In the event of a fire or other emergency a report should be made immediately by calling the Public Safety Department at x4444 from an on-campus telephone or 610-519-4444 from a non-university telephone. This report should include the location and nature of the emergency. Once the emergency has been reported, the Public Safety Department will initiate the emergency actions required to address the particular emergency.
A visible fire or the presence of smoke provides sufficient cause to evacuate a building. In the event of a fire or hazardous materials emergency within a campus building, it is necessary, as well as safest for occupants to evacuate. University policy calls for total evacuation of the building or area affected.
A fire or hazardous materials emergency exists whenever:
- A building fire evacuation alarm is sounding
- An uncontrolled fire or imminent fire hazard occurs in any building or area of campus
- There is the presence of smoke, or the odor of burning
- There is abnormal spontaneous or abnormal heating of any material
- There is an uncontrolled release of combustible or toxic gas or other hazardous material, or a flammable liquid spill.
To Survive a Building Fire
- Activat the Building Fire Alarm If It Is Not Already Sounding: Pull a fire alarm station on the way out If the building is not equipped with a fire alarm, knock on doors and shout on your way out.
- Leave the Building By Using the Nearest Exit/Crawl If There Is Smoke: If you get caught in smoke, get down and crawl. Cleaner, cooler air will be near the floor. Get Low - And Go.
- Feel Doors Before Opening: Before opening any doors, feel the metal knob. If it is hot, do not open the door. If it is cool, brace yourself against the door, open it slightly, and if heat or heavy smoke are present, close the door and stay out of the room.
- Go To The Nearest Exit or Stairway: If the nearest exit is blocked by fire, heat, or smoke, go to another exit. Always use an exit stair, not an elevator. Elevator shafts may fill with smoke or the power may fail, leaving you trapped. Stairway fire doors will keep out fire and smoke, if they are closed, and will protect you until you get outside. Close as many doors as possible as you leave. This helps to confine the fire. Total and immediate evacuation is safest. Only use a fire extinguisher if the fire is very small and you know how to do it safely. Do not delay calling emergency responders or activating the building fire alarm. If you can not put out the fire, leave immediately. Make sure the fire department is called - even if you think the fire is out.
- If You Get Trapped Keep the Doors Closed: Place cloth material (wet if possible) around and under door to prevent smoke from entering. Be prepared to signal your presence from a window.
- Signal For Help: Hang an object at the window (jacket, shirt) to attract the fire department's attention. If there is a phone in the room, call 911 or x4444 from an on-campus phone, or (610) 519-4444 from a cellular phone, and report that you are trapped. Be sure to give your room number and location. If all exits from a floor are blocked, go back to your room, close the door, seal cracks, open the windows if safe, wave something out the window, and shout or phone for help.
- If You Are On Fire, Stop Drop and Roll: If your clothes catch on fire, stop, drop, and roll, wherever you are. Rolling smothers the fire.
- Cool Burns: Use cool tap water on burns, immediately. Don't use ointments. If skin is blistered, brown or charred, call for an ambulance.
- Obstacles: Storage of any items in the corridors, such as bicycles, chairs, desks, and other items is prohibited in all exit ways, including stairwells. Blocked exits and obstacles impede evacuation, especially during dark and smoky conditions.
- If You Are Disabled: If you are disabled (even temporarily), you should do the following: Learn about fire safety. Plan ahead for fire emergencies. Be aware of your own capabilities and limitations.
