Ramsey Student Center Emergency Action Plans

BEAP stands for “Building Emergency Action Plan”

The basic emergency procedures outlined in this manual are to enhance the protection of lives and property through effective use of University and campus community resources. This plan has been designed for staff, students, and visiting guests to provide a quick reference during emergencies. Every employee should become familiar with its contents, and new employees should be trained to follow these procedures and the building evacuation plan for their respective departments. While these policies do not cover every conceivable situation, it does supply the basic guidelines necessary to respond and cope with the most common campus emergencies.

The plan will be activated in instances of fire, bomb threats, chemical spills, medical emergencies, inclement weather, and active shooter as directed by the President of the University, through the University Police Department and the Department of Recreational Sports. Any personal safety issues or concerns should be reported to appropriate staff members or the UGA Police Department.

Emergency Preparedness is everyone’s responsibility! The UGA Office of Emergency Preparedness developed a brief online interactive learning module with a campus community sense of preparedness in mind. Furthermore, all staff and students should be knowledgeable of the emergency notification system, UGA Alert.

Methods
The following methods may be used to notify the campus community of various emergencies that may impact students, staff, and faculty on the Athens campus of the University of Georgia.

UGA Alert is UGA’s emergency mass notification system that is capable of sending thousands of messages within minutes through e-mail, SMS text messages and phone calls. Make sure your emergency information is correct and stays up to date by logging onto the system. The system will only be used when there is a severe threat to the public safety and health of the entire campus that has not been contained or controlled, and when immediate action is required. The UGA Alert phone number reflected on your caller ID will be (706) 542-0111. UGA Alert Desktop is available for UGA students, faculty and staff to install on their computers through EITS’s software page. Any UGA employees who need help installing the UGA Alert app on their desktop are advised to contact their department’s IT staff for assistance.

UGA Alert messages are also posted to three Twitter feeds: (@ugaalert, @universityofga, @UGAOEP)

The campus-wide email notification system Arch News can rapidly send information to all faculty, staff, and students on campus. It is typically utilized to provide campus-wide general announcements, lane closures, crime updates, and inclement weather closings.

• If a medical emergency occurs, call 911 and notify a Ramsey employee
• Provide the emergency dispatcher with your name, location, the number of people injured, and a description of the medical emergency.
• Stay on the phone for instructions of how you can assist.
• Do not move the person unless there is an immediate threat to the injured person in that location (be sure to avoid bodily fluids).

Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a small, portable device that analyzes the heart’s rhythm for any abnormalities and, if necessary, directs the rescuer to deliver an electrical shock to the heart of someone suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. This shock, called defibrillation, may help the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm.

Evacuation Chair
Evacuation chairs are fold-up chairs, which are stored near emergency exits and allow people with permanent or temporary mobility limitations to be moved downstairs during an emergency.

Injury Report
Should you witness an emergency or offer assistance, you may be asked to complete an incident or accident report with a Ramsey employee or emergency personnel.

Pre-Planning For A Fire

• Familiarize yourself with the evacuation routes for all floors of the Ramsey Student Center.
• Locate the nearest fire alarm pull stations and fire extinguishers from your work area and know how to operate them. If you would like additional training in the use of portable fire extinguishers, contact the Environmental Safety Office.
• Be aware of your surroundings while visiting other areas in the building and take note of the nearest exits.
• Know the sound of the building fire alarm system so you know when to take action if the fire alarm system is activated.
• Keep office exits and hallways free of obstructions.
• Maintain current phone lists of all office staff members.
• Participate and engage in all planned fire drills.

What To Do in Case Of A Fire

• Evacuate the building immediately. When the fire alarm is activated, evacuation is mandatory. Always assume an actual fire or emergency exists.
• Do not use the elevators.
• Notify the UGA Police at 911 immediately. Make contact with the nearest Ramsey employee. Remain calm and give your name and the location of the fire (room number and what is burning, if known). The University Police Department will notify all appropriate agencies to respond to the emergency. University police officers will also be dispatched to the building.
• Follow staff instructions upon exiting the building.
• Never re-enter the building until you are given an “all clear.”

Exiting The Building With Caution

• If you are in the building when a fire alarm sounds, remain calm and proceed to the nearest exit immediately. If the door is closed in the room in which you are located, do not open the door. Feel the knob and the upper part of the door for heat.
• If the knob and/or door are cool to the touch, brace yourself against the door and open it slightly. Check the conditions in the hallway. If the hallway does not contain excessive smoke and heat, proceed to the nearest exit with caution.
• If the knob and/or door are hot, or even warm to the touch, do not open the door. There is a good chance that the fire is in the hallway near your room and your probability of reaching an exit is very slim. Look for another way out of the room. If you are unable to locate another exit, remain in the room. Stuff the cracks around the door with any available items (towels, cloths, rugs, etc.) to keep out as much heat and smoke as possible.
• If you are trapped in a room due to flames or smoke in the hallway, let emergency responders know by calling the UGA Police to advise them of your location.

Evacuating People With Disabilities

• It is recommended that any person with a disability who needs assistance evacuating and sheltering in the event of an emergency self-identify and complete an Emergency Assistance Referral Form.
• Visually Impaired Persons – Announce the type of emergency, offer your arm for guidance, tell the person where you are going, and ask if further help is needed once you reach safety.
• People with Hearing Limitations – Turn lights on/off to gain the person’s attention, or indicate directions with gestures or write a note with evacuation directions, and assist to safety as needed.
• People Using Crutches, Canes or Walkers – Evacuate these individuals as injured persons, assist and accompany them to the evacuation site if possible, or use a sturdy chair (or one with wheels) to move the person, or help carry the individual to safety.
• Wheelchair Users – Check with the individual on their preference, determine if an evacuation chair is available, remove any immediate dangers, and immediately advise arriving first responders of special evacuation cases.

The University of Georgia recognizes the potential threat that severe weather, particularly tornadoes, poses to the large, dispersed, and active University environment. The Ramsey Student Center will operate in accordance with the University of Georgia’s Inclement Weather and Emergency Closing Procedures.

Tornado Watch
A tornado watch is issued by the National Weather Service when tornadoes are possible in the area. This means no tornadoes have been sighted but conditions are favorable for spawning tornadoes. Normal activities need not be interrupted during a watch unless threatening skies are observed. No action is necessary except to be prepared to act appropriately if the weather is downgraded to a warning.

Tornado Warning
A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar in the area. Upon notification, notify Ramsey Student Center staff. Everyone should proceed to the nearest designated shelter location. Do not use the elevators. Everyone should remain in the severe weather safe areas until an “all clear” is given.

Tornado Emergency Notification Methods
UGA’s Athens Campus has four outdoor tornado warning sirens which are activated by Athens-Clarke County during tornado warnings for the county. The outdoor tornado sirens are only intended to be heard by persons who are located outdoors. During an actual tornado warning for Clarke County, the sirens will sound for three minutes and then a 30-second pause will occur. After the pause, the sirens will sound again for three minutes with another 30-second pause. This sequence will continue until the warning is canceled or expires. These sirens can be located at the State Botanical Gardens, on top of the Chemistry Building, at the end of Rogers Road, and on top of the East Campus Parking Deck. 

Most bomb threats are received by phone. If you receive that call, act quickly, but remain calm and obtain as much information as possible from the caller. Notify UGA Police via 911 and find a Ramsey Student Center employee.

Do not activate the fire alarm to evacuate the building. Upon assessment of the threat, the UGA Police Department will make the call to evacuate the building, if needed. If evacuation is necessary, please follow UGA Police and Ramsey staff instructions upon exiting the building.

An active shooter is defined as an armed individual who has attacked with deadly force one or more persons, and who will continue to seek out and harm as many people as possible. The UGA Office of Emergency Preparedness and the UGA Police Department developed a training program and video entitled “Plan, Prepare, React: Active Shooter Response Options for Institutes of Higher Education.”

• Notify the UGA Police at 911 immediately.
• Do not pull the fire alarm to alert others of an active shooter, as this may put others in danger. Ignore any fire alarms while you are sheltered inside an office or other areas.
• Take the necessary precautions and actions to protect your well-being. Flee the area if you are able to do so safely and avoid danger. If flight is impossible, lock or barricade all doors and secure yourself in a safe area. If barricading in a safe area, shut off lights and stay out of sight. Remain in place until an “all clear” is given by law enforcement.
• Take action as a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger. Attempt to incapacitate the active shooter or active threat by either throwing items or with physical aggression.

• Notify the UGA Police at 911 and Ramsey Student Center staff immediately.
• Do not attempt to clean up the spill and remove yourself from the area.
• If anyone had contact with the hazardous material, they should be isolated and await treatment by emergency personnel.
• Provide first responders with as much information you can provide about the spill, potential chemicals, and the spill area.
• For additional information on chemical spills, environmental health, and occupational safety visit the Environmental Safety Division website.