Center Parking lot as far away from the building as possible.
Music building: Thurmond Center parking lot as far away from the building as possible.
Chapel: Thurmond Center parking lot as far away from the building as possible
Library: Field on the west side of the building
Derry Patterson Wingo: Grassy area on the west side of the building.
Whitfield Stadium Center: The gravel parking lot in front of the building
Brewer Center: Women's Parking lot
Whittington Hall: Thurmond Center parking lot.
Hurricane Watch
• A “watch” is usually declared 36 hours prior to the predicted arrival of a hurricane. At the time a Hurricane Watch is posted for this area, the Academic Affairs Emergency Operations Representative will assume the following responsibilities:
• Notify all academic deans and directors that a watch have been issued and special emergency meetings with department chair and key staff must occur.
• Through department chairs and key staff, ask that all faculty be notified of the storm status and to be on alert.
• Attend a special meeting of the Emergency Operations Committee when announced
• The Dean of Students will assume the following responsibilities:
• Notify Residence Life and Campus Safety staff that a “watch” has been issued and mandatory meetings with residence need to occur.
• Each student is required to complete travel destination forms at hall meetings.
• Verify a sufficient supply of fliers is available.
• The Director of Residence Life and Campus Safety will assume the following responsibilities:
• Upon notification from the Dean, call an emergency staff meeting for all Residence Life and Campus Safety staff.
• Provide details to staff.
• Review outline for meeting with residents. Inform residence that a “watch” has been issued. This means the University will prepare to mobilize in case the situation deteriorates.
• Auxiliary Services will lock down the buildings.
• Assign maintenance tasks when needed in conjunction with the physical plant.
• Assign RLC's to residence halls.
• Facilities Coordinator – Be available to assist in all duties as assigned by the Residence Life Director. Organize appropriate staffing for EOC.
Hurricane Warning
A “Warning” is usually declared 12-24 hours before predicted arrival of a hurricane. At the time a Hurricane Warning is posted for this area, CSU will cancel classes and begin closing its various Administrative/support operations and the Academic Affairs Emergency Operations Representative (AAEOR)
Hurricane Shelter Areas
Wingo/Norris: Get as close to the interior walls as possible. Crouch and cover.
Jones Hall: The west side of the first floor reception area
Ashby Hall: First floor labs under lab tables and in interior first floor restrooms and offices.
Library: Library basement
Chapel: Library basement, first floor chapel restrooms and the lower lever of the music building
Hunter Reception Center: Interior storage rooms and restrooms
Women's North and Russell Halls: The first floor bathroom or rear of any room on the first floor.
Quads: First floor bathrooms or rear of any room on the first floor.
Gym: Men or women's locker rooms, classroom restrooms, weight room, and hallways. STAY OUT OF THE ARENA AREA.
Physics Building: Interior rooms of the physics building
Brewer Center: Interior rooms and restrooms. STAY OUT OF THE GYM AREA.
Whittington Hall: Interior Classrooms and restrooms. DO NOT GO INTO LARGE BAND ROOMS.
Whitfield Stadium Center: Downstairs to concession area
If time permits the safest places for everyone to go are the Library and Chapel basements.
AFTER ANY MAJOR EMERGENCY
• Campus Safety and Residence Life personnel will make an immediate sweep of all facilities and determine the number and extent, if any, of injuries. Campus first response will take charge of this procedure. All injuries will be handled according to policy regarding medical emergencies.
• An emergency power supply will be activated in a central area on campus where all may go for information and treatment.
• The director of the physical plant will conduct a survey of all buildings to determine:
• If buildings are safe to use.
• If areas need to be blocked off to prevent injury.
• What buildings may be used as emergency shelters if needed.
• Approximate downtime for power and other utilities.
• The ranking senior officer available will be briefed as soon as possible.
