HAZARDS & THREATS

Evacuation

General Evacuation Procedures

• Stay calm. Do not rush and do not panic.
• Stop your work.
• Gather your personal belongings if it is safe to do so. (Reminder: take prescription medications with you if possible. It may be hours before you are allowed back in the building.)
• If safe, close your office door and window, but do not lock them.
• Use the nearest safe stairs and proceed to the nearest exit. Do not use the elevator.
• Follow instructions from emergency responders.
• Do not re-enter the building or work area until you have been instructed to do so by the emergency responders.
• Move to the established assembly area and ensure accountability of building personnel is conducted in a timely manner.
• Report any known or suspected missing persons.

Emergency Evacuation Guidelines for People with Disabilities

• Building occupants should be invited to volunteer ahead of time to assist people with disabilities in an emergency. If a volunteer is not available, designate someone to help.
• Volunteers should obtain evacuation training for certain types of lifting techniques.
• Two or more trained volunteers, if available, should conduct the evacuation.
• DO NOT evacuate people with disabilities in their wheelchairs. This is standard practice to ensure the safety of people with disabilities and volunteers. Wheelchairs will be evacuated later if possible.
• Always ASK someone with a disability how you can help BEFORE attempting any rescue technique or giving assistance. Ask how they can best be helped or moved, and whether there are any special considerations or items that need to come with them.
• Before attempting an evacuation, volunteers and the people being helped should discuss how any lifting will be done and the evacuation path that will be followed.
• DO NOT use elevators, unless authorized to do so by police or fire personnel. Elevators could fail during a fire.
• If the situation is life-threatening, call University Police at  229-430-4711.