Emergency Procedures

During emergency situations such as fire, severe weather, hazardous materials incidents, or other critical events, the University Critical Incident Management Team (CIMT) brings together key university leaders to assess the situation, confirm the emergency, issue notifications, and coordinate the response.

Examples Requiring Emergency Response:

Emergency Procedures Guide

Alcohol Poisoning

If you suspect alcohol poisoning or an overdose:

Try to wake the person by calling their name or shaking them.
Turn the person on their side to prevent choking.
Check for pale, bluish, or clammy skin.
Monitor breathing: fewer than 8 breaths per minute or pauses longer than 10 seconds are signs of danger.
Stay with the person and call 911 or DePauw Police (765-658-5555).

Good Samaritan Policy:
Students or organizations who call for help and remain with the person until assistance arrives will not face disciplinary action and are protected under Indiana’s Life Line Law.

Bomb Threats

If a bomb threat is received:

Treat it as real until proven otherwise.
Do not handle suspicious objects. Clear the area and call 911.
Record details if the threat is made by phone:
- When will it explode?
- Where is it located?
- What does it look like?
- Why was it placed?
- Note caller details (voice, accent, background noise).
Follow evacuation procedures if instructed.

Building Evacuation

Leave immediately when the alarm sounds or when instructed by officials.
Know at least two exit routes from your building.
Do not use elevators.
Move a safe distance away and do not re-enter until cleared by authorities.
Assist those with disabilities if possible; otherwise, call 911 to report their location.

Reassembly Areas:

Buildings	Assembly Location
Roy O. West Library, Harrison, Asbury Hall, East College	South side of Emison Building
Admin & Emison	South side of East College Lawn
101 E. Seminary, Inn at DePauw	Inn North Lot
Bartlett House	North side of Emison
Hoover, Union, Lilly, Julian	Bowman Park
Olin, Peeler, CDI	Julian Lot
Pulliam	Elm St. Lot
Blackstock Complex	East side of Blackstock Lot
Prindle Institute, Reflection Center	Lower Parking Lot

Explosions

If an explosion occurs:

Take cover under sturdy furniture.
Move away from smoke, heat, or fire.
Evacuate and call 911 with building name, location, injuries, and known causes.

Fire Safety

Identify fire alarms and extinguishers in your area.
Never block exits or hallways.
Know at least two escape routes.
Pull the alarm, evacuate, and call 911.
Use a fire extinguisher only if trained and the fire is small (trash-can size).
If trapped: stay low, seal cracks, signal rescuers from a window, and call 911.

Harassment, Threats, and Potential Violence

Threats and violent behavior are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Please know that early reporting is a valuable tool in prevention and intervention. Information about responding to an Active Shooter is found here.

Reports of harassment, intimidation, threats and physical violence will be promptly and thoroughly investigated. Responsible individuals will be referred to the appropriate office for violations (Putnam County Prosecutor, Community Standards, and/or Human Resources).

Harassment Situations in which a person is receiving harassing communications and/or unwanted attention, such as personal visits, stalking or other forms of physical harassment may be a scenario for potential violence on campus.

If you are being harassed or know of a harassing situation:

Do not tolerate verbal, physical or sexual harassment from anyone.
Do not ignore the behavior in hopes that it will stop. Always report concerns to the DePauw Police Department by calling (765) 658-5555. For Sexual Harassment you may also report to the title IX Coordinator at (765) 658-4155.
Do not give out personal information via personal websites or social media.
Do not give out other’s information when requested by unfamiliar subjects
If you have a civil order of protection (“No Contact Order” or “Restraining Order”) issued by a court, notify the DePauw Police Department and provide a copy of the order.
The DePauw Police Department can assist anyone with developing a safety plan and assessing the need to alert others of potential violence.

Suspicious Persons: Suspicious persons on campus may also be a scenario in which violence on campus may occur. In the event you encounter an individual on campus that just doesn’t fit, seems out of place or exhibits suspicious behavior (walking aimlessly, staring, etc.) notify the DePauw Police Department immediately by dialing (765) 658-5555 or 911.

If non-threatening, you may also:

Establish eye contact and ask if you can help him/her. They may be a visitor or be in need of assistance.
Do not give access to a building or office that is locked or restricted.
Keep a safe distance and do not physically confront anyone
Make a mental note of the description of the person, for example: Gender, Age, Race, Weight, Height, Clothes, Tattoos, Scars, Direction of Travel

Threats: Treat all threats or rumor of violence as serious. Call 911 in instances where you are in immediate danger or if you observe a weapon, are informed of someone that has a weapon on campus, or if you are told of someone’s intent to bring a weapon or have knowledge of plans for violence on campus. The DePauw Police Department will assess the threat to develop safety plans and if needed alert the Campus via Timely Warnings or Emergency Notifications.

Hostile Confrontation: You may be confronted by a hostile or disgruntled individual that may or may not be armed. Individuals that are not allowing others to leave an area and/or threatening violence are certainly scenarios in which violence could occur. In these types of situations:

Try to remain as calm as possible, be cooperative and patient

Offer to listen, but don’t judge or argue with them

Treat each concern as important and valid, willing to listen respectfully, and non-judgmentally

Maintain polite eye contact, keep gestures and body language open and non-threatening
Use a low soft, slow voice when you speak • Ask or tell the person before you make any moves
Be truthful and credible. Assure the person you will try to help resolve his/her grievances
Ask the aggrieved party to suggest a solution. A person in crisis will be more accepting of a solution that he/she has helped formulate.
Be observant. Note as much as possible about the aggressor, including type and number of weapons, state of mind and specifics about what they’ve said. In the event that you are released or escape this information will be helpful for the emergency personnel.

Hazardous Materials Spill/Release

For spills, releases, or incidents requiring special training, procedures and/or equipment that are beyond your abilities, take the following steps:

The key person on site should alert people in the affected area, evacuate at once and seal off area to prevent further contamination.
Pull the fire alarm if building evacuation is required.
Call 911 and provide the following information:

Your name, telephone number, and location.
Name and quantity of the material, if known.
Extent of injuries or damage, if any.

Anyone who is contaminated should avoid contact with others and report to a safe area as designated by emergency personnel.
If needed emergency personnel will wash off contamination and administer any required first aid promptly.
Containment and cleanup of hazardous materials should only be made by trained and appropriately equipped personnel.
Help ensure no one evacuates through the contaminated area.
If an evacuation alarm sounds, follow established building evacuation procedures
If you are required to shelter in place rather than evacuate, due to dangerous air quality outside such as a hazardous chemical release, follow the “Shelter In Place” procedure.

Lockdown Procedures

Used for immediate threats to campus safety.

Communication:

Lockdowns will be announced via Rave alerts, email, WGRE Radio, and social media.
Do not trigger fire alarms.

Procedures:

Take shelter in the nearest lockable room.
Lock doors, close windows, turn off lights, and stay quiet.
Hide out of sight; do not open doors for anyone.
Stay put until emergency personnel give an all-clear.

Medical Emergencies

Call 911 for serious injury or illness.
Provide name, location, nature of emergency, and number of victims.
Do not move the injured person unless necessary for safety.
Meet responders at the entrance to guide them.

Public Health Emergencies

DePauw collaborates with local and state health departments to prevent and respond to outbreaks or public health threats. Key departments include:

Student Academic Life
DePauw Health & Wellness
Police Department
Facilities Management

Severe Weather and Tornadoes

Weather in Central Indiana can be dangerous. Always stay informed and make preparations prior to a weather emergency. The National Weather Service issues severe thunderstorm “Watches” and “Warnings” which are broadcast locally via the Putnam County 911 and Emergency Operations Center.

A Watch indicates the possibility of severe weather in a relatively broad area. A Watch means conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes. Be Prepared!

A Warning is issued when severe weather is actually occurring, usually encompassing a relatively small geographic area. A Tornado Warning means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar. Take cover immediately!

Severe Thunderstorms can also spawn Tornadoes and cause significant damage. If such conditions are present, take the same precautions as you would for a tornado. Lightning claims more lives every year than tornadoes. When lightning is a threat, stay indoors. If caught outside keep a safe distance from tall objects, try to stay lower than anything nearby.

Before the Storm:

Locate a basement or lowest level of your building, interior room, away from glass.
Stay informed via media sources on days when severe weather is expected. Utilize phone apps such as the National Weather Service or The Weather Channel.
Keep a good reliable flashlight and personal essentials in your living/office/work area.

Warning Signals Although warning sirens are helpful tools in alerting us of potential danger, everyone is personally responsible for preparation and awareness of potentially severe weather. Be sure that the “all clear” has been given before coming out of shelter.

During a Storm:

Seek shelter inside, preferably below ground level or lowest accessible level. Position yourself in the safest area away from glass. Kneel facing a wall and cover your head. In other locations, look for a bathroom, closet or room at the center of the structure. If possible, get under heavy furniture and cover your head with blankets or pillows.
Stay sheltered until the storm has passed and an “all clear” has been issued.
Updates will be broadcast via media sources and via the Rave Emergency Notification (sms) text messaging service as needed.

Shelter In Place

Shelter In Place Shelter-In-Place might arise during a weather emergency, an outside chemical spill/release, electrical lines down, as part of an emergency lock down, or another emergency. The basic steps of shelter-in-place are:

Always move away from danger
If you are outdoors, proceed into the closest building and seek shelter inside
Locate a room to shelter inside.
Make a list of those sheltering with you
While sheltered, find Information, updates or instructions (WGRE, DePauw Homepage, Emergency Alerts via texts, University social media, etc.)

Emergency Responders will help evacuate you, or issue an all clear to any threats or immediate danger.

If during a severe storm:

Shelter on the lowest level, inside an interior room away from glass.
Seek protection under heavy furniture if available

If during a Hazardous Chemical Release Outside

Ideally stay above ground level for a hazardous material incident
Shut and lock all windows (tighter seal) and close exterior doors. n Turn off air conditioners, heaters, and fans.
Close vents to ventilation systems as you are able. (University staff will turn off ventilation if circulating air is a threat.)
See additional procedure for “Hazardous Materials / Spills Release”