Emergency or Crisis Plan

Attempted/Threatened Suicide

1. Take suicide threats seriously.
2. Do not leave the suicidal person unattended or allow him or her to leave the building.
3. Call Campus Security at 911 or 7000.
4. Campus Security will notify the appropriate emergency personnel to assist.

Campus Threat

1. If you see a suspicious person, contact Campus Security (ext. 7000 or 911) immediately and provide them with all the pertinent information.
2. If you find a suspicious object on campus, do not touch it. Call Campus Security.
3. If you observe a person acting in a life-threatening way, call Campus Security and lock yourself and others in a room immediately. Turn off the lights in the room and stay out of sight.

Chemical Spills

1. Evacuate the area if appropriate.
2. Notify fellow workers and supervisors. If they are unavailable, call Security at 911 or 7000.
3. Take action to contain the spill only if it is possible to do so without jeopardizing your personal well-being. Neutralize or absorb the spill, dispose of the spill debris under the direction of the Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator.
4. If you have been exposed to chemical materials or have any symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
5. Post a warning sign to keep others out of the area.

Earthquake

1. In case of an earthquake, protect yourself in the following manner:
   • Kneel under desks, counters, or doorways.
   • Move next to and face an interior wall away from windows.
   • Bend your head close to your knees in a kneeling position, cover the sides of your head with your elbows; clasp your hands firmly behind your neck.
2. Do not lock doors or use elevators.
3. People with mobility impairments should be escorted to an area of safe refuge.
4. Exit the building after tremors stop.
5. Immediately notify emergency personnel about the location and condition of any person(s) (including those with mobility impairments) missing from your group.
6. Notify Campus Security at 911 or 7000 in the case of any missing persons, injuries or damage.

Fire or Explosions

1. Activate any fire alarms in the vicinity.
2. Call Campus Security at 911 or 7000 and report the fire.
3. Use a fire extinguisher before evacuating only if it is possible to do so without jeopardizing your personal well-being, and the fire is small or just beginning.
4. In smoky conditions, crawl, staying near the floor; touch closed doors before opening them to see if they are hot from a fire on the other side.
5. If there is time, close all windows and doors, turn off all electrical circuits and gas valves.
6. Do not lock doors or use elevators.
7. Leave the building (assist any persons with mobility impairments out of the building or at least to safe refuges [e.g. stairwell landings]) and assemble outside the building. Immediately determine if everyone is present.
8. Inform emergency and security personnel of the locations of any people who may still be in the building (e.g. physically impaired).
9. The building may be re-occupied upon issuance of an “all clear” signal by Campus Security.

Serious Injury or Illness

1. Do not attempt to move the injured or ill person unless necessary for immediate safety.
2. Notify Campus Security at 911 or 7000; do not leave the person unattended.
3. Campus Security will make contact with medical emergency personnel.
4. Avoid exposure to the injured person’s blood or other body fluids.
5. File an accident or injury report with the employee benefits office within 24 hours.

Telephone Threat

1. Attempt to identify the caller to ascertain as much information as possible.
2. Write down the following information:
   • Time of threat
   • Your location
   • Identity of the caller (if known)
   • Type of threat (be specific)
   • Try to listen for familiar background noises such as cars driving by, music, or mechanical sounds.
3. Contact Campus Security (911) immediately and provide them with all the pertinent information.
4. In the event of a bomb threat, do not touch any suspicious objects in or around the building.
5. If a determination is made to evacuate the building, the fire alarm signal will be used to do so.

Tornadoes

• When Springfield tornado sirens sound or when the building’s tornado alarm sounds, determine whether or not you have time to move to a safe haven (listed below). If time does not permit this, then move to an interior windowless room or hallway.
• Safe havens include the following locations (safest are listed first):
  1. Riggs Hall basement
  2. Gym (Ashcroft Activity Center): basement
  3. Scott Hall: basement
  4. Mabee Center: main floor, smaller rooms without exterior windows, North and East
  5. Library: main floor office complex
  6. Student Union: 1st floor hallways, North and East
  7. Fine Arts Building: 1st floor hallways, North and East
  8. Academic Building I (Zimmerman): 1st floor hallways, North and East
  9. Academic Building II (Trask): 1st floor hallways, North and East
  10. Chapel: 1st floor hallways, North and East restrooms
  11. Residence Halls: 1st floor hallways, North and East
• Do not lock doors.
• Do not use elevators.
• Stay away from windows and exterior doors.
• Stay away from large, open rooms like the cafeteria and chapel auditorium.
• Assume a squatting position facing a wall, elbows on sides of head and hands clasped behind neck.
• Once you’ve assembled with your group, determine if everyone is present. If anyone is missing, report that information to emergency personnel.
• It is safe to leave the safe haven area only after the tornado sirens stop.