When you become aware of an emergency situation where life or property is threatened, contact LSU Police dispatch immediately at 578-3231. It is imperative that you follow the directives of emergency response personnel. Know the location of safety equipment in your work area and learn how to use the equipment. Familiarize yourself with emergency evacuation routes for your building.
Emergencies and disasters are unpredictable and often strike without warning. In emergency situations, all LSU faculty, staff, and students need to respond quickly and appropriately to reduce the risk of injury and property damage.
This information is to guide you through various emergencies. It is a quick reference to inform you of what steps to take and what actions will be implemented should an emergency situation arise.
***PLEASE NOTE: The Chancellor and the Office of Communication and University Relations have primary responsibility for releasing information to the news media. Major incidents and emergencies may draw interest from local or national media. It is of paramount importance that only accurate, factual information is released. Incorrect or incomplete information could be detrimental to the University, its employees, and its students. Refer all news media inquiries to the Office of Communication and University Relations’ Media Relations department, Lakeshore House, at 578-5985.
What to do in case of:
Medical Emergency
Elevator Emergency
Power Outage
Flood or Water Damage
Fire
Hazardous Materials Incident
Evacuation
Bomb Threat
Criminal Incident
Hostile Intruder
Suspicious Object
Severe Weather Emergencies
GENERAL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
What You Should Do
- Call LSU Police at 578-3231.
- Provide the following information:
- Your name, location, and number of the injured/ill person(s).
- Description of the medical emergency.
- Approximate age of victim(s).
- Status of victim(s):
- Is the victim conscious?
- Is the victim breathing?
- Is the victim bleeding?
- Any known medical condition of the victim(s).
- A call-back telephone number where you can be reached.
- Do not move the victim(s).
- Do not attempt to give medical care unless you are trained to do so. Provide first aid if you are qualified to perform it.
- Stay with the victim(s) to reassure him/her until help arrives.
What Will Happen
- The communications officer will notify police officers and EMS if it appears necessary from information gathered.
- Police officers will respond and assess the situation for further response. EMS will be notified, if necessary and not already done.
- Police officers will provide first aid if needed, according to their training until EMS arrives.
- If the victim(s) are ambulatory and do not need EMS, the police or department staff may provide transport to the LSU Student Health Center.
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ELEVATOR EMERGENCY
What You Should Do
- Use the elevator telephone to call LSU Police at 578-3231.
- Tell the communications officer your name and explain your situation.
- Tell the communications officer your location, including the name of the building and the location of the malfunctioning elevator.
- Tell the communications officer how many others, if any, are in the elevator with you.
- If the elevator you are in has no telephone or the telephone does not work, push the “emergency” or “bell” button until you hear acknowledgement that help is on the way.
- Do not attempt to exit the elevator through a hatch or pry the doors open.
- Do not exit the elevator if the doors open and you are between floors, unless instructed to do so by emergency personnel. The elevator could move, endangering your life.
What Will Happen
- The communications officer will notify LSU Police and maintenance to respond.
- LSU Police will respond and will stay on scene until maintenance arrives.
- Maintenance will respond and provide safe exit from the elevator. The fire department or the elevator company will be called if further help is needed.
POWER OUTAGE
What You Should Do
- Call LSU Facility Services Work Control at 578-3186.
- Provide your name, location, and what areas are affected by the power outage.
- Do not open cold rooms, refrigerators, incubators, or other temperature-sensitive areas.
- Evacuate only if instructed to do so by emergency personnel or by your supervisor.
What Will Happen
- Maintenance will respond.
- Responding personnel will determine if outside help is needed and consult with department management of the areas affected.
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FLOOD OR WATER DAMAGE
What You Should Do
In Case of Flooding:
- Call LSU Facility Services Work Control at 578-3186.
- Provide your name, location, and what areas are affected by the power outage.
- Evacuate the area if you feel your safety is at risk, especially if the flooding is near electrical equipment.
- If you know the source of the water and are confident you can stop the flooding safely, do so (i.e., turn off valve or unclog drain).
In Case of Water Damage follow Steps 1 and 2 above.
What Will Happen
- Maintenance will respond.
- Responding personnel will identify the source and stop the flooding as soon as possible.
- If a risk is identified because of the flooding, affected areas may be evacuated.
- Necessary repairs and clean up will be initiated.
- The all-clear to return will be given by responding personnel when appropriate.
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FIRE
What You Should Do
- If you smell or see smoke or fire, begin evacuation by pulling an alarm station.
- Call LSU Police at 578-3231 as soon as it is safe to do so.
- Tell the communications officer your name and location.
- Give the communications officer the exact location of the fire and any other information you may have about the fire.
- Do not attempt to fight the fire yourself unless you have been trained in the use of firefighting equipment and it is safe to do so.
- Evacuate the building, closing doors behind you to contain the fire. Exit via stairwells only; DO NOT attempt to use elevators.
- Exit quickly and do not attempt to take anything with you.
- Assist disabled persons or direct emergency personnel to them.
- Try to avoid letting the fire or heavy smoke come between you and an exit. If you get caught in heavy smoke, take short breaths, crouch down, or crawl.
- If the fire or smoke keeps you from exiting the building, go to a room far away from the fire, shut the door, open or break a window, and signal for help.
- Once outside and at a safe distance from the building, only return to the building when instructed to do so by emergency personnel.
- Notify the Office of Public Affairs as soon as possible at 578-8654.
What Will Happen
- The communications officer will notify the Fire Department upon determination that an emergency exists. In the event of a residence hall fire alarm or report of fire, the Fire Department is called immediately by the LSU Police communications officer.
- LSU Police will respond and coordinate with fire personnel.
- Once the actual fire or fire alarm situation is resolved, LSU Police, Office of Occupational & Environmental Safety, or the fire personnel will give the all-clear to re-enter the building or will give other directions.
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HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT
What You Should Do
- Call LSU Police at 578-3231.
- Tell the communications officer your name and location.
- Give the exact location of the hazardous material spill/release.
- If possible, give the source, character, amount, and extent of the material spill/release.
- If the material is leaking from a vehicle, give the vehicle description, including any placating.
- Notify the communications officer of any injuries.
- Leave a call-back telephone number where you can be reached.
- Find a safe place in the general area, upwind of the spill area if possible.
- Shut all windows, turn off open flames, and open hoods in the area if it is safe to do so.
- Keep others from entering the affected area.
- Stay a safe distance from the material that has been spilled or released, and wait for police officers and safety personnel to arrive.
- Avoid tracking or spreading the substance into other areas, but remain in the general area until allowed to leave by authorized personnel.
What Will Happen
- The responding police officer(s) will secure the scene by forming a perimeter and tending to any injured persons.
- The responding officer(s) will communicate initial findings to the police supervisor or communications officer.
- Police will notify the responsible facility personnel.
- Police will notify a state or local agencies if their help is needed or if notification is required.
- Evacuation, containment, and clean up will be conducted as directed by LSU Police.
- You may be asked to participate in a follow-up investigation of the incident.
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EVACUATION
Different emergencies require different evacuation needs. These are evacuation directions for most emergencies. When evacuation is not directed for the emergencies or by obvious circumstances, you should stay where you are until given direction by emergency personnel. The unpredictable nature of emergency situations requires quick action and clear thinking to avoid injury. The decision to evacuate is based on factors that give you the best chance of remaining safe and that avoid putting you in a more harmful situation. Individual building evacuation plans can be obtained from the Office of Occupational & Environmental Safety.
When To Evacuate
- Anytime you hear the fire alarm bells in your building.
- If you smell smoke or know an actual fire is burning.
- When instructed to do so by official safety personnel.
Certain circumstances may prevent safe evacuation. If this happens, move away from the danger and find shelter in an area with a window to facilitate rescue. Try to notify rescuers of your location.
When Not To Evacuate
- When a tornado warning is sounded. (Find appropriate shelter within your building.
- During a hostage/barricade situation.
- During a power failure.
- When instructed not to evacuate by official safety personnel.
These situations require you to remain where you are initially. Emergency personnel will direct you when it is safe to evacuate.
What To Do If You Must Evacuate
- Listen carefully to instructions of emergency personnel.
- Remain calm.
- Close your office door as you leave.
- Do not try to gather materials on the way out; leave quickly.
- Keep talking to a minimum, but warn others who may not be evacuating or may not have been notified.
- Exit via stairwells, not elevators.
- Do not smoke.
- Alert emergency personnel of any disabled persons who need assistance.
Area Evacuations
Certain emergencies may affect a specific area of campus. In this case, persons in those areas will be evacuated to a designated site on campus. Emergency personnel may then direct you to a primary or secondary evacuation site. Because of variable factors, such as the type of emergency and wind direction, the evacuation site will be designated at the time of the event and communicated via emergency telephones, e-mail, fax, and other means.
Campus Evacuation
An emergency that dictates the evacuation of the entire University will be handled in conjunction with the emergency procedures of the City of Baton Rouge and the surrounding communities. People who have their own transportation should listen to radio, television, and e-mail announcements identifying the designated exit routes from campus. Members of the campus community who depend on public transportation should congregate at the nearest bus stop, unless the area has been restricted. In that case, they should find another bus stop or call campus police for instructions. If the emergency involves a spill or release of airborne contaminants, sheltering in place may be used in lieu of evacuation. In such cases, the building coordinator/senior administrator will be notified and asked to spread the word.
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BOMB THREAT
What You Should Do
- If you receive a bomb threat via a telephone call, listen carefully and write down everything that is said, starting with the exact time of the call.
- Keep the caller talking as long as possible and ask the following:
- What is the identity of caller?
- Where is the bomb located?
- When will the bomb detonate?
- What type of bomb is it?
- What does the bomb look like?
- Why was the bomb planted?
- Determine characteristics of the caller.
- Approximate age
- Gender
- Accent
- Voice characteristics (calm, nervous, excited, laughing)
- Listen for background noises: other voices, traffic, airplanes, trains, machinery, music, etc.
- Call LSU Police at 578-3231 immediately after finishing the call.
- Give the communications officer your name, telephone extension, and room number.
- Tell the communications officer that you received the bomb threat and give a basic description of the nature of the call.
- Stay in the area so that you can meet with the responding officer.
- Locate the building coordinator and ask him/her to stand by for the responding officer.
What Will Happen
- The communications officer will notify police officers from LSU Police.
- Police may conduct a search of the building(s) mentioned.
- After speaking with the person who took the call, University officials and LSU Police, will decide what further action should be taken, including possible evacuation.
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CRIMINAL INCIDENT
What You Should Do
- Report any crime in progress on campus to LSU Police at 578-3231.
- Tell the communications officer your name and your location.
- Give a description of what is taking place.
- Give a thorough description of any suspect(s): physical description, clothing, vehicle information, and direction of travel.
- Tell the communications officer if there are any injuries and the extent of those injuries.
- Give the communications officer a call-back telephone number in case more information is needed.
- Report any crime in progress off campus to the appropriate law enforcement agency, or 911.
- Tell the dispatcher your name and your location.
- Give a description of what is taking place.
- Give a thorough description of any suspect(s): physical description, clothing, vehicle information, and direction of travel.
- Tell the dispatcher if there are any injuries and the extent of those injuries.
- Give the dispatcher a call-back telephone number if more information is needed.
- To report routine or non-emergency incidents, call LSU Police at 578-3231.
What Will Happen
- LSU Police or Baton Rouge Police Department Officers will respond to the incident, take appropriate action, render any assistance needed, and gather report information.
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HOSTILE INTRUDER
What You Should Do
- If you become aware that a hostile intruder has entered your building, immediately call LSU Police at 578-3231.
- Tell the communications officer your name and location.
- Tell the communications officer what is taking place, such as, “an armed person is in the building.”
- Inform the communications officer if there are any injuries and the location of injured person(s).
- Give the communications officer a description of the person(s) involved and the individual’s exact location or direction of travel.
- Advise dispatch if suspect is armed, and if so, with what type of weapon.
- If possible, stay near a phone and give the communications officer that number for further communications.
- Do not approach the person(s); keep out of sight.
- Stay put and lock the entrance to the room, if possible, or block the entrance.
- If it is possible to flee the area safely and avoid danger, do so. If flight is impossible, lock (or barricade) all doors and secure yourself in a safe area. Remain in place until an "all clear" is given by an authorized person or law enforcement official.
What Will Happen
- The communications officer will notify LSU Police to respond as necessary.
- LSU Police will coordinate a response based on information gathered. Once the situation is under control, the police incident commander will give the all-clear to evacuate the building, and all appropriate parties will be informed of the incident.
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SUSPICIOUS OBJECT
What You Should Do
- If you see or become aware of a suspicious object or receive a suspicious letter or parcel, do not handle it or allow anyone to go near it.
- Call LSU Police at 578-3231.
- Tell the communications officer your name, telephone extension, and location.
- Tell the communications officer why the object is suspicious.
- Wait for the responding officer to arrive to give further information.
- Notify the Office of Public Affairs as soon as possible at 578-8654.
What Will Happen
- The communications officer will notify LSU Police, and responding officers will contact any additional police departments, as necessary.
- Responding officers will meet with the caller to gather information.
- Police will initiate response actions as necessary.