In the event of a CAMPUS-WIDE emergency (natural disaster, medical crisis, violent crime, etc.), the university home page will be replaced by an emergency alert page that will contain information on the nature of the emergency, what to do, where to go and whom to contact.

Click above to REPORT an Emergency or learn how to PROVIDE HELP in an Emergency

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Report an Emergency

University Police, located at the rear of Bullock Hall, is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you discover an emergency situation on campus, immediately perform all of the following steps, as appropriate:

• Call on-campus extension 7575. Cell phone or off-campus phone dial (508) 793-7575 (program this number in your telephone or cell phone).
• If phone lines are down, send a runner to University Police, located at the rear of Bullock Hall.
• Remain calm when speaking to the Dispatcher.
• Give your name, location and emergency.
• Look for an Emergency Medical Bracelet.
• Tell the dispatcher if an ambulance or medical assistance is needed.
• When the building fire alarm is sounded, always assume an emergency exists, EXIT the building immediately, UNLESS prior to the alarm gunshots have been heard or a Clark Alert has been received advising you to stay in place. Use common sense.

Provide Help in an Emergency

• Serious Crime/Violence/Active Shooter

  • It is impossible to predict the actions and specific circumstances of every crime or violent act. The following procedures may help lessen the potential for injury.

    • If you observe a criminal act or suspicious person, from a campus phone dial 7575 otherwise, dial (508) 793 - 7575.
    • Be mindful of your personal safety.
    • Remember details of incident: description of clothing, physical characteristics, accent, tattoos, more than one suspect, etc.
    • Do not sound the fire alarm.
    • Exit the area immediately and report to University or local Police.
    • Use your instincts
    • In a hostage situation, stay calm, keep everyone together and stay hidden.
    • If you are unable to hide, play
    • dead
    • if other victims are around you.
    • If captured:-Obey all commands.
    • Encourage conversation to develop rapport
    • Use comfortable eye contact
    • Evaluate intruder's body language to determine your next action(s).
    • If you are in the vicinity of an Active Shooter situation Barricade doors and place as much solid material between you and the shooter.
    • Stay in place if it is safe to do so.
    • Wait for Police to clear and evacuate the area
    • Remain calm and quiet, silence cell phones.
    • Use common sense not to expose yourself or others to harm.
    • If you are outdoors, seek shelter away from the area that is involved if it is safe to do so.

• Medical Emergency

  • University Police is equipped with AED's (Automatic External Defibrillators) and Police Officers are certified as First Responders. Call on-campus extension 7575. Cell phone or off-campus phone dial (508) 793 - 7575.

    • When assisting, make sure there are no safety concerns for you. Use protective gloves and barrier devices to protect yourself from bodily fluids when available.
    • If person is vomiting with no trauma and is unable to move, roll the person on side, and lay head on arm. Tilt head up to open airway.
    • If injured, keep person on back. If no neck/ spinal injury is suspected, elevate legs 6 to 12 inches.
    • Cover with blanket/coat to keep body warm.
    • Don't move person with neck/spinal injury unless factors will cause more harm (i.e. fire).
    • Elevate bleeding extremities; maintain direct pressure; control bleeding with a thick cloth.
    • If the person is not breathing, has no pulse and you are trained in CPR, begin immediately. Ask a bystander to call extension 7575 or (508) 793 - 7575
    • Seizures: clear area around the person; don't restrain or place anything in person's mouth.

• Chemical Exposure/Hazardous Spills

  • Damage to individuals and/or to the environment can be caused by any unplanned sudden or non-sudden release of hazardous materials. Potentially hazardous materials can include a wide variety of chemicals as well as human waste and other contaminants.

    • Person in control of the classroom/area should evacuate the affected area at once.
    • If contaminated, stay in vicinity for first aid / de-contamination by specialized authority.
    • Seal the area off to prevent further contamination.
    • Wait for direction from University official and try not to expose others.
    • When reporting, be specific about the nature of the involved material and exact location.
    • Report any large spillage from your personal car such as oil or anti-freeze to University Police so that proper action can be taken.
    • University Police have access to main shut off valves. Call 7575 so that we can take the necessary actions.

• Bomb Threat/Suspicious Objects

  • If you observe a suspicious object or potential bomb on campus, do not handle the object. Call University Police 7575 immediately.

    If you receive a bomb threat telephone call:
    • Have someone nearby contact University Police at extension 7575 or (508) 793-7575.
    • Keep caller on line as long as possible.
    • Ask caller:
      • When will the bomb will go off?
      • Where is the bomb? Which building?
      • What kind of bomb? Description of it
      • Why did you place the bomb?
    • Note time of call and approximate age and:
      • Speech pattern (accents)
      • Emotional state of caller
      • Background noise
    If you find a suspicious object:
    • Don't touch the object.
    • Don't activate the building alarm.
    • Don't open drawers or cabinets.
    • Don't turn on/off electrical devices or switches (light switches, cell phones, radios, or any other kind of electronic device).
    • Don't use elevators.
    • Be aware of secondary devices
• Fire

  • Before faced with a fire, familiarize yourself with fire extinguisher locations, exits, and building fire alarms / pull stations. Smoke is the greatest danger in a fire. As you evacuate, or if you are trapped, always stay near the floor where the air is less toxic.

    • Do Not Panic.
    • Activate the closest building fire alarm for emergency response.
    • When the building fire alarm is sounded, always assume an emergency exists, EXIT the building immediately, UNLESS prior to the alarm gunshots have been heard or a Clark Alert has been received advising you to stay in place. Use common sense.
    • If a fire appears controllable, discharge a fire extinguisher toward the base of the flame.
    • As you exit the building, notice any individuals not responding to the emergency alarm and call out to them to leave the building.
    • Assist persons with disabilities to exit.
    • Close but do not lock doors to confine fire.
    • Do not use elevators.
    • Use alternate evacuation routes if the normal route is blocked.
    • Feel closed doors from top to bottom, in the evacuation route, IF COLD open the door, IF HOT, DO NOT OPEN the door and use an alternative evacuation route. (Hot Doors may be an indication of fire on the other side of the door).
    • Avoid smoke filled areas. If the room or evacuation route is filling with smoke, crouch down as you exit. Smoke rises, pushing available air to the floor.
    • Should your clothing catch on fire-STOP DROP and ROLL to smother flame.

    If trapped during a fire:

    • Shout at regular intervals to alert Emergency crews of your location.
    • Find a window and place an article of clothing outside of it and or use the back of this book (HELP) to place in outside windows as a marker for rescue crews.
    • Wait for the All Clear announcement from university officials before reentry of the building / area.

• Natural Disasters

  • Fear at the time of a disaster may breed panic. Panic can account for more injuries than the disaster itself. Therefore, calming personnel and students and preventing panic are critical.

    Familiarize yourself with assembly area locations listed in this guide prior to any emergency. You are expected to meet at these locations. Always follow the direction of emergency response personnel.

    Earthquakes

    • Stay away from windows or bookcases.
    • Identify safe places such as:
    • In a doorway
    • Under sturdy furniture
    • Against an inside wall
    • Protect yourself at all times and be prepared for aftershocks.

    Severe Storms

    • Don't use the telephone and plumbing fixtures.
    • Wind, rain and lightening can cause dangerous situations. Avoid water, metal objects, open spaces and electrical appliances during lightening storms.

    Hurricanes/Tornadoes

    • Use the basement level of all campus buildings as a designated tornado shelter.
    • If no basement, go to a small interior room with no windows, such as halls, closets, stairwells.

Safety Contacts

University Police

(508)793-7575 or via any emergency phone on campus

Physical Plant

(to report unsafe condition on campus)
(508) 793-7566
Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
All other times contact University Police (508)793-7575

Physical Sciences

Frank Abell. Chemical Safety Officer
(508) 793-7280
fabell@clarku.edu

Clark Safety/Emergency Plans

Paul Wykes, Business Manager
(508) 793-7385
pwykes@clarku.edu

Safety Email

safety@clarku.edu