The Fire Safety Report Explained

Evacuation Procedures

Evacuation Procedures

  • Do not panic; stay as calm as possible. You will need to think clearly to make the right decisions.
  • Take your keys and student ID with you. Take small personal items (your backpack, briefcase, purse, etc.), if you have time.
  • Feel the door knob with the back of your hand or palm to test for heat.
  • If the door is cool, brace yourself against it, and open it slowly to check for flames and/or smoke.
  • If there is smoke in the air, stay low and move quickly in a crouched position or crawl to the nearest exit.   The most breathable air is always near the floor. If one exit is blocked, try the next nearest exit.
  • Leave room door closed.
  • Alert others by shouting or knocking on doors as you make your way to the stairs.
  • Always escape via stairs – never use the elevators
  • Stay together at a safe distance (300 to 500 feet, upwind) from the building until Campus Safety advises you can return to the building.
  • Failure to evacuate a building is taken very seriously by the College Housing and could result in disciplinary action.

If You Are Trapped Or Unable To Exit:

  • Stay calm and take steps to protect yourself.
  • Close the room door(s).
  • Put cloth at the bottom of the door(s).
  • Call 911 (9-911from a campus phone) and stay on the line and state your location.
  • If possible, move to a room with an outside window.
  • Stay where rescuers can see you through the window and wave a light-colored item to attract their attention.
  • If possible open the window at the top and bottom. Be ready to shut the window quickly if smoke rushes in.
  • Be patient. The rescue of occupants of large structures could take time.                                                                                             

There are fire extinguishers located on every floor as well as in the main office of each residence hall. Please take time to familiarize yourself with the locations of fire exits, fire extinguishers, and pull-alarm stations in your residence hall.

Tampering with fire extinguishers can leave you and others unprotected in case of a fire. Please remember, false alarms could reduce the response of residents when a fire occurs. If hall residents cannot trust the legitimacy of the fire alarm, they may find themselves trapped by fire in a real emergency. Abuse of fire equipment, false alarms, and arson are serious crimes.  Violators are subject to fines, College disciplinary procedures, and criminal prosecution.