Emergency Quick Guide

Reporting Emergencies

If you discover an emergency situation on the MCLA college campus:

• Call Campus Police immediately at 413-662-5100 (Extension 5100) or 911.
• Stay calm.
• Give your name, location, and emergency.
• Think - What emergency services do I need?
• Stay on the line with emergency dispatchers if safe to do so.  Answer questions and follow the instructions of emergency personnel.
  

Fire Emergency

Smoke is the greatest danger in a fire.  As you evacuate or if you are trapped, always stay near the floor where the air is less toxic.  STAY LOW!

Familiarize yourself, in advance, with fire extinguisher locations, evacuation routes/exits, and fire alarm pull stations.

• Activate the closest fire alarm pull station.
• Exit & stay low by getting down on your knees or belly if necessary.  Make your way out via the safest route and nearest exit.
• Assemble at the designated evacuation assembly point and await further instructions.

If trapped during a fire:

• Shout at regular intervals to alert emergency personnel to your location.
• Indicate your location to emergency responders by placing an article of clothing outside a window.
• Stay low near the floor where air will be less toxic.  Continue shouting.

Medical Emergency

All MCLA Campus Police Officers are certified First Responders trained in CPR/AED & First Aid.  The Campus Police Department is equipped with AEDs (Automatic External Defibrillators).

• Call Campus Police immediately at 413-662-5100 (Extension 5100) or 911.
• Serious Wound - quickly Apply direct pressure using a clean thick pad or cloth to help control bleeding.
• Lay the victim down, if possible, and safe to do so.  Elevate bleeding body parts.  Cover the person with a blanket or coat to reduce body heat loss.
• Neck, spine or back injury - DO NOT MOVE the person unless the immediate environment can cause further harm to the patient.
• Check breathing & pulse - Use middle and index fingers to feel for pulse in neck artery under the lower jaw line.
• Unresponsive - no pulse, not breathing - If you know CPR begin immediately.  Ask a bystander to call 911 to activate EMS.
• Seizure activity - clear area around patient to protect from further injury.  DO NOT place anything in patient's mouth or attempt to restrain them.

Chemical Emergency

Damage to individuals and/or to the environment can be caused by any sudden or non-sudden release of hazardous materials.  Hazardous materials can potentially encompass a wide variety of chemicals as well as human waste and other contaminates.

• Assume all unidentified substances or vapors are toxic and hazardous.
  
• Evacuate the area where the contamination has occurred immediately.  If safe to do so, seal off the area to prevent further spread of contaminate.
• Call Campus Police immediately at 413-662-5100 (Extension 5100) or 911.
• Be specific when reporting the nature, amount, and exact location of the involved material.
• Wait in a safe location for further direction and limit exposing others to the contaminate.
• Never enter/re-enter a space where a contaminate has been released.

Serious Crime or Violence

No two situations are ever alike, but in the instance of a serious crime or act of violence safeguarding lives is always paramount!

• Call Campus Police immediately at 413-662-5100 (Extension 5100) or 911 if you observe a criminal or violent act.
• Be specific when reporting the nature, location, number of people, and if there are weapons involved.
• Stay on the line with emergency dispatchers if it is safe to do so.  Answer questions and follow the instructions of emergency personnel.
  
• Remain calm and try not to panic.  Use common sense to determine whether to evacuate or shelter in place.
• Remember details - clothing description, physical characteristics, more than one suspect, etc...
• Assist emergency personnel when they arrive by supplying them with pertinent information.
• Intervention should only be considered as a life-saving last resort.

Bomb Threats

Bomb threats must be taken seriously, as well as suspicious objects or potential bombs.

If you observe a suspicious object or potential bomb on campus, DO NOT HANDLE IT! 

• Evacuate the area keeping a safe distance away from where the potential hazard is located.
  
• Notify Campus Police immediately at 413-662-5100 (Extension 5100) or 911.
• Be specific when reporting the nature, description, and location of the suspicious object or potential bomb.
• Never enter/re-enter a space where a suspicious object or potential bomb is located.

If you receive a bomb-threat call:

• Remain calm and listen carefully!
• Keep the caller on the line as long as possible.
• Notify Campus Police immediately at 413-662-5100 (Extension 5100) or 911 by having someone call from a different telephone.
• Note time of call, gender, approximate age of the caller, background noise, emotional state of the caller, speech patterns, and if possible, a caller ID number on the phone.

• Ask the following: When is the bomb going to go off?  Where is it right now?  What does it look like? What kind of bomb is it?  What will cause it to explode?  Who placed the bomb?  Why did they place the bomb there?  What is your name?  What is a telephone number I can reach you at?

Natural Disaster

Fear at the time of a disaster may breed panic, and this panic can account for more injuries than the disaster itself.  Keeping personnel and students calm is critical in preventing panic.

In the event of an earthquake:

• Shelter in place at the first sign an earthquake is happening
  
• Identify safe areas such as doorways, under sturdy furniture, and against bare walls.
• Move to those safe areas immediately.
• Stay away from windows and area underneath where objects hanging or being stored can fall.

In the event of a tornado:

• Evacuate if time allows.
  
• Shelter in place immediately if the tornado is a sudden event!
• Go to lower level areas, preferably in an interior room or hallway where there are no windows.
• Use heavy furniture for shelter if possible.
• Always follow the directions of emergency personnel.

Campus Emergency & Courtesy Phone Locations

All blue light phones labeled "EMERGENCY" connect directly to the Campus Police Emergency Line by activating the push button.

• Church Street Center - West Entrance
• Venable Hall - Exterior Quad Level
• Athletic Complex
• Ashland Street Parking Lot
  
• Bond Street/Townhouse III Parking Lot
• Amsler Campus Center Gym
  
• Berkshire Towers Main Entrance

All brown courtesy phones can be used to connect to the Campus Police Emergency Line by dialing extension 5100.

• Eldridge Hall - FL 1 - Lobby
• Freel Library - FL 1 - Basement
• Mark Hopkins - FL 1 - Vending Lobby
  
• Bowman Hall - FL 0 - Vending Lobby
• Bowman Hall - FL 1 - Quad Level
• Bowman Hall - FL 2 - Advising
• Murdock Hall - FL 0 - Computer Support
• Murdock Hall - FL 1 - Front South
• Campus Center - FL 0 - Training Room
• Campus Center - FL 1 - Marketplace
• Campus Center - FL 2 - Restrooms
• Campus Center - FL 3 - Elevator Lobby
• Church St. center - FL - Boiler Room
• Venable Hall - FL 1 - Vending
• Venable Hall - FL 2 - Mailroom
• Townhouse A - FL 0 - Laundry Room
• Townhouse H - FL 0 - Greenhouse
• Berkhsire Towers - FL 0 - Main Entrance
  

Building Evacuation Instructions

Whenever you hear the building alarm sound or are instructed to evacuate by a college official acting within the performance of their duties:

• Do not panic.
• Do not ignore the alarm or request.
• Leave the building immediately in an orderly fashion.  If you are the last person out of a room close doors (Do Not Lock) behind you.
• Do not take time to go to lockers or offices to collect personal items.
• Follow the quickest evacuation route from where you are to the nearest marked exit.  (See posted evacuation plans.)  Be familiar with alternate routes and exits.
• Do not use elevators.
• Classes, meetings, events, etc. must be dismissed for evacuation out of the building.
• Do not go back to your classroom or office for any reason.
• Proceed to the nearest evacuation assembly point  (EAP) for your building.  If the designated EAP is unsafe or blocked, proceed to an alternate assembly point via the quickest and safest route.
• Stay at the EAP until you are told by emergency personnel it is ok to leave.
• Report any knowledge regarding missing people or people still in the building to emergency personnel.
• Never go back into an evacuated building or area unless directed to do so by emergency personnel or a college official acting within the performance of their duties.
  
  
  

 CAMPUS MAP

Building Evacuation - Mobility Impaired

Any person unable to use stairs or needing assistance in evacuating a building should proceed to the nearest designated "safe room/area" or remain in the office or classroom if it is safe to do so.  Emergency personnel will check safe room/areas and other places they are notified of where someone has taken shelter.

If you are on a building floor WITHOUT exit doorways and you hear a fire alarm or ordered to evacuate:

• Go to the nearest safe room/area immediately.  Safe rooms/areas are indicated in posted evacuation plans.
• Inform a building occupant or dial the Campus Police Emergency Line at extension 5100 to alert responding emergency personnel to your location.
• Call 911 to ensure rescue personnel are notified of your presence and location inside a building.
• Tell them you need immediate assistance evacuating, your exact location (building name, floor, room number, stairwell, etc.), give the phone number you are calling from, and remain by the phone.

Emergency dispatchers have direct communication with responding personnel and may need more information from you to assist their efforts to evacuate you.

If you are on a building floor WITH exit doors and you are able to do so:

• Leave the area if it is safe to do so.
• Ask for the assistance of other building evacuees if necessary.

Shelter in Place - Active Shooter

The following are some general guidelines for sheltering in place should you find yourself a victim of or involved in an active shooter incident. 

Response to a critical incident of this nature should involve extreme caution with the primary responsibility being preservation of life.

In a classroom or office:

• Stay where you are!
• Do not go to investigate where the shooting is coming from.
• Secure the door to the classroom or office by locking it, wedging it shut, or barricading it with large objects.
• Look for other victims seeking shelter in hallways before securing the door if it is safe to do so.
• Direct someone in the room to dial 911 or extension 5100 to report the incident.
• Get out and stay out! Once the room is secure, if possible, have someone keep watch while you evacuate people out ground floor windows to the outside.  Once outside, proceed to a safe location.  Designate one person to call 911 to inform them of the incident.

If you are unable to escape the room:

• Stay away from doors, windows, stay quiet, and stay out of sight.
• Locate yourself and others away from the doors and windows where the suspect may see you.
• Move to an area of the room where there are solid walls, furnitre, or other objects that may afford you protection.
• Stay as low to the floor as possible.
• Call 911 if possible and report the incident to emergency dispatchers.
• Stay on the line with emergency dispatchers if it is safe to do so and until told otherwise.

In a hallway:

• Do not run down long hallways to seek an exit.
• Do not seek safety in a restroom that cannot be locked.
• Seek safety by finding the nearest exit or secure room, depending on what is closer.
• Get out and stay out if an exit is accessible.
• Take shelter in the nearest room and secure the door if you are unable to exit the building.  Follow the instructions noted above for classrooms or offices.