Campus Safety Instructions

Safety Plan | Campus Security

Emergencies can occur at any time and without warning. The safety and security of every individual on The North Greenville University campuses is always the primary concern of Campus Security, Student Engagement and the University. It is unlikely, and we continually pray that we do not experience a disaster at North Greenville University; however, we must be prepared.  

 

Alerts

Blackboard Phone Alerts

In the event of an emergency, Student Engagement will send out alerts through the Blackboard System sending phone calls and text messages to every cell phone listed in the University Blackboard System and a telephone call to every landline telephone. 

NGU Home Website Page

In the event of an emergency or special campus/university notifications, the Office of University Marketing will publish alerts on the home webpage for North Greenville  University. Also, emails will be sent to all University registered emails with notifications and updates.

Campus-wide Alarm Sound Identification

North Greenville has several different warning systems in place to alert students, faculty, and staff to different problems on campus. One system is the warning siren located on the Campus Security office. There are two different patterns for the siren. First is a continuous sound and second is an alternating sound. When the alarm is a continuous siren sound: take cover inside the building. When the alarm is an alternating siren sound: evacuate the building.

General Instructions

• Remain calm.
• Be aware of what the problem is; what has caused the Safety Plan to be initiated so that you will know how to respond.
• Be informed and prepared before an emergency or disaster occurs.
• Follow the instructions of the person(s) in charge.
• When calling Campus Security or 911:
  • Speak calmly and clearly so that you are understood
  • Give your name, telephone number and location
  • The exact location of the emergency or problem
  • The nature and scope of the emergency or problem:
    • What is the problem?
    • Are there any injuries?
    • How many injuries?
• Do not hang up the phone until told to do so by the person you are talking to. Note: If you receive a busy signal and are not able to talk with someone in Campus Security, keep trying until you are able to talk to someone in Campus Security.
• When exiting or evacuating a building or area, be careful of other people, not to push them down, step on them or push other people onto fallen or disabled people.

 

Responsibilities of Faculty, Resident Assistants & Supervisors

In the case of an Evacuation Alert:

• Select one or two persons to lead others safely out of the building.
• You are responsible for assigning two individuals per disabled person during evacuation.
• You should check any adjoining areas, such as restrooms or supposedly vacant rooms, to be sure that all persons are notified to evacuate.
• You should be the last individual(s) to leave the building.
• When everyone has safely evacuated the building, systematically sweep and check to see that everyone is accounted for.
• If there are two people searching the building, coordinate the search efforts. If someone is unaccounted for, alert Campus Security immediately, and if the person is a student also inform Student Engagement immediately after notifying Campus Security.
• All students and personnel must operate on the buddy system to make sure all facilities are evacuated.
• Do not go into any building after it has been evacuated until the all clear has been given by the fire department or Campus Security.
• Safety drills are planned each semester by Student Engagement. Both announced and unannounced drills will occur.
• Failure to evacuate the residence hall during a drill will result in disciplinary action by student services.

If the alert is to stay in the building:

• Make sure that all people are moved to the safest part of the building as noted in the tornado section of this plan.
• You are responsible for assigning two individuals per disabled person during relocation to a safer part of the building. Note: A list of the safest part of each building is found under the tornado section of this Security Plan.
• If the building is to be locked down, make sure all doors are locked and barricaded. Instruct people to be on the floor and away from windows. Lights should be turned off.
• Do not move out of the building unless instructed to do so by Campus Security or local law enforcement.

 

Evacuation Meeting Points on Campus

The following places are central meeting places if a building evacuation is ordered. If a building evacuation is ordered, go immediately to the central meeting place closest to the evacuated building. Do not go anywhere other than the Evacuation Meeting Point. Go immediately! Then, identify yourself to the person in charge of the building (faculty, Resident Assistant or supervisor) to insure that everyone has safely evacuated the building and no one is missing.

• The field in front of the Tingle Student Center at least 200 feet from the building.
• The tennis courts parking lot next to the gym.
• The practice football field at the football stadium.
• The parking lot next to the McCormick House.
• The baseball field.

 

Safe Shelters

The following places are locations that people outside in the open or in unsafe places can move to if conditions permit.

• The Student Center; away from the windows.
• Underneath the Library in Brissie, in the classrooms.
• Bottom of Neves, Neves 101 and 102
• Bottom of the Crain Science Building
• Bottom floor of Foster Education Building

 

In Case of Fire

Fires are unpredictable, fast and the smoke from the flames and burning of many different types of material that are burned is toxic and deadly. Your safety and the safety of others comes first and foremost.

• Sound the building fire alarm.
  • Call 9-911 from a campus telephone or 911 from any other telephone. Campus Security can activate a campus-wide alarm if necessary.
  • Call Campus Security at 7777 from a campus telephone or 977.7777 from any other telephone.
• Identify the Fire Exit nearest your classroom, office or residence hall room.
• Leave the building quickly and in an orderly fashion. Do not stop or go back for personal belongings. Do not use the elevator. Use the stairs. Do not lock doors while leaving the building.
• Smoke is the most toxic part of a fire, stay close to the floor.
• Assemble at one of the Evacuation Meeting Points listed earlier. Keep out of the way of firemen and police. Remain outside the building. After evacuating, stay with your co-workers/classmates so that Resident Assistants, Supervisors, and Faculty can determine if the building has been safely and completely evacuated.
• Notify Campus Security on the scene if you suspect someone may still be in the building.
• Do not re-enter a building unless the all clear has been issued by the fire department or Campus Security.
• If you become trapped in the building: DO NOT PANIC!
  • Contact Campus Security by using your cell phone.
  • Put an article of clothing large enough to hang outside the window and into the room to mark your location for emergency personnel.
  • If the room has no windows, stay close to the ground; shout out loudly to attract the attention of emergency workers.  
• Note: If a fire appears to be controllable, first call Campus Security, then alert everyone to the fire, finally, use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. In using a fire extinguisher, follow the P.A.S.S. instructional system for operating the extinguisher.

P. Pull out the pin located at the top of the extinguisher
A. Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
S. Squeeze the handle to discharge the fire extinguishing chemical while holding the canister upright.
S. Sweep, use a sweeping motion of the nozzle, form side to side, while continuing to aim at the base of the fire to gain the best effect in discharging the chemicals.

 

Violent Crime or Hostage Situation

• If possible, remove yourself and others from harm. If it is not possible to remove yourself from the situation, then hide yourself in a room and lock the door if possible.
• Do not attempt to confront, apprehend or interfere with the criminal except in case of self protection.
• Notify Campus Security by dialing 7777 from a campus telephone or 977.7777 from any other telephone immediately. Give them your exact location and the location of the suspect(s) including building and classroom. Write down the features such as height, weight, sex, race, clothing, age and name of the person(s) you observed. Then immediately communicate this information to Campus Security. Notify Campus Security with this information when you are talking to them. Also inform Campus Security of any injuries.
• Campus Security is to secure buildings and grounds and alert proper civil officials immediately.
• Do not try to look or peek out windows or doors to see what is happening.
• Do not leave your safe place unless instructed to do so by Campus Security or local law enforcement. Follow their instructions completely.

 

Sexual Assault & Other Sensitive Crimes

• Try to be as calm as possible. This will help you to think more clearly.
• Go to a safe place.
• Preserve all physical evidence. This includes; NOT taking a bath or shower, NOT brushing your teeth, NOT cleaning your fingernails, NOT changing your clothes. Clean and fresh clothes will be brought or given to you after evidence is collected.
• Call Campus Security at 7777 from a campus telephone or 977.7777 from any other telephone.
• Take time to write down, or describe to someone who writes down what you describe, an accurate description of the assailant. Note features as height, weight, sex, race, clothing, age and name, if known.

 

Medical Emergencies

• Do not move a seriously injured person unless it is a life-threatening situation.
• If you feel you must have immediate help, and it is severe enough that you need EMS dial 9-911 from a campus telephone or 911 from any other telephone. Also, notify Campus Security by dialing 7777 from a campus telephone or 977.7777 from any other telephone.
• If it is not an immediate medical necessity, call Campus Security and Campus Security will obtain medical help for the person(s) sick or injured. This includes but is not limited to: sprains, insect bites, scrapes, minor burns, splinters, small cuts and puncture wounds, etc.
• Relay important information to Campus Security, such as: exact location, your name, the telephone number you are calling from, name of person injured, type of injury, and extent of injury.
• Do not touch or come in contact with blood or any other bodily fluid because of the possibility of blood borne pathogens unless you are wearing protective gear such as surgical gloves.
• Stay with the person and reassure them of your presence and tell them that help will soon be with them to look after them.
• Note: Campus Security will notify University officials if the emergency is of a serious nature.

 

Hazardous Materials

Chemical Spills or Chemical Reactions that Produce Deadly Gases

If the identity of a chemical spill or leak is unknown, treat the spill or leak as toxic material. Treat the spill or leak as representing a danger to you and others. The following steps should be taken:

• Do not attempt to confine or stop the spill or leak. Avoid contact with skin, eyes and clothing. Do not breathe the fumes and vapors. Avoid shutting the doors to the room.
• Sound the building fire alarm so evacuation can begin. Inform people as to the reason the alarm has been sounded.
• Call Campus Security at 7777 from a campus telephone or 977.7777 from any other telephone so that appropriate action can be taken. Campus Security can activate a campus-wide alert if necessary.
• Do not walk through or stand in smoke clouds. Do not breathe the vapors or fumes.
• Assemble at one of the Evacuation Meeting Points listed earlier. After evacuating, stay with your co-workers/classmates so that Resident Assistants, Supervisors, and Faculty can determine if the building has been safely and completely evacuated.
• Call 9-911 from a campus telephone or 911 from any other telephone, giving your name and location if you can not reach Campus Security or requested to do so by Campus Security.
• Do not re-enter a building or return to the area unless the all clear has been issued by the fire department or Campus Security.

Hazardous Gas Leaks

If a gas cylinder or storage tank is suspected of leaking or there is a suspicious odor,do not attempt to discover where the leak or odor is. Do not attempt to stop the leakunless you are the supervisor responsible for the container. Your safety and thesafety of others is paramount. The following steps should be taken:

• Sound the building fire alarm so evacuation can begin.
• Call Campus Security at 7777 from a campus telephone or 977.7777 from any other telephone so that appropriate action can be taken. Campus Security can activate a campus-wide alert if necessary.
• Do not walk through or stand in smoke clouds. Do not breathe the vapors or fumes.
• Assemble at one of the Evacuation Meeting Points listed earlier. After evacuating, stay with your co-workers/classmates so that Resident Assistants, Supervisors, and Faculty can determine if the building has been safely and completely evacuated.
• Call 9-911 from a campus telephone or 911 from any other telephone, giving your name and location if you can not reach Campus Security or you are requested to do so by Campus Security.
• Do not re-enter a building or return to the area unless the all clear has been issued by the fire department or Campus Security.

Bomb Threats

Most bomb threats turn out to be false. For the safety and welfare of everyone, Campus Security will not ignore or treat lightly any threat. Each threat is assumed to constitute a clear and present danger to the people on campus and to the campus. If you see something that looks like a bomb or a suspicious package, DO NOT TOUCH IT! MOVE AWAY FROM THE AREA, MOVE OTHER PEOPLE AWAY AND CALL CAMPUS SECURITY. DO NOT USE ANY CELL PHONE OR TWO-WAY RADIO DEVICES.

• Notify Campus Security concerning any suspicious package or any threat received by phone, mail, e-mail, text message or any other means.
• If conditions permit, a quiet search will be made without alarming faculty, students, staff and visitors by Campus Security.
• If the threat appears credible, evacuate the building and area by quietly asking people to leave or by sounding the fire alarm.
• Campus Security will contact local law enforcement and secure the area.
• Movement on campus and access by other people is limited. I.D. cards are to be displayed by all people.
• Do not re-enter an area or building unless the all clear is given by local law enforcement or Campus Security.

 

Civil Disturbance

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

• Any person who sees a civil disturbance or becomes aware of the possibility or planning of a civil disturbance must contact Campus Security.
• Avoid provoking or obstructing demonstrators. Leave the area of the disturbance.
• If you are not in the area, do not go to the area to see what is happening. Avoid the area.
• Close and lock all doors, especially external doors, but do not lock doors to prohibit emergency exits. Close windows and blinds.
• Attempt to continue your normal daily schedule and routine.
• Follow all verbal instructions and commands of Campus Security and local law enforcement.

 

Tornadoes & Severe Weather

Weather Terminology:

• Tornado Watch: Tornadoes and thunderstorms are possible.
• Tornado Warning: A tornado has been spotted in the area.

If a tornado is sighted or severe weather is approaching the campus, the following action should be taken:

• Notify Campus Security at 7777 from a campus telephone or 977.7777 from any other telephone. Campus Security will activate the campus-wide alarm, if necessary.
• If time permits, go to the basement or interior hallway on the lowest floor. Shut the doors of the dorm rooms or other rooms that lead to the hallway.
• If time does not permit, get into the safest area of your classroom/room/office away from windows and doors.
• If you are staying in the hall of a building, close the doors along the hallway.
• Stay clear of auditoriums, gymnasiums or other structures with wide, free-span roofs.
• Take shelter underneath your desk or any heavy furniture.
• Assume a curled position to protect your head and eyes.
• Stay inside until the fire department or Campus Security has cleared the building for you to leave.

 

Safe Locations in Campus Buildings

NOTE: the Blackboard code for each building is in parenthesis after the name of the building.

Beginning January 2, 2008 North Greenville University implemented the use of an emergency phone alert system. The University uses Blackboard Connect. This system will allow Campus Security to send an emergency message to all cell-phones, computer screens, and wireless enabled PDAs listed in the system. In the event that a situation arises, the Vice-President of Student Engagement, the Chief of Campus Security or The Director of Student Engagement will authorize the activation of the Blackboard Connect system.