Safety and Security Policies and Procedures

Fire/Evacuation Procedure

This procedure is designed to ensure faculty, staff, and students are aware and familiar with the campus procedures for fire and other campus building evacuations.

Fire Disaster Plan
Baptist University will use the RACE acronym as our fire emergency procedure.

R.A.C.E. = Rescue, Alarm, Confine and Extinguish / Evacuate
R - Rescue - Rescue anyone in immediate danger. Quickly tell others in the fire area. Do this in a calm, but firm manner. Do not cause panic.
A - Alarm - Sound the ALARM. Once in a safe location, provide Security with the location of the fire.
C - Confine - Confine the fire. Close all doors and windows to prevent the spread of smoke and flames.
E - Evacuate or extinguish - Evacuate the building. The priority is to evacuate for your safety.

Fire Reporting and Evacuation
1. When a pull station is activated, the alarm will sound throughout the building. All occupants will evacuate. This will be the predominant means of reporting a fire.
2. When the alarm sounds, all occupants are to leave their areas via the nearest stairwells, walk down the stairs, and evacuate the building. After evacuating the building, all students, faculty, and staff members shall assemble in the designated assembly areas for the various buildings and maintain a safe distance from the building and away from safety and emergency response personnel.
3. The University Information Center, event Incident Commander, or highest level administrator on site will be responsible for the following:

• Ensure that the fire department (458-3311 or 911) has been called
• Ensure that the proper access to the fire area is provided to the Fire Department, and
• Ensure that as many Facility Services personnel as necessary are available to assist the Fire Department in control of the different operational features of the building.

Automatic Elevators:
• Upon activation of the fire alarm system, the elevators will automatically go to the first floor.
• Security will stand by the elevator and operate them for the Fire Department.

In the event of a fire:
• Do not panic
• Know how to activate the fire alarm
• Know the location of fire exits
• Do not use the elevators

If there is smoke and heat, stay close to the floor
What to do if trapped by fire:
• Go to the door and feel the door before opening it. If it is hot, do not open it.
• If the door is not hot to the touch, open it slowly, cautiously, and proceed to the exit.
• If you are trapped by fire, get as many doors closed between you and the fire as possible.
• If smoke enters the area in which you are trapped, stuff towels, clothing, or other materials under and around doors to keep the smoke out. (Wet them if possible) SMOKE is the biggest killer in a fire.
• Stay low to the floor. That is where the fresh air will be.
• If you leave the area, stay very low to the floor and feel your way along the floor to the nearest exit.

Evacuation and Relocation
The order to evacuate a University building for an emergency will come from the President or her designee. In the event of a fire, coordination will occur with the Memphis Fire Department. Evacuation plans are posted on each floor in all campus buildings. In the event of an alarm or notice to evacuate, students and staff are to assemble in a designated area outside the area of danger.

• Campus Hub Building - northwest corner of Monroe Lot (intersection of Madison and Pauline)
• Annex - same as for Campus Hub Building
• Health Sciences Building - from rear of the building: rear of parking lot: from street entrance: parking lot by Landau Uniform Co.
• Nursing Building: parking lot at the northeast end of the building (toward the expressway)
• BUCOM Building: southeast end of the parking lot near Hospital Wing
• Collaboration Building: corner of Monroe and Dudley St.

Evacuation is to be immediate and complete. If the building cannot be reoccupied, students, employees and staff should proceed to the nearest unaffected University building as directed by the President or her designee.

A determination for closing University buildings will be made by the President or her designee in collaboration with appropriate civil officials. If the closing determination is made during non-business hours, notification will occur through implementation of the University Call Tree, including media notification, Omnilert, and email.

Shelter In Place Procedure

This information is designed to ensure that faculty, staff, and students are aware of and familiar with the campus procedures for shelter-in-place events.

The following events are considered Shelter In Place events:

• Severe Weather (Tornado, Storm Warning)
• Hazard Material spill Shelter In Place Action Plan

1. Once notified, move quickly to the designated safe shelter locations in the building.
2. The room you shelter must be innermost and not have windows.
3. Once sheltered, remain there until an all-clear has been given by the President or her designee.
4. Guests and visitors are recommended to remain and not leave during a shelter-in-place event.

Report to the following areas:

• Campus Hub – Interior classrooms without glass panels (Room 101, 103),
  • Annex Building – Interior hallway,
  • Science/CCE Building – Basement, or
  • Nursing Building- Interior rooms and Room 147,
  • Collaboration Building –1^st Floor 2^nd Hallway All-Clear Announcement
  • BUCOM Building- 1-104A and 1-104B and the ONMM Lab

All building occupants are to remain at the shelter location until the all clear is provided and the area is deemed safe by incident leads. Based on the type of event, sheltering may be extended. The University President or her designee shall make the determination and announce the All-Clear

This information is designed to ensure faculty, staff, and students are aware and familiar with the campus procedures for an earthquake. 

During the Quake:

• If you are indoors, REMAIN CALM to be better able to assess the situation. Stay there - Get under a desk or table or stand in a doorway.  Stay clear of windows, bookcases, mirrors and fireplaces.  If you happen to be in a kitchen, turn off the stove at first sign of shaking—then take cover under a table or in a doorway.
• If You Are Outside - Get into the open, away from buildings, trees, walls, or power lines.
• If In A Crowded Public Place - Do not rush for the exits – other people will have the same idea.  Remain calm and seek shelter from falling debris. • If You Are In Your Car - Pull to the side of the road away from overpasses, bridges or power lines.  Stay in your car and turn on the radio. 

After the Quake - Remain CALM:

• Prepare for possible aftershocks.  Stop and take time to think.  Become a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.  Assess your situation.
• Check for injuries:  If anyone has stopped breathing, give mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing.  Provide emergency first aid as needed.  Do not try to move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury.  Cover the injured with blankets to keep them warm.
• Put on heavy shoes and work gloves, if available, and then check your immediate area for safety. Check for fires, fire hazards, or other household hazards (spilled chemicals, medicines, flammable liquids, etc.)  Check gas, water, and electrical lines and check appliances for damage.  If you smell gas, see a broken line or if a water line has broken, report it immediately.  
• Open windows and leave as soon as a search for damage is completed. Do not search for gas leaks with a lighted match.  Do not use electrical switches or appliances if gas leaks are suspected – sparks can ignite gas from broken lines.  Do not switch on the gas or electrical wiring of any kind.  Check to see that sewage lines are intact before using the toilet.  Plug the bathtub and sink drains to prevent sewage backup. Check for cracks, particularly the chimneys or masonry walls.  Check closets and cupboards.  Open doors carefully and watch out for objects that may fall from shelves.   Replace telephone handsets that may have been shaken off.  
• Do not use the telephone unless there is a life or death emergency. Do not use your vehicle unless there is an emergency. Streets and roads may be impassable for travel. Keep streets clear for the passage of emergency vehicles. Check food and water supplies.  Do not eat or drink anything from opened containers near shattered glass.  If water is cut off, use stored emergency water supplies or water found in toilet tanks (not the bowl), water heaters, or melted ice cubes.
• Turn on your battery-powered radio or car radio for damage reports and information.  Know your Emergency Broadcast System radio stations. Practice strict sanitation and keep fingers out of the mouth.  If there is a limited supply of water, the possibility of infection or increased health hazards are high. Be prepared for aftershocks.  They are sometimes weaker than the main shock, but can cause additional damage.
• Cooperate with public safety officials.  Be prepared to evacuate when necessary. Adapted from information provided by the Memphis and Shelby County Emergency Management Agency. For More Information…. Contact the Memphis and Shelby County Emergency Management Agency at 528-2780. 

If the shooter is outside the building:

• Turn off all lights, close blinds, close and lock the doors.
• If you can do so safely, get all students and employees on the floor and out of the line of fire and sight.
• Move to a core area of the building if safe to do so and remain until the "ALL CLEAR" is given by Law Enforcement or Security Patrolman.
• If the staff or students do not recognize the voice that is giving the "ALL CLEAR," they should not change status.
• Unknown or unfamiliar voices may be false and designed to give false assurances.

If the shooter is inside the building:

• If it is possible to flee the area safely and avoid danger, do so.
• Contact 911 and emergency number at front desk 572-2911 with the location if possible using your cell phone or any phone available.
• Silence cell phones.
• If flight is impossible, lock all doors and windows, securing yourself in your space out of the line of sight and fire.
• Get down on the floor or under a desk and remain silent out of the line of sight of a window or door window.
• Get students and employees on the floor and out of the line of fire/sight
• Wait for the "ALL CLEAR" instruction, only from Law Enforcement or Security Patrolman.
   

If the shooter comes into your class or office:

There is NO ONE PROTOCOL that authorities recommend in this situation.

Attempt to get the word out to other staff if possible, and call 911 and the emergency number 572-2911 if it is practical.

• Use common sense. If hiding or flight is impossible, negotiation may be the only counter measure.
• Attempting to overcome the subject with force is A LAST RESORT that should only be initiated in the most extreme circumstances.
• Remember, there may be more than one active shooter.
• Wait for the "ALL CLEAR" signal from the proper authorities.
• In case you are able to flee, do not go to the normal gathering site for other drills, run as far and fast as you can away from the target building.

Bomb Threat Response Procedure

1. Receiving a threatening phone call
   A. Take a message.
   B. Keep the caller on the line as long as possible. Ask him to repeat the message. Record every word spoken by the person.
2. If the caller does not indicate the location of the bomb or the time of possible detonation, you should ask him for this information.
3. Inform the caller that the building is occupied and detonation of a bomb could result in death or serious injury to many innocent people.
4. Be alert for distinguishing background noises such as traffic, music, voices, aircraft, church bells, etc.
5. Note distinguishing voice characteristics (sex, voice, quality, impediments).
6. Note if caller indicates knowledge of the University by their description of locations. Lead him on; kill time; learn if he is at all knowledgeable of the University.
7. Complete a “Bomb Threat Call” form while you are on the phone or as soon as the party hangs up.
8. Notify the Information Center:
   (Do not use a cell phone or a radio [“walkie-talkie”]). Communicate only through the use of hard-wired phones.
   A. Immediately phone 22468 and state that you have received a bomb threat so that Security and Maintenance/Operations are notified. The University Information Center dispatcher will immediately call 911 to notify MPD, then Security and Maintenance Operations.
   B. Supply the details and follow instructions.
   C. Based on the situation, evacuation of the building may be warranted. Initiate an orderly evacuation of the building using the University evacuation procedures. DO NOT pull the fire alarm as a form of communicating the evacuation.
   D. All evacuated persons should move 600 to 2000 feet from the building.
   Follow the instructions below if a suspicious item is delivered or located:
   E. Do not touch or disturb item regardless of how harmless or innocent it may appear.
   F. Clear the immediate area.
   G. Notify the University Information Center (22468), which will immediately notify Security and University Administration.
   H. Isolate the object. The bomb squad will decide on how to handle the object.

All incoming calls from emergency agencies will be handled by University Information Center personnel (22468).

Department of Homeland Security recommends using the Bomb Threat Checklist. See appendix.

Action to take immediately after the call:

1. Notify the Memphis Police Department, Security, Maintenance/Operations.
2. Talk to no one about the call other than as instructed by Security.

Campus Safety and Security Reporting

Emergency Operations Plan

Business Continuity Plan

Safety and Health Management Plan

College & University Security/Crime Information

• Campus Crime Statistics