Fires, explosions, bomb threats and chemical spills are among the occurrences that may require emergency evacuation of university facilities. Continuous sound and flashing of fire alarm horns and strobes in any university owned, leased or operated facility is the evacuation signal. Everyone who is alerted by this alarm is required to evacuate the facility as quickly and as calmly as possible.
EVACUATION PROCEDURE
The university requires that all facility occupants respond to the alarm signal by immediately initiating the evacuation procedures outlined below:
- Stop all activities immediately. Complete the internal departmental or class procedures that have been determined to be essential prior to emergency evacuation.
- Assess that all persons can evacuate the area. Department safety wardens, supervisors, laboratory managers and instructors are required to assure that everyone, including individuals with mobility limitations, have evacuated their area. Help those in such need. Note: Evacuation plans for persons with disabilities must be made part of each building’s documented emergency evacuation plan.
- Follow EXIT signs to the nearest safe exit, but do not use elevators! Special care should be taken with some footwear, such as clogs, that could hamper rapid and safe descent.
- Use the stairs. Never use the elevator. Walk briskly, but do not run. Stay on the right in order to allow emergency response personnel clear access up the stairs, along the left side.
- Allow others to enter the stairwell. As you approach the landing of each floor, allow evacuees from that level to enter the stairwell.
- Steer clear of hazards. If evacuation becomes difficult via a chosen route, because of smoke, flames or blockage, re-enter the facility on a safe floor. Continue evacuation via the nearest safe exit route.
- If the smoke enters the room, block the cracks indoors with rags or damp clothes and ask for help through windows or by telephone.
- If there is smoke, cover your mouth and nose with a wet cottoned piece of cloth.
- Crawling low under the smoke is important because smoke rises and the temperature is higher at the top of the room.
- If your clothes catch fire, do not run, stop, droll and roll.
- Cover injured or burned people with big clothes and wait for the arrival of emergency medical services.
- Never come back to pick up personal items (only in case of a bomb menace).
- Move away from the building. Once you have exited the facility, move at least 200m away from the building and exit doors. Proceed to your Evacuation Assembly Point (PRE).
- Do not re-enter the building without an “all clear”. Do not, under any circumstances, re-enter the facility unless authorized by a fire department personnel or until a recognized university authority (Jefe de Emergencia) broadcasts the "all clear" message.
No one is expected to endanger him/herself in order to control a hazard or to effect or assist with evacuation of others, but everyone has a duty to ensure that other occupants are aware of an emergency.
In facilities without alarm systems, all persons must leave whenever it becomes clear that an emergency exists which necessitates evacuation for the protection safety and well-being of the occupants.
Similarly, it is expected that individuals will aid anyone who requires physical assistance to safely evacuate.
In many buildings of the UCLM, you can find posters with these rules of action.