FIRE

All University buildings are equipped with automatic fire alarm systems. Many are equipped with voice systems that will give specific instructions, as well as automatic fire sprinkler systems. In the event that a fire alarm sounds, all persons are required under state law to exit the building immediately. Failure to evacuate is a criminal offense. Persons in charge of a facility (faculty teaching class) are also responsible for evacuating their area, and may be held personally liable for a failure to evacuate. Once a fire alarm has sounded, do not re-enter a building until the all clear message has been given by emergency personnel.

The University does not conduct fire drills in academic buildings. Testing is normally conducted during hours the building is closed, and is posted in advance. Any fire alarm that sounds must be treated as an actual alarm unless prior notice is given of the testing. When evacuating, take your personal belongings with you, and secure your office as you leave.

In the event of a fire in a lab or teaching space, the faculty member should take the following actions:

• Instruct the students to immediately exit the building via the nearest stairwell
• Exit the classroom or lab, verifying all students have left. Faculty members should not attempt to fight a fire.
• Pull the fire alarm station (located at each stairwell and exit from the building)
• If possible, call 911 from a phone located a safe distance away to report the exact location of the fire
• Exit the building and await the fire department by the main entrance

In the event that a fire alarm sounds in a building while teaching class, the faculty member should take the following actions:

• Instruct the students to immediately exit the building via the nearest stairwell
• Exit the classroom or lab, verifying all students have left.
• Exit the building and await the all-clear message by the main entrance

Special procedures are in place for people with physical disabilities who may be present in a building during a fire. People with physical disabilities are permitted to stay in a building during an emergency situation only if they are non-ambulatory or where elevator assistance is essential for their evacuation and they are located above or below the ground floor. Elevators may not be used during an emergency. (People who are mobile with visual impairments should seek the assistance of other occupants of the building to guide them during the evacuation.) Many UC buildings are provided with designated Areas of Rescue Assistance for the purpose of protecting those who must remain in the building during a fire. These spaces are equipped for two-way voice communications with the 911 dispatcher, and are located within fire resistive areas, typically stairwells. The faculty member may want to check on the presence of these areas in order to assist a person with a physical disability in their class. For buildings where there are no designated Areas of Rescue Assistance, or if their presence is unknown, people with disabilities should be instructed to seek a safe place (preferably a room with an exterior window, a telephone, and a solid door), call 911 and report their location to the dispatcher. The Fire Department will then determine if they need to evacuate the caller, or if they should stay in place.

SEVERE WEATHER

The University has implemented a severe weather warning system as part of its ongoing fire and life safety systems upgrade. This system allows Public Safety to play pre-recorded announcements in many of the campus buildings when severe weather threatens.

This system will be used in conjunction with the existing Hamilton County siren warning system. The sirens effectively warn persons out of doors, however they do not provide good coverage indoors. The campus system delivers the warnings to persons inside the buildings, as well as providing more detailed instructions. The sirens and the campus system are activated for severe weather warnings only, not for watches.

Each building has a designated severe weather shelter area. These locations can be found at http://www.uc.edu/techserv/.

A severe thunderstorm WATCH indicates that conditions are favorable for the formation of a thunderstorm of 58 mph or greater. Hail with a diameter of ¾" or more may also be present. A severe thunderstorm WARNING is issued when severe thunderstorms have developed in the area. Shelter should be sought indoors, away from windows.

A tornado WATCH indicates that weather conditions are such that tornadoes can develop, as well as implying that thunderstorm activity may be severe. A tornado WARNING indicates that a tornado has actually been sighted in the reporting area. Immediate shelter should be taken in the lowest interior area of a building. Avoid long span roof areas (auditoriums, gymnasiums) and areas with large amounts of glass.

The Hamilton County warning sirens use a steady tone to indicate a severe weather warning (a rise fall tone is used for an attack warning). Both tones are tested on the first Wednesday of each month at 12:00 noon, unless there is a threat of severe weather. The campus severe weather warning system will be tested at the same time during the months of March through July.

Should a severe weather WARNING be issued, faculty members should instruct their students to move to the severe weather shelter area of the building. In some cases (classrooms on lower levels, with no exterior windows) it may not be necessary for the class to move. Faculty members should review their class locations against the list of shelter areas (http://www.uc.edu/techserv/), and call the Fire Prevention unit at 556-4992 if they have any questions.

OTHER EMERGENCY SITUATIONS & RESOURCES

MEDICAL EMERGENCY

Should a student or faculty member suffer a medical emergency, assistance can be summoned by calling 911. University Hospital provides paramedic service to the UC campuses, with back-up coverage from the Fire Department. Be sure to specify exactly where in the building the patient is located, and if possible, send someone to meet the paramedics at the main entrance.

THEFT

In the event that a faculty member or student is the victim of a theft (or other non-violent crime), contact the Police Department at 556-1111.

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE & VIOLENT CRIME

Unfortunately, workplace violence and violent crime does occur on university campuses, although fortunately very rarely. UC has a training program available for interested departments. For information, contact the Crime Prevention Unit at 556-4900.

In the event that a violent event were to occur elsewhere in a building while teaching class, faculty should lock the classroom door and move the students out of the line of view of the door. Contact the police by calling 911 on a campus phone, or 556-1111 on a cellular phone. Police personnel will provide further instructions on the building public address system.

Should a violent event occur in the classroom, if the suspect has fled, follow the same steps as above. If the suspect is still present, attempt to evacuate the students from the room. Call 911 as soon as possible. Be aware that 911 calls from campus phones are automatically identified, so that if you cannot talk, police officers will be sent to investigate. Unfortunately, there is no method of identifying where a cellular phone call is made, so you must be able to speak to summon assistance by cellular phone.

BOMB THREATS & SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES

If you should receive a bomb threat, a suspicious package, or locate a suspicious item, contact the Police Department immediately by calling 911 on a campus phone. UC has training and informational packages available regarding bomb threats and suspicious packages. For more information, contact the Crime Prevention Unit at 556-4900.

If you receive a bomb threat, write down exactly what was said as soon as possible. If you have a display phone, note the number the call was received from.

If you receive a suspicious package, or locate a suspicious item, do not move or open the item. Clear employees and students away from the immediate area, and lock the area. Meet the responding police officers outside.

PHONE NUMBERS & WEB SITES