Emergency Response Procedures
Fire
Whenever a fire alarm sounds, unless directed otherwise by Wittenberg Police and Security officers and/or personnel of the Springfield Fire Division, residents must evacuate the building until the cause of the alarm has been determined and may not reenter the building until approval has been given from Springfield Fire Division personnel or a Wittenberg Police and Security officer.
PULL THE FIRE ALARM AND EVACUATE THE BUILDING:
Upon discovering a large, very smoky, or rapid-spreading fire, close the door to the room where the fire is located and immediately sound the building fire alarm by pulling the red alarm pull box and evacuate the building immediately and go to the designated assembly area.
Floor Evacuation Plans are posted on each floor of every residence hall. Students who live in residence halls should familiarize themselves with the evacuation plan of their residence hall.
Walk; do not run to the nearest stairway exit. Note: If the fire is small, you may be able to extinguish it with a fire extinguisher. Be sure you are using the proper extinguisher for the type of fire. When in doubt, evacuate.
As soon as safely possible, call the Wittenberg University Police and Security Department at 1-937-327-6363. Give your name, department, and the location and nature of the fire. Even if you were able to extinguish the fire yourself, the incident must be reported to the University Police and Security Department.
ASSIST
Alert people in the immediate area to begin evacuation. The alarm may not sound continuously. If the alarm stops, continue the evacuation. Warn others who may enter the building after the alarm stops.
Assist disabled persons in exiting the building. If these persons are unable to use the stairs, assist them to a stairwell and notify a Wittenberg Police and Security officer or any firefighter where the person is located. If you are disabled, proceed to the nearest stairwell and remain there until help arrives. Notify evacuating personnel of your situation.
Notify either police personnel or firefighters on the scene if you suspect someone may be trapped inside. Identify yourself as the person who reported the fire.
In residential hall facilities, the resident assistants or resident directors should assist Emergency personnel in evacuating all residents and in checking rooms, lounges, bathrooms, etc. They will meet with all residents at a predetermined location outside the building to take roll, assess injuries, and receive approval from Springfield Fire Division personnel or the Wittenberg Police and Security officer(s) on the scene to reenter the building.
DESIGNATED ASSEMBLY AREAS
Resident Hall Students:
Ferncliff - outside front entrance by parking spaces
Myers - end of back driveway (north end)
Firestine - outside front entrance (away from building)
Woodlawn - sidewalk on Woodlawn
Tower - back door of Tower
Polis - front door of Tower
New - Grass between the Student Center and the New Residence Hall
Administrative and Academic Buildings
Occupants in the following buildings should assembly at the NORTH side of the building.
Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center
Carnegie Hall
Synod Hall
Health, Physical Education and Recreation Center
Koch Hall
Physical Plant Building
Benjamin Prince House (President's House)
Recitation Hall
Shouvlin Center
Hollenbeck Hall
Benham-Prince Student Center
Thomas Library
Chakeres Memorial Theatre
Weaver Observatory
Zimmerman Hall
Edwards-Maurer Field
Morris J. Knauss Greens Student Residences
Sprecher Place Apartments
Occupants in the following buildings should assembly at the WEST side of the building
William A. McClain Black Culture House
Blair Hall
Krieg Hall
Matthies Honors House
Student Development/Dietrich House
Weaver Chapel
Bayley-Diehl House
Bayley Alumni House
Keller Place Apartments
BUILDING EVACUATION - RELOCATION OF RESIDENTS
The Chapel is the relocation center for students who live in any residence hall and need to temporarily relocate to another building due to weather or other circumstances related to the emergency.
The Student Center, Library or other open campus buildings are back-up relocation sites and may serve as the primary site during regular business hours. University Police and Security will make this determination.
HOW TO EVACUATE A BURNING BUILDING
Walk; do not run to the nearest stairway exit.
The last one out of the room should not lock the door, just close it. Locking the door hinders the fire department's search and rescue efforts
NEVER, NEVER use elevators under any circumstances. may become inoperative due to the fire.
Never enter a room that is smoke filled. Never enter a room if the top half of the door is warm to the touch.
Stay low to avoid smoke and toxic gases. The best air is close to the floor, so crawl if necessary.
If possible, cover your mouth and nose with a damp cloth to help you breathe.
If you work in a building with multiple stories, a stairway will be your primary escape route. Most enclosed stairwells in buildings over two stories are "rated" enclosures and will provide you a safe means of exit; don't panic descend stairs slowly and carefully.
Once in the stairwell, proceed down to the first floor. Never go up.
Once outside the building, report to a predetermined area so that a head count can be taken.
WHAT TO DO IF TRAPPED IN A BURNING BUILDING
If you're trying to escape a fire, never open a closed door without feeling it first. Use the back of your hand to prevent burning your palm. If the door is hot, try another exit. If none exists, seal the cracks around the doors and vents with anything available.
If in a dorm room, use wet towels to seal the space under the door and prevent the entry of smoke. Cracks around the door can be sealed with masking tape if necessary.
If trapped, look for a nearby phone and call the fire department, giving them your exact location.
If breathing is difficult, try to ventilate the room.
WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE CATCHES ON FIRE
If you should catch on fire:
STOP - where you are
DROP - to the floor
ROLL - around on the floor
This will smother the flames, possibly saving your life.
Just remember to STOP, DROP and ROLL.
If a co-worker catches on fire, smother flames by grabbing a blanket or rug and wrapping them up in it. That could save them from serious burns or even death.
Setting off a false fire alarm jeopardizes the safety and welfare of students, other members of the Wittenberg community, as well as members of the Springfield community. Because of this, any student found in violation of this policy will be subject to suspension from Wittenberg University. Ohio law imposes strict penalties for false alarms made by persons 18 years of age or older, Section 2917.32A. Tampering with fire extinguishers, fire alarms or fire equipment is strictly forbidden.
