General Instructions

Building occupants are required by law to evacuate the building when the fire alarm sounds or when directed to do so by emergency responders.

Upon the sounding of a fire alarm or other evacuation alarm, all building occupants shall immediately leave the building and proceed to your emergency evacuation assembly area. Occupants will only be allowed to return when the building has been declared safe by emergency responders.

When Evacuating Your Building or Work Area:

1. Stay calm. Do not rush or panic.
2. Safely stop your work.
3. Gather your personal belongings if it is safe to do so. Take prescription medications, keys, purse, glasses, etc. with you if at all possible as it may be hours before you are allowed back into the building.
4. If safe, close your office door and window, but do not lock them.
5. Use the nearest safe stairs and proceed to the nearest exit. Do not use the elevator.
6. Proceed to the designated emergency evacuation assembly area.
7. Wait for instructions from emergency responders.
8. Do not re-enter the building or work area until you have been instructed to do so by emergency responders.

Fire Alarm Response & Evacuation Procedures

Should you encounter a fire or find significant smoke in our buildings, do the following:

1. Report the fire/smoke to emergency personnel. Find the nearest fire alarm pull station and pull the alarm. Afterwards call 911 from a safe location to confirm emergency dispatch has the alarm and provide additional details on the fire. You should always pull the fire alarm first and then call 911 so as to ensure building occupants get notice to evacuate the building.
2. Evacuate the building immediately via the nearest safe exit. If accessible but only if accessible, quickly grab important personal items such as keys, purse and wallet. It may be several hours before you may reenter the building. Do not spend time attempting to save material – your life is more important. Ensure doors close behind you but do not lock doors. Emergency personnel need access to all areas. If you encounter a good deal of smoke or fire, use your secondary exit. If a secondary exit is not available, keep low or crawl to find better air. If you encounter a closed door, stay as close to the ground as possible. Not only will you be able to see better, there is more oxygen.
3. After leaving the building, proceed to your designated evacuation assembly area.

Earthquake Procedures

1.  Remain Calm; protect yourself from falling objects and broken glass by getting under a desk or table. Face AWAY from windows. DO NOT attempt to run out of the room or building. Most earthquake injuries are from falling objects or flying glass just outside building. 
2. After an earthquake is over and it is safe to come out from under the table, carefully evacuate the building. Stay away from windows or at least when passing by large windows proceed as if they are broken and may fall inwards on you.
3. Ensure you evacuate the building after the earthquake. Natural gas or hazardous materials could be leaking and not be readily apparent to you.

Explosion/Bomb Threat Response Procedures

A suspicious-looking box, package, object or container in or near your work area may be a bomb or explosive material. Do not handle or touch the object. Move to a safe area and call 911 immediately. Use a telephone in a safe area. Do not operate any power switch and do not activate the fire alarm.

If There Is an Explosion:

1. Take cover under sturdy furniture, or leave the building if directed to do so by emergency responders.
2. Stay away from windows.
3. Do not light matches.
4. Move well away from the site of the hazard to a safe location.
5. Use stairs only; do not use elevators.

If You Receive A Bomb Threat:

1. Stay calm and try to keep your voice calm.
2. Pay close attention to details. Talk to the caller to obtain as much information as possible.
3. Take notes. Ask questions:
4. Call 911 and submit your notes from the telephone call or the bomb threat letter or note to the Police. Follow any instructions the Police give you.

If you are told by emergency responders to evacuate the building, follow the evacuation instructions  above with the following additional steps:

1. Check your work area for unfamiliar items. Do not touch suspicious items; report them to campus authorities.
2. Take personal belongings when you leave.
3. Leave doors and windows open; do not turn light switches on or off.
4. Use stairs only; do not use elevators.
5. Move well away from the building and follow instructions of emergency responders.

Fire Extinguisher Use Procedures

Should you encounter a small fire such as in a wastebasket and have access to handheld fire extinguisher use the PASS method to put out the fire:

• Pull the pin.
• Aim the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
• Squeeze the handle.
• Sweep the extinguisher from side to side. 

Gas Leak & Chemical Odor Reporting & Response

If you smell natural gas or chemical odor in buildings:

1. Call 911.
2. Cease all operations immediately.
3. Do not switch lights on or off.
4. Evacuate as soon as possible.

Lockdown or Active Shooter Reporting & Response

The following procedures for reporting and responding to an active shooter scenario are taken from UCSC’s Office of Emergency Services website.

Run (Evacuate)

If there is an accessible escape path, attempt to evacuate the premises.

• Have an escape route and plan in mind.
• Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow.
• Leave your belongings behind.
• Help others evacuate, if possible.
• Do not attempt to move wounded people.
• Keep your hands visible.
• Prevent individuals from entering an area where the active shooter may be.
• Call 9-1-1 when you are safe and provide the building number, name, floor, room, a description of the suspect, your name, and your phone number.
• Follow instructions of police officers.

Hide

If evacuation is not possible, hide in a place where the active shooter is less likely to find you.  Your hiding place should:

• Be out of the active shooter’s view.
• Provide protection if shots are fired in your direction (e.g., office with a closed and locked door).
• Not trap you or restrict your options for movement.
• Have access to a hard-wired phone, if possible.

Fight (Protect Yourself)

As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the shooter.

• Act as aggressively as possible against the shooter.
• Throw items and use improvised weapons.
• Yell.
• Commit to your actions.

If the Active Shooter is Nearby

• Lock the door.
• Silence electronic devices (e.g., cell phone, pager, radio, television).
• Block the door with heavy furniture.
• Hide behind large items (e.g., cabinets, desks) and help those that require assistance.
• Remain quiet.
• If you call 9-1-1, but cannot speak, leave the sound off, but keep the line open for dispatchers to hear what is happening.

When Law Enforcement Arrives

• Remain calm.
• Put down any items in your hands.
• Keep hands visible.
• Follow all instructions.
• Avoid making quick movements toward officers.
• If evacuating, do not stop to ask officers for help or directions.  Proceed in the direction from which officers are entering the premises.  

Lockdown

If you are ordered into lockdown, this temporary sheltering technique can limit exposure to an armed intruder or similar incident.

• Have a personal lockdown plan for your work area.  If your office door cannot be locked, find a nearby room that can be locked.
• Find an interior room with few or no windows and a door that can be locked or barricaded, as well as a hard-wired phone.
• Turn off lights and electronics (if time and safety permits).
• Silence cell phones.
• Stay away from windows.
• Do not open the door unless you are certain the person wanting access is not a threat.
• Wait until the “All Clear” is announced.