Idaho State
University - Emergency Response and Recovery Plan
Chapter 8: Evacuation Procedures
Campus Emergency Services:
If calling
from ON CAMPUS dial 2515, and
If calling from OFF CAMPUS dial 282-2515.
In an emergency in which Public Safety
cannot be reached,
dial 911.
8.1 Preparing For An
Emergency or Evacuation
Know your building’s floor plan.
Know where
the stairs and fire extinguishers are located.
Determine in advance
the nearest exit from
your work location and the route you will follow to reach the exit in
an emergency. Know the locations of alternate exits from your area.
If you work in an
office, know exactly how
many doors you will pass along your evacuation route before you reach
the nearest exit door. In heavy smoke, you can count the number of
doors as you pass, so you will know when you reach the exit door.
Emergency evacuation
signage is posted in
buildings so that occupants can become familiar with the evacuation
routes and assembly points for their area.
8.2
Building Evacuation
All building evacuations will occur
when an
alarm sounds and/or upon notification by Public Safety or Building
Coordinator.
If time and
conditions permit, secure your
workplace and take with you important personal items such as car keys,
purse, medication(s), glasses, etc.
When the building
evacuation alarm is
activated during an emergency leave by the nearest marked exit and
alert others to do the same. WALK - do not run.
Follow instructions
from emergency
personnel or your Building Coordinator.
Keep noise to a
minimum so you can hear
emergency instructions.
Use handrails in
stairwells, stay to the
right.
Assist people with
disabilities.
Remember that
elevators are reserved for
persons with disabilities. Never use an elevator in a fire or
earthquake. Electric power is likely to fail in both cases
leaving you trapped.
Once outside, move
quickly away from the
building and watch for falling glass and debris.
Proceed to the
designated gathering
point. This should be a clear area that is at least 300 feet or
further, depending on the type of incident, away from the affected
building. Stay there.
Keep streets, fire
lanes, hydrant areas,
and walkways clear for emergency vehicles and personnel. Know
your area assembly points.
Immediately notify
emergency personnel of
any injured persons and individuals remaining in the affected building.
Do not return to an
evacuated building
unless told to do so by emergency personnel, building or University
officials.
8.3
Evacuation of Disabled Persons
Evacuation
may not be necessary or advisable. If persons with
disabilities cannot be transported from the building without using an
elevator, assist persons with disabilities to the designated “Persons
With Disabilities Rescue Area” on each floor of the building.
Never use an elevator in a fire or earthquake. Be prepared to
notify rescue personnel immediately upon their arrival of the location
of any persons with disabilities in such rescue areas. Use buddy system
if possible.
If immediate evacuation is necessary, be aware of
the following considerations:
A.
Non-Ambulatory Persons:
Wheelchairs have many
moving parts, some
are not designed to withstand stress or lifting.
You may need to
remove the chair batteries.
Life support equipment may be attached.
In a life-threatening
emergency it may be
necessary to remove an individual from their wheelchair. Lifting
a person with minimal ability to move may be dangerous.
If necessary, two or
three individuals may
carry non-ambulatory persons from the building.
Wheelchairs should
not be used to descend
stairwells, if at all possible.
Non-ambulatory
persons may have respiratory
complications. Remove them from smoke or fumes immediately and
determine their needs and preferences.
Ways of being removed
from the wheelchair.
Whether to extend or
move extremities when
lifting because of pain, catheter leg bags, spasticity, braces,
etc.
Whether to carry
forward or backward on a
flight of stairs.
Whether a seat
cushion or pad should be
brought along if the wheelchair is being left behind.
In lieu of a
wheelchair, does the person
prefer a stretcher, chair with cushion/aid, or car seat?
Is paramedic
assistance necessary.
Always consult with
the person in the chair
regarding how best to assist them.
B.
Visually Impaired Persons:
Most visually
impaired persons will be familiar with their immediate
surroundings. In an emergency situation:
Describe the nature
of the emergency and
offer to act as a “sighted guide” - offer your elbow and escort him/her
to a safe place.
As you walk, describe
where you are and
advise of any obstacles.
When you have reached
safety, orient the
person as to where you are and ask if further assistance is needed.
C.
Hearing Impaired
Persons:
Because persons
with impaired hearing may not perceive emergency
alarms, an alternative warning technique is required. Two methods
of warning:
Write a note
describing the emergency and
the nearest evacuation route (“Fire. Go out rear door to the right and
down, NOW!”).
Turn the light switch
off and on to gain
attention, then indicate through gestures what is happening and what
to
do.
8.4
Campus Evacuation
Evacuation of all or part of the
campus
grounds will be announced by Public Safety.
All persons (student
and staff) are to
vacate the site in question immediately and relocate to another part of
the campus grounds as directed.
Follow the building
evacuation procedures
described above for individual building and affected sites.
8.5
"Shelter-In-Place” Procedures
During
certain emergency situations, particularly chemical, biological
or radioactive material releases and some weather emergencies, faculty,
staff and students may
be advised to remain indoors, or “shelter in place,” rather than
evacuate the building.
Stay inside the
building (or go indoors as
quickly as possible).
Do not use elevators.
Quickly locate
supplies you may need such
as food, water, radio, etc.
If possible, go a
room or corridor where
there are no windows and few doors.
If there is time,
shut and lock all windows
and doors. (Locking them may provide a tighter seal against chemicals).
Push a wet towel up
against the crack
between the door and the floor to seal it.
In the event of a
chemical release, go to
an above-ground level of the building; some chemicals are heavier than
air and may seep into basements even if the windows are closed.
Turn off the heat,
fans, air conditioning
or ventilation system, if you have local controls for these systems.
Most university buildings' ventilation systems are controlled centrally
by Facility Services.
Drink bottled, stored
water, not water from
the tap.
If possible, check
for additional
information via the main university Web page, http://www.isu.edu,
and/or monitor radio or television for further details.
Do not call 911
unless you are reporting a
life-threatening situation.
When
the "all clear" is announced:
• Open windows and doors.
• Turn on heating, air
conditioning or ventilation system.
• Go outside and wait until the
building has been vented.
