Emergency Response

In the event of an emergency, follow the procedures outlined below in accordance with our Campus Emergency Operations Plan (CEOP).

• Dial 911, or press the orange Emergency button on campus phones. Provide the following information:
  • Nature of the medical emergency
  • Location of the emergency (building, room number)
  • Your name and phone number from which you are calling
• If possible, alert others of the emergency
• Until help arrives:
  • Do not move the individual
  • Watch for changes in their breathing and consciousness
  • Assure them that medical assistance is coming

Emergencies that must be reported by faculty, staff, and students include, but are not limited to:

• Fire
• Bomb threat/suspicious items
• Suspicious or disturbing behavior
• Medical Related Events
• Incident involving a weapon
• Utility or power failure
• Severe weather condition
• Chemical spill

• Fire extinguishers are located throughout each building; Campus Security officers are trained to operate fire extinguishers
• Spill control/clean-up kits are located at each security desk and classroom that handles chemicals on a normal basis
• First Aid supplies are located at each campus security desk and instructional shop. Campus Security Officers are trained in basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use. Instructional Shop staff are trained in basic first aid
• Automated External Defibrillators (AED) are located near or at each campus security desk
• Blood-borne pathogen kits are located in each shop and fabrication studio

Students:

• Report injuries and illnesses to your instructor or Campus Security. Refer to SAIC Injury and IllnessReporting Procedures for additional information.
• Seek first aid treatment from Campus Security Officers at each security desk
• Obtain non-emergency medical treatment from medical staff at SAIC Health Services (116 South Michigan Avenue, 13th floor, 312.499.4280).

Faculty, Staff, and Student Workers:

• Report injuries and illnesses to your supervisor. Refer to S/AIC Injury and Illness Reporting Procedures for additional information.
• Faculty, Staff, and Student Workers can seek first aid treatment from Campus Security.
• Faculty, Staff, and Student Workers can seek non-emergency medical treatment from Concentra (1230 W. Lake Street, 312.666.0028)
• If the injury involves blood on equipment or surrounding areas contact security to notify housekeeping for a blood-borne pathogen cleanup. NOTE: certain equipment may require clean-up from shop staff

An evacuation is implemented under conditions when it is no longer safe to remain in a building or a specific area in a building. This requires occupants to move out and away from a building to an area of refuge or out and away from a specific area within a building. This procedure is most commonly used when there is a suspected fire, hazardous material spill, flooding, gas leak, or bomb or other threat in a building.

Procedures

• Close and lock all external doors and windows
• Close window shades, blinds, or drapes
• Follow directions of Campus Security and other emergency responders
• Inform responders of any known missing persons
• Remain with your group until the "All Clear" has been received from Campus Security or other emergency responders
• If an intruder is heard or seen, call Campus Security as soon as safely possible
• Remain calm and keep everyone together
• Do not activate the fire alarm. Once in a lockdown, if the fire alarms sound, do not exit your safe area unless there is obvious danger from smoke and/or fire in your location. The hostile intruder(s) may use the alarms in order to increase the number of victims.
• Refer to the Campus Emergency Operations Plan – Annex F for additional procedures.

An active shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people. In most cases, active shooters use firearms, and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims. Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. The strategy is to decrease vulnerability if you cannot move from your current location or to move to a place of safe harbor.

Procedures:

If you can exit the building, do so immediately and call 911 and/or Campus Security (312.899.1230).

• If you cannot exit:
  • Remain calm and clear the hallway immediately
  • Take cover in your current location and lock and barricade your door
  • Stay low, remain quiet and attempt to place solid objects between you and the area of the threat
  • Close all doors and windows, shades, binds, and drapes, and stay away from all windows
  • Shut down all computers and office equipment if it's safe to do so
  • QUIETLY call 911 and Campus Security (312.899.1230); report your presence
• Do not:
  • Leave or unlock the door to see what is happening.
  • Attempt to confront or apprehend the shooter, UNLESS THIS IS A LAST RESORT
  • Assume someone else has called 911 or Campus Security; YOU make the call
• Do:
  • Evacuate the room only when emergency personnel have arrived and given the "All Clear"
  • Organize assistance to those individuals with disabilities

If an individual armed with a weapon threatens to harm themselves or others:

• Stay calm and immediately or as soon as possible call 911 and Campus Security
• If possible, evacuate or retreat to a place of safety warning others of the danger
• Keep your hands visible and leave your belongings behind
• If evacuation is not possible:
  • Go to a room that can be locked or barricaded with available furniture
  • Move away from corridor windows, turn off lights and computers, hide out of view
  • Silence phones
  • Remain in room until the "All Clear" is give by law enforcement
  • Do not leave or unlock the door to see what is happening
• As a last resort, if your life is in danger, attempt to incapacitate the individual. Act with aggression and throw items at the person

Procedures for a bomb threat:

• If made via a phone call, maintain communication with the caller, inquiring about their identity, location, and description of the device
• Advise someone else to dial 911 and Campus Security while talking to the individual
• Report the details of the call to an officer upon evacuating the building

Procedures for suspicious items:

• Do not touch, move or disturb it. Avoid using a cell phone or radio communications
• Call Campus Security
• Direct people away from the area until help arrives

Procedures:

• If you feel threatened, immediately call 911
• Press the orange button to notify Campus Security
• Ensure your personal safety. Keep a safe distance and do not attempt to talk or interact with the individual

Procedures:

• Turn off electrical equipment
• Do not unplug the phone
• Remain in place unless there is a threat to your safety
• Await instructions relayed over the SAIC communication system or by the fire department
• Notify Campus Security if you or others require evacuation assistance
• Emergency lighting will be activated in stairways and at exits

Procedures:

• Remain calm
• Do not try to force the doors open or get out of the elevator on your own
• Activate the elevator alarm, and use the telephone or intercom button for assistance.
• Campus Security will respond
• Inform Campus Security of any changes in the situation

If a chemical comes in contact with your skin or eyes, immediately flush the affected water with water for at least 15 minutes. Emergency eyewash and showers are located in areas where chemicals are normally used. Notify Campus Security by pressing the emergency button on any campus phone.

Students

Each term, or as needed, students should meet with the Disability and Learning Resource Center to identify themselves and their disability (mobility, visual, hearing, speech, or multiple impairments), and discuss emergency evacuation plans.

Employees

Annually or as needed, employees with disabilities should meet with Human Resources, and their department supervisor to discuss their disability (mobility, visual, hearing, speech, or multiple impairments) and evacuation plans.

Human Resources, the department supervisors, or Disability and Learning Resource Center representatives should provide students and employees with written directions, maps, or floor plans of evacuation routes and discuss exit paths, alternative exits, and whether they can exit the building unassisted. Additionally, Human Resources and the department supervisor or Disability and Learning Resource Center representative should discuss and determine the following information with students or employees:

Evacuation Procedures for Persons with Mobility Impairment

People who are able to use stairs easily but have impairments of their hands or arms can be assisted by anyone. A viable plan to address this issue may be for the person with the impairment to be aware that he or she will need to ask someone for assistance with a particular door or device.

Other people with mobility impairments should seek multiple volunteers in advance to assist if an emergency develops.

• It is recommended that one volunteer remain with the individual and another volunteer exit the building and inform emergency personnel that a person with a disability is waiting for rescue assistance on the specified floor.
• Volunteers should consider evacuating a non-ambulatory person only when the person is in immediate danger of harm if not evacuated. Proper lifting techniques (e.g., bending the knees, keeping the back straight, holding the person close before lifting, and using leg muscles to lift) should be used to avoid injury to the back.

Evacuation Procedures for Persons with Hearing/Speech Impairment

All buildings on campus are equipped with fire alarm strobe lights. Persons with hearing impairments may not hear audible emergency alarms and will need to be alerted of emergency situations.

• Get the attention of a person with a hearing disability
• Clearly state the problem. Gestures and pointing are helpful, but be prepared to write a brief statement if the person does not seem to understand
• Offer visual instructions to advise of safest route or direction toward exits or evacuation maps

The only standard building egress system that is limited to voice communication is the emergency phone in the elevators. Should a person with a speech/hearing impairment need assistance in the elevator, press the emergency call button. A Campus Security officer will respond.

Evacuation Procedures for Persons with a Visual Impairment

Most people with a visual impairment will be familiar with their surroundings and frequently traveled routes. Since the emergency evacuation route is likely different from the commonly traveled route, persons who are visually impaired may need assistance in evacuating.

• Give verbal instructions to advise about safest routes, estimated distances, and direction
• DO NOT grasp a visually impaired person's arm. Ask if he or she would like to hold onto your arm as you exit, especially if there is debris or a crowd.