Northern Virginia Community College

THINGS TO DO BEFORE AN EMERGENCY

• FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF SUPERVISORS are required to familiarize students and employees with procedures they should take before, during, and after various types of emergencies. Specifically, identify locations of emergency exits and emergency evacuation procedures at the beginning of the first group or class meeting.
• ALL CLASSROOMS AND OFFICES HAVE AN EVACUATION PLAN AND DIRECTIONS (showing the route to the nearest building exit) POSTED NEXT TO THE LIGHT SWITCH BY THE DOORWAY OF EACH ROOM.
• IF A DISABLED STUDENT OR EMPLOYEE IS IN YOUR CLASS OR STAFF SECTION: share the plan with them. Designate other students or employees to assist in evacuation of disabled persons and ensure they have knowledge of how to move people with disabilities. Identify the locations of emergency equipment you might need (wheelchairs, evacutrak, gloves, masks, etc) and emergency phones.

• WHEN THE FIRE ALARM SOUNDS, IMMEDIATELY EVACUATE THE BUILDING THROUGH THE NEAREST EXIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EVACUATION PLAN AND DIRECTIONS POSTED ON THE WALL NEAR THE CLASSROOM OR OFFICE DOOR.
• FIRST, ENSURE ALL OCCUPANTS TAKE THEIR BELONGINGS WITH THEM. All persons must take their car keys, coats, books, purses, etc with them, as there is no assurance they will be allowed back into the building.
• INSTRUCT OCCUPANTS NOT TO ACTIVATE CELL PHONES IN CASE A BOMB THREAT IS THE CAUSE OF THE EVACUATION.
• TURN OFF POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS EQUIPMENT: Turn off gas, lights, engines, machinery, oxygen, acetylene, and other support systems and close the windows before leaving.
• CLOSE ALL DOORS UPON LEAVING CLASSROOM, LAB, SHOP OR OFFICE AREA.
• DO NOT USE THE ELEVATORS.
• PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS “STRANDED” IN CLASSROOMS AND OFFICES—DESIGNATED CLASSMATES OR OTHER WORKERS MUST ASSIST IN MOVING DISABLED PERSONS DOWN THE STAIRS AND OUT OF THE BUILDING OR, AT MINIMUM, TO THE AREA OF RESCUE SPOT IN BUILDINGS WHICH HAVE THEM.
• WHERE TO GO: PROCEED TO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT DIRECTLY AWAY FROM YOUR PRIMARY EVACUATION/EXIT ROUTE. IF AVAILABLE, BUILDING AND FLOOR WARDENS ALSO WILL ASSIST YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES IN EVACUATION. PLEASE DO NOT ARGUE WITH THEM.
• EACH FACULTY AND STAFF SECTION SUPERVISOR WILL ASSEMBLE HIS/HER STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES IN AN AREA OF THE PARKING LOT THAT IS AT LEAST 350 FEET AWAY FROM THE BUILDING.
• ONCE ASSEMBLED, TAKE A HEAD COUNT AND IMPLEMENT NECESSARY CROWD CONTROL MEASURES. Accounting for all students/employees following an evacuation is critical. Confusion in the assembly areas can lead to delays in rescuing anyone trapped in the building, or unnecessary and dangerous search-and-rescue operations. The faculty and staff supervisor should take the head count. This important leadership task should not be delegated to a student or lower level staff employee.
• BUILDING AND/OR FLOOR WARDENS WILL COME TO EACH ASSEMBLY AREA TO COLLECT HEAD COUNT REPORTS.
• STAY IN ASSEMBLY AREAS AND MAINTAIN CROWD CONTROL UNTIL A DECISION IS MADE BY THE PROVOST TO REOCCUPY BUILDINGS OR EVACUATE THE CAMPUS.

RESPONSE TO A BOMB THREAT (Bomb device found in building)

• Inform students/employees of bomb threat. Tell them the threat is real.
• When told, evacuate classroom or office in accordance with the Evacuation Plan.
• Do not take the elevator. Do not activate cell phones or radios.
• Assist disabled employees.
• Move everyone to designated Assembly Area.
• Take a headcount in Assembly Area.

RESPONSE TO A TORNADO WARNING (When you receive warning)

• Quickly move students/employees to inner classrooms or stay in the corridors/hallways.
• If there’s enough time, move everyone to inner classrooms or corridors on bottom floors.
• Have everyone get down and cover their heads.
• Help disabled persons.
• Take a head count, assist any injured.

RESPONSE TO AN EARTHQUAKE

• Have everyone DROP to the floor and cover their heads for protection from materials falling from walls and ceilings.
• After shaking stops: 1. Evacuate the building in accordance with Evacuation Plan 2. Help disabled persons 3. Assist the injured and take head count

GUN SHOTS OR EXPLOSIONS IN BUILDING

• Take cover immediately; hide; conceal as best as possible
• Seek first aid, or assist as appropriate
• Attempt to assess situation
• Only evacuate after hazard assessment or when advised to

CHEMICAL SPILLS IN LAB

• Keep students away
• Absorb spills with absorbent material on hand
• If spill is too large, evacuate the area; rope area off
• Contact campus police (6270 or 6058) or lab tech on duty
• Be prepared to identify chemical content to HAZMAT officials
• Alert Division Dean, who will contact Facilities or Campus Safety

DISRUPTIVE STUDENT

• Speak in calm voice; your calm demeanor is key
• Calm student down
• Do not touch the student; do not make threats
• Give class a 10 minute break in order to separate class from unruly student
• Or give simple direction to student to “let’s walk” outside to discuss….
• Report incident to Dean of Students

SUICIDE OR HOMICIDE

• Try to calm situation…speak in low calm voice
• Listen; keep person talking; acknowledge feelings
• Attempt to separate/evacuate remainder of students
• Alert 911, campus police and Department Dean as soon as possible

FIRST AID

• Be aware of accessible first-aid kit. Know the contents
• Bloody noses and cuts are common. Assist students to help themselves by offering them a band-aid, gauze, or Kleenex.
• If blood spills on the floor, block off that area and call Maintenance during the day and the Police after 3 p.m.
• NOTE: Perform first-aid assistance in accordance with your “trained” capability. Use common sense.

MEDICAL EMERGENCY

• Call 9-911
• Call campus police (6270) immediately thereafter
• Stay with injured and continue to comfort
• Do not move individual unless absolutely necessary, as additional injury could result
• Alert supervisory chain