Welcome

The UK Emergency Response Guide Flip Chart is based on the University of Illinois flip chart that is distributed to all campus departments. This electronic version of a "flip chart" offers the same fast-find topical method in a modern version. Click on one of the topic headings below to see only the information for that area. Print only what is needed--whatever topic is expanded is the topic that will print. For information contact Christy Giles.

Vision Statement

The Office of Emergency Management will strive to provide a disaster-resistant university community.

Mission Statement

The mission of the UK Office of Emergency Management is to coordinate and facilitate effective campus disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery activities to minimize the impacts of emergencies on the campus community, facilities, and environment.

To Report any police, fire or medical emergency call:

From campus phone: 911

From cell phone: 911 or #UKPD (#8573)

If you dial 911 from a cell phone to report something on campus immediately tell the dispatcher that you are calling from UK Campus and they will connect you to the UK Police Dispatch Center.

In the event of a fire, activate the building's fire alarm system BEFORE calling 911. Evacuate the building immediately.

When calling 911:

• Stay on the line with the dispatcher.
• Provide the address and your exact location. This is especially critical if you are calling from a cell phone.
• Provide a detailed description of the emergency to ensure that proper resources are dispatched to the scene.
• Do not hang up until the dispatcher tells you to do so.

If you discover a fire

• R - Rescue anyone in immediate danger, if possible without endangering yourself. NEVER enter an unknown (or unfamiliar) area, especially if smoke is visible,
• A - Activate the fire alarm system: Immediately call:
  
  • From campus phone: 911
  • From cell phone*: 911 or #UKPD (#8573)
    If you dial 911 from a cell phone to report something on campus immediately tell the dispatcher that you are calling from UK Campus and they will connect you to the UK Police Dispatch Center.
• C - Confine the fire by closing doors as you leave the building,
• E - Evacuate the building and report the situation to the first arriving firemen or police. DO NOT USE ELEVATORS.
  NOTE: you are not required to extinguish a fire with a fire extinguisher and should use an extinguisher only if you have been trained and the situation does not present a personal safety hazard.
• DO NOT RE-ENTER the building until you have been instructed to do so.

When the fire alarm sounds

• FEEL THE DOOR - a "too hot to touch door" means the fire is outside the door.
• IMMEDIATELY EVACUATE the building. Go to your pre-designated area. Treat all alarms as a real emergency. Always use the exit stairs. Never use an elevator. Close the door as you leave the room.
• CRAWL should you get caught in smoke. If necessary, go to the window and signal for help.
• ASSIST A PHYSICALLY IMPAIRED PERSON TO THE CLOSEST EXIT STAIRWELL and advise emergency personnel of this condition.
• NEVER RE-ENTER THE BUILDING until fire officials give the approval.
• REPORT anyone causing a false alarm to the emergency responding personnel.

If trapped in the building:

• Close al doors and windows.
• Wet and place cloth material around and under the door to prevent smoke from entering.
• Attempt to signal people outside of the building. Call for help using a telephone or cell phone.

Watch

A tornado or severe thunderstorm watch means severe weather is possibly approaching. Remain alert for approaching storms and be prepared to seek shelter if necessary.

Warning

TORNADO and THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS mean threatening conditions are imminent or have been indicated by Doppler radar or reported by storm spotters.

If a TORNADO WARNING is issued:

• Move to your pre-designated Storm Shelter Area immediately.
• Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use arms to protect head and neck. Stay away from windows and open spaces. Stay there until the danger has passed.
• In a high-rise building, go to a small, interior room or hallway with no windows on the lowest floor possible.
• Get out of vehicles, trailers and mobile homes immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy nearby building or a storm shelter.
• If caught outside with no shelter, lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. Be aware of potential for flooding.
• Never try to outrun a tornado in a car or truck, instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter. Tornadoes are erratic and move swiftly.
• Watch out for flying debris.

After danger has passed:

• Immediately report injuries to UK Police. Call 911
• Immediately leave badly damaged buildings and do not attempt to return to the building unless directed to do so by emergency personnel.
• Do not attempt to turn utilities on or off, contact UK Physical Plant at 257-2830.

Bomb threats may be received by phone, email or letter.

If a bomb threat is received:

• Remain calm.
• If the threat was made in writing, do not handle the letter or note any more than necessary.
• Do not touch or move any unfamiliar objects.
• If your phone has caller ID, record the number displayed.
• Gain the attention of someone else nearby and point out the number you recorded and have that person call 911. This call should be made out of hearing range from the caller.
• Try to keep the caller on the phone long enough to complete the Bomb Threat Checklist
• Work with arriving emergency personnel to assist them in evaluating the threat.
• If requested, assist emergency responders with a search of the area.
• If ordered to evacuate by emergency personnel, do so in an orderly manner.

If you detect natural gas, fumes or vapors:

• Immediately call:
  From campus phone: 911
  From cell phone*: 911 or #UKPD (#8573)
  If you dial 911 from a cell phone to report something on campus immediately tell the dispatcher that you are calling from UK Campus and they will connect you to the UK Police Dispatch Center.
• Provide the location of the odor and any details available to the dispatcher.
• Clear the area immediately if instructed to do so by the emergency dispatcher, providing assistance to those with special needs.

If a building or area evacuation is ordered by emergency responders:

• Leave all ventilation systems operating unless instructed otherwise by emergency responders.
• Leave the area immediately, avoiding the used of elevators unless necessary.
• Identify those with persons with special needs and provide assistance if possible. If necessary, provide their location to emergency responders upon exiting the building.
• Report to your department's designated gathering point to be accounted for.
• Make every attempt to direct evacuation personnel away from the hazardous area. Building occupants should not return until instructed to do so.

If you are involved with or observe a hazardous material (biological, chemical, radiological, fuel or oil) spill, incident or release for which assistance is needed:

• Immediately call:
  From campus phone: 911
  From cell phone*: 911 or #UKPD (#8573)
  If you dial 911 from a cell phone to report something on campus immediately tell the dispatcher that you are calling from UK Campus and they will connect you to the UK Police Dispatch Center.
• Be prepared to provide the following information:
  
  • Building name and street address
  • Location of the incident
  • Type of material/chemical involved
  • Estimated quantity of material/chemical involved
  • If anyone is injured or exposed
  • Your name, phone number and location
• Follow instructions provided by emergency responders.
• Evacuate, if necessary. Remain in a safe area until released by emergency responders.
• If you come in contact with spilled material, immediately remove clothing and flush area with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes. Use a safety shower if possible.

Do not attempt to clean up a spill or release unless you are trained to do so and have the proper equipment.

If you are notified of a hazardous materials incident:

• Follow instructions provided by emergency responders.
• Evacuate the area if instructed to do so, providing assistance to those with special needs.

If you see what you believe to be an unauthorized release/disposal of any pollutants to the environment, call UK Police at 257-1616.

Related Links

• Chemical spills
• Biological spills

In the event of a utility outage, immediately call UK Physical Plant - 257-2830.

Be prepared

• Keep a flashlight with spare batteries immediately accessible.
• Know how to locate the closest exit.

Many campus facilities are equipped with emergency generators to power critical operations. Most buildings are provided with emergency lighting to aid in the safe evacuation of the building.

In the event of a large scale utility outage

• Remain calm.
• Do not light candles or other types of flames for lighting.
• If building evacuation becomes necessary, seek out persons with special needs and provide assistance if possible. If additional assistance is needed, call 911.
• Secure all vital equipment, records, experiments and hazardous materials if safe to do so. Store all chemicals in their original or marked containers and fully open all fume hoods. If this is not possible, or natural ventilation is not adequate, evacuate the area until power is restored.

If someone is trapped in an elevator, call UK Physical Plant - 257-3844

• If you are able to communicate with the trapped individual(s), let them know help is on the way.
• Provide specific location information and number of individuals involved to the dispatcher.
• If safe to do so, stay near the passengers if safe to do so, until emergency responders are on site and the elevator is identified.

Civil disturbances include riots, demonstrations, threatening individuals or assemblies that have become disruptive.

If you observe such disturbances

• Call 911.
• Provide the address, location and any details available to the dispatcher.
• Do not provoke or become part of the disturbance.
• Secure your work area, log off computers and secure sensitive files, if safe to do so.
• Remain inside and away from doors and windows if the disturbance is outside.

Workplace violence may take the form of various types of personal assaults. These may include weapons such as knives or handguns. The only warning you might receive during such an incident is the sound of gunfire, scuffling or other employees yelling a warning.

Never put yourself in harms way!

If you hear GUNFIRE

• Seek refuge immediately.
  
  • Choose an area that can be locked or secured from the inside if possible.
  • Select a room without windows.
  • Hide behind a desk, under a table, in a closet or bathroom.
• Remain still and quiet until you have been advised by emergency personnel that the situation is under control.
• If a phone is available in the area you are using for refuge, call 911 and report your location and the situation. If it is safe to do so, remain on the line and provide the dispatcher with as much information as possible.

EXPLOSION/BOMB

• Evacuate the building.
• Immediately call:
  From campus phone: 911
  From cell phone*: 911 or #UKPD (#8573)
  If you dial 911 from a cell phone to report something on campus immediately tell the dispatcher that you are calling from UK Campus and they will connect you to the UK Police Dispatch Center.
• Inform dispatchers of the situation and as much information as possible.

HOSTAGE SITUATION

• Evacuate the building.
• Immediately call:
  From campus phone: 911
  From cell phone*: 911 or #UKPD (#8573)
  If you dial 911 from a cell phone to report something on campus immediately tell the dispatcher that you are calling from UK Campus and they will connect you to the UK Police Dispatch Center.
• Take no action to intervene with the hostage taker.

PHYSICAL THREAT

• Evacuate the building.
• Immediately call:
  From campus phone: 911
  From cell phone*: 911 or #UKPD (#8573)
  If you dial 911 from a cell phone to report something on campus immediately tell the dispatcher that you are calling from UK Campus and they will connect you to the UK Police Dispatch Center.

Immediately call:
From campus phone: 911
From cell phone*: 911 or #UKPD (#8573)
If you dial 911 from a cell phone to report something on campus immediately tell the dispatcher that you are calling from UK Campus and they will connect you to the UK Police Dispatch Center.

If you suspect a head or spinal injury, DO NOT MOVE the victim unless there is an immediate life-threatening emergency.

• Provide the 911 Dispatcher with the following information:
  
  • Type of emergency
  • Location of the victim
  • Condition of the victim
  • Any dangerous conditions
• Render first-aid or CPR only if you are trained to do so.
• Do not leave the injured person except to summon help.
• Comfort the victim until emergency medical services arrive.
• Have someone stand outside the building to flag down the ambulance when it reaches the vicinity.
• If you are exposed to another person's body fluids, wash the exposed area and contact your supervisor or the Department of Environmental Health and Safety at 257-3827

If you receive or discover a suspicious package or device:

DO NOT TOUCH IT, TAMPER WITH IT, OR MOVE IT!

• Immediately call:
  From campus phone: 911
  From cell phone*: 911 or #UKPD (#8573)
  If you dial 911 from a cell phone to report something on campus immediately tell the dispatcher that you are calling from UK Campus and they will connect you to the UK Police Dispatch Center.

*Do not use a cell phone within 300 feet of the suspicious package.

What constitutes a suspicious letter or package?

• Is unexpected or from someone unfamiliar to you.
• Exhibits powdery substance on the outside of the package or letter.
• Has no return address or one that cannot be verified as legitimate.
• Is marked with restrictive endorsements such as "Personal" or "Confidential".
• Has excessive postage, handwritten or poorly typed address, incorrect titles or titles with no name, or misspellings of common words.
• Contains protruding wires, strange odors or stains.
• Shipped with an unusual amount of tape.
• Has an unusual weight, given the size, or is lopsided or oddly shaped.

What to do if you receive a suspicious package or parcel:

• DO NOT OPEN!
• Handle with care. Do not shake or bump.
• Isolate the package or parcel immediately.
• Immediately call:
  From campus phone: 911
  From cell phone*: 911 or #UKPD (#8573)
  If you dial 911 from a cell phone to report something on campus immediately tell the dispatcher that you are calling from UK Campus and they will connect you to the UK Police Dispatch Center.

If you open a parcel that appears to be contaminated:

• Do not move the parcel.
• Call 911
• Turn off fans, window air conditioners or space heaters.
• Isolate the area. Evacuate the adjoining areas.
• Anyone in contact with the parcel should remain isolated in an area adjacent to the original location and wait for additional instructions from emergency responders.