Emergency Procedures ********************************************************************************************************** In the event of an emergency on campus, call Temple Police by dialing 1-1234 from a campus phone or 215-204-1234 from a non-campus phone. This page provides some recommendations for how to respond to various scenarios. Remember there are different ways to respond such as Shelter in Place (you may remember this as "lock down" drills) and Evacuation. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the different response protocols.

Building Fire Active Shooter Severe Weather Hostage Situation Power Outage Bomb Threat Civil Disturbance Hazardous Materials Suspicious Package Health Related

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Evacuation

An evacuation is implemented under conditions when it is no longer safe for students, faculty and staff to remain in a building or a specific area in a building. This requires occupants to move out and away from a building to a designated building area of refuge or out and away from a specific area within a building. Most commonly used when there is a suspected fire or hazardous material spill in a building.

• If you discover a fire or smell smoke, sound the building fire alarm. Fire alarm pull stations are located at each exit.

• The Security Person stationed at the lobby desk will call campus police when an alarm is transmitted. Campus police will notify the Fire Department, without delay by dialing 9-1-1.

• When the fire alarm sounds, LEAVE AT ONCE. Close all doors behind you. Proceed into the fire exit and leave the building. After leaving the building keep moving for at least 200 feet and proceed to designated rally point.  Do not reenter until given permission by the campus police or the Fire Department.

• DO NOT USE ELEVATORS. They will stop if power fails, causing occupants to become trapped. Elevator shaft ways are like chimneys. Smoke could enter the elevator shaft thereby asphyxiating the occupants trying to evacuate the building.

• Feel the door that leads from your office to the corridor before opening it. If it is hot or smoke is seeping in, do not open it. If you become trapped in your office and cannot reach the fire exit, keep the door closed and seal off any cracks. Use a phone in the office to call the Fire Department by dialing 1-1234 and give the location of your building, the floor you are on and the office number (or name if number does not apply).

• If the door feels cool, open cautiously. Be braced to slam it shut if the corridor is full of smoke or if you feel heat pressure against door. If corridor is clear, proceed with the escape plan.

• DISABLED PERSONS: A responsible person or persons that work in the area of the disabled should be assigned to assist in the event of fire. These persons are taken into the fire exit and will remain on the landing. Once situated on the stair landing, call Temple Police (215-204-1234) or Philadelphia Fire Department (911).  Identify which stairway you are in and which floor you are located.  Be sure to inform them if you require special equipment to descend the stairs.  Responders will not be able to utilize a motorized wheelchair but may have access to evacuation chairs for mobility impaired occupants. The Fire Department will arrive in minutes to assist.

• If caught in smoke or heat, stay low where the air is better. Take short breaths (through nose) until you reach an area of refuge.

IMPORTANT: Keep all fire exit and corridor doors closed at all times. These doors are fire rated to keep smoke and heat from entering stairways and adjoining corridors. If at any time you observe these doors propped or tied open, please close them and report the location

Shelter in Place

Shelter-In-Place means to seek immediate shelter and remain there during an emergency rather than evacuate the area. Shelter-In-Place will only be used when an evacuation is not safe. Certain events may necessitate the initiation of Temple University’s Shelter-in-Place Protocol. Notification to shelter will be made using all means of communication available. IN addition to sounding the TU Siren, a TU Alert will be sent and the Temple home page will be updated.

Examples of instances when the Shelter-In-Place protocol may be used are:

Shelter-In-Place (hazardous incident) Recommendations

In the event of a critical incident where hazardous (including chemical, biological or radiological) materials may have been released into the atmosphere either accidentally or intentionally, a decision to Shelter-In-Place may be the preferred method of safely waiting out the release. The following recommendations should be considered:

• Move to rooms with no windows that can open or are open
• Rooms that have little or no outside ventilation are preferred
• Close any open windows and doors
• Only come out when you are told that it is safe
• The university will send an "all clear" message

Shelter-In-Place (weather) Recommendations

A severe weather event such as a tornado or wind event during normal operating hours of the university may necessitate you Shelter-In-Place until the threat of bad weather has passed.

It is recommended that you:

• Move to the basement of the building, this usually provide the best protection
• Move to an interior room with no windows, or a hallway on the lowest floor possible
• Move to an interior stairwell if all rooms have windows
• Stay in the center of the room away from doors and windows.
• Stay in place until the danger has passed
• The university will send an "all clear" message

Please note: The Heating and Ventilation system may be shut down or changed to re-circulate air to prevent drawing in outside air.

The exterior doors will be locked to prevent persons from entering the buildings. Access to doors using card access will be limited to University Police.

 

Building Fire

In the event of a fire or hazardous materials emergency within a campus building, it is necessary and safest for occupants to evacuate. University policy is total evacuation.

A fire or hazardous materials emergency exists whenever:

1. A building fire evacuation alarm is sounding
2. An uncontrolled fire or imminent fire hazard occurs in any building or area of campus
3. There is the presence of smoke, or the odor of burning
4. There is abnormal spontaneous or abnormal heating of any material
5. There is an uncontrolled release of combustible or toxic gas or other hazardous material, or a flammable liquid spill

Suggested Response Guide:

1. Activate the building fire alarm if it is not already sounding
2. Leave the building by the nearest exit

• Crawl if there is smoke. Cleaner, cooler air will be near the floor.
• Before opening any doors, feel the door or metal knob gently. If it is hot, do not open the door. If it is cool, brace yourself against the door, open it slightly, and if heat or heavy smoke are present, close the door and do not enter
• If the nearest exit is blocked by fire, heat, or smoke, go to another exit
• Always use an exit stair, not an elevator
• Elevator shafts may fill with smoke or the power may fail, leaving you trapped. Stairway fire doors will keep out fire and smoke, if they are closed, and will protect you until you get outside
• Close as many doors as possible as you leave. This helps to confine the fire
• Meet at the designated evacuation point for your building
• Notify Campus Police from a safe place away from the building

If you get trapped in a building:

• Keep the doors closed
• Place cloth material (wet if possible) around and under door to prevent smoke from entering
• Be prepared to signal your presence from a window
• Do not break glass unless absolutely necessary, as outside smoke may be drawn inside

Signal for help:

• Hang an object at the window (jacket, shirt) to attract the fire department's attention

Severe Weather

Suggested Response Guide:

• Seek shelter indoors if possible
• Stay away from large bodies of water, as well as puddles
• Stand several yards apart and avoid touching anyone else. Lightning can strike several people at once, either because the people are in physical contact or because they are standing close enough for the strike to travel through the ground
• If you are in the open, avoid being the tallest object in the area. Crouch down on the balls of your feet, minimizing your contact with the ground. Seek the lowest point on the ground, do not lie down
• Do not seek shelter under a tree
• Stay away from windows

Power Outages

Be prepared to provide the following information:

1. Your name
2. Phone number where you can be reached
3. Building name, floor number, room number
4. Nature of incident
5. Floor(s) or area affected
6. Room number

In buildings equipped with emergency back up, the emergency generator will provide limited electricity to crucial areas of the building, inclusive of the fire alarm system and emergency lighting.

Suggested Response Guide:

1. Turn off all electrical equipment, including computers
2. Do not turn any equipment back on until power has been restored or you are advised to do so by Facilities Management
3. Elevators will not function during a power failure
4. Use the stairs to evacuate the building
5. If you are trapped in an elevator, use the elevator’s emergency phone to notify Campus Police
6. Use cell phone if no emergency phone is available
7. If there is no emergency phone in the elevator, trigger the elevator’s emergency alarm button
8. In the event of an extended, campus wide, or area wide power outage, instructions and information will be provided through TU Alert system

Civil Disturbance

A public disturbance by three or more people involving acts of disruption and violence that may cause immediate danger, damage, or injury to others or their property. If you find yourself in a mob- type situation the best thing to do is leave immediately.

Suspicious Package

Suggested Response Guide:

Actions to take once a potential suspicious package has been identified:

1. Stay calm -do not panic
2. Do not move or handle a suspicious package
3. Leave the area
4. Do not use your cell phone

If a suspicious powder or substance spills out of a package or envelope, follow these guidelines:

1. Do not clean up a suspicious powder
2. Turn off local fans or ventilation units in the area if you suspect that a device has been activated and the fan/ventilation switches are quickly and easily accessible
3. Leave the room and close the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering
4. Wash your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face
5. Remove heavily contaminated clothing as soon as possible and place in a plastic bag or some other container that can be sealed Give clothing bag to the emergency responders
6. Shower with soap and water as soon as possible if contaminated
7. Do not use bleach or other disinfectant on your skin
8. List all people who were in the area when the suspicious package was recognized
9. Provide this list of people to Campus Safety for follow-up investigations and to ensure everyone involved can receive advice from local public health authorities and outside law enforcement officials

Active Shooter

An active shooter is an event in which one or more individuals commit harm to multiple victims, in a short period of time, through the use of firearms.

Suggested Response Guide:

If possible, exit the building immediately

1. Be aware of alternate exits – (windows, exits behind you)
2. Keep your hands visible
3. Leave everything – take nothing with you
4. Once safe, contact authorities to make sure the incident has been reported.

If you can not exit:

1. Clear the hallways
2. Do not scream; it tells suspects where you are
3. Close and lock the door if possible
4. Turn off lights, computers and monitors in the room
5. Close blinds
6. Silence cell phones
7. Remain calm, quiet, and out of sight
8. Take adequate cover/protection (i.e. concrete walls, thick desks, filing cabinets -cover may protect you from bullets)
9. Keep land line phones free and available for contact from Emergency personnel

Hostage Situation

A hostage crisis develops when one or more terrorists or criminals hold people against their will and try to hold off the authorities by force, threatening to kill the hostages if provoked or attacked

Suggested Response Guide:

If you witness a hostage situation immediately remove yourself from any danger and call authorities. Be prepared to give the Police dispatcher the following information:

1. Location Building name, floor, and room number of incident
2. Number of possible hostage takers
3. Physical description and names of hostage takers, if possible
4. Number of possible hostages
5. Any weapons the hostage takers may have
6. Your name

If you are taken hostage:

1. Remain as calm as possible
2. Speak normally. Do not complain, avoid being belligerent and comply with all orders and instructions
3. Do not draw attention to yourself with sudden body movements, statements, comments or hostile looks
4. Observe the captors and try to memorize their physical traits, voice patterns, clothing or other details that can help provide a description later
5. If forced to present demands to authorities, either in writing or on tape, state clearly that the demands are from your captors. Avoid making a plea on your own behalf
6. Try to stay low to the ground or behind cover from windows or doors, if possible

Bomb Threats

If you receive a bomb threat by telephone, here are some helpful things to keep in mind:

1. Remain Calm. When the bomb threat is received, the person taking the call must remain calm and obtain as much information as possible
2. If you have caller ID, note the phone number of the caller
3. Do not put the caller on hold
4. Do not attempt to transfer the call
5. The person taking the call should immediately notify another staff person in the office, preferably while the caller is still on the line
6. Pay attention to the caller and his/her words and speech:
   • Does the caller have and distinguishing voice characteristics such as an accent, stuttering or mispronunciation?
   • Is the caller angry, excited, irrational or agitated?
   • Is the caller a man or woman, young, middle aged or old?
   • Listen for background noises (traffic, train whistle, music, radio, TV, children, airplanes, etc)
   • It is important to document all that you know and hear

Hazardous Materials

There are plenty of substances and products in our own buildings that fall under the hazmat classification, and all too often we dismiss the dangers residing alongside us.

Call 911 for any spill or release that threatens life safety or environmental damage.

1. Post the national poison control number (1-800-222-1222) on or near every home and office telephone in the building
2. Off Campus residents should place carbon monoxide monitors near the bedrooms in their units
3. Make sure all combustion (fuel burning) appliances are professionally installed and inspected annually. This includes furnaces, boilers, and major exhaust systems and duct work
4. Always store cleaning products and chemicals in their original containers. Do not use any other type of container - such as buckets or bottles - to store chemical products. It's especially important that corrosive or reactant products be kept in the proper containers; many corrosives will eat through metal, and reactants often must be kept in airtight containers
5. Always read the labels before using a potentially poisonous product. Never leave the product unattended while using it, and return the product to a locked cabinet or stockroom when you are finished
6. Turn on a fan and open windows and/or doors when using chemical products.
7. Wear protective clothing (gloves, long pants, long sleeves, socks, and shoes) when spraying pesticides and other chemicals
8. Never mix household and chemical products together. A poisonous gas may be created when mixing chemicals
9. Do not burn fuels or charcoal or use gasoline-powered engines in confined spaces such as garages, tents, or poorly ventilated rooms. This contributes to the production of carbon monoxide and can lead to symptoms ranging from dizziness and nausea to coma and death from prolonged exposure

Health Related

See related links under Types of Emergencies