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Emergencies and Disasters

The following information comes from Public Safety. Call (206) 296-5990 or visit their website for more information.

Reporting Emergencies
Earthquakes
Evacuation Areas
Fire or Explosion
Hazardous Material Spill
Medical Emergency

Reporting Emergencies

What to Do:

To report an emergency OFF CAMPUS, dial 911. If the off-campus emergency involves a University activity, make a report to Campus Public Safety when the emergency is over.

To report an emergency ON CAMPUS, call Campus Public Safety: x5911 or (206) 296-5911.

Say: "This is an emergency" and give the dispatcher the following information:

  • Your location
  • The nature of the emergency
  • Your name
  • Phone number from which you are calling
  • Stay on the line until you are sure no further information is required.
  • After notifying emergency personnel, notify building staff.
  • Watch for the arrival of emergency personnel and direct them to the appropriate location.

In the case of the following emergencies, call x5911:

  • Fire
  • Medical emergencies
  • Crime in progress
  • Power outage
  • Earthquake
  • Hazardous Materials exposures / leaks

Earthquake

How to Prepare:

  • Make a plan with family members and/or significant others on a pre-arranged meeting place after an earthquake.
  • Look at your surroundings and think about where you could seek shelter from falling objects.
  • Secure overhead items in your work area to avoid injury during an earthquake.
  • Keep a few personal survival items at your desk, in your office, or in your vehicle - flashlight, emergency-contact phone numbers, a pair of comfortable walking shoes, and a battery-powered radio.
  • Become familiar with all the exits in your building.

What to Do:

  • Remain calm. If a serious injury or hazard exists try to reach Campus Public Safety at (x5911) (note: after earthquakes telephone systems may be down).
  • If indoors, take cover under a freestanding desk or table and hold on.
  • Stay away from windows, tall objects and overhead lights.
  • If no cover is available, duck and hold near an interior wall.
  • Shield your head and face from falling debris.
  • If outdoors, move away from buildings, utility wires, and all other overhead obstructions.

What Not to Do:

  • Do not rush outside. Many earthquake injuries occur from falling debris just outside doorways.
  • Do not use the elevators.
  • Do not 'Tie-up' the phone system un-necessarily. If you see any telephones off-the-hook then hang them up.
  • Do not use matches, lighters or other open flames and do not turn on lights or electrical equipment, as there may be leaking natural gas in the area.

What to Do After:

  • Check for injuries to yourself and others. Report any injuries to Campus Public Safety (x5911) or send a runner to a campus Evacuation location and notify a Building Marshal.
  • Administer first aid if necessary. Do not move seriously injured individuals unless an immediate hazard exists (fire, leaking gas, possible electrocution, etc...) necessary.
  • Evacuate the building if you observe damage, if there are gas leaks or fires, or if directed to do so by University officials. Move away from the building to a designated evacuation area.
  • Use extreme caution in rescue attempts if others are trapped. If possible, wait for trained personnel to guide rescue efforts.
  • Make note of people who are missing and report them to a Building Marshal. A Building Marshal will be at each designated evacuation location and identified by a bright colored traffic vest.

University Emergency Evacuation - Assembly Areas

Note: Emergency circumstances may require all persons to leave initial evacuation assembly areas and move to the University Evacuation Camp, which is located at Championship Field. Public Safety staff will advise when further evacuation is necessary. You may review specific building evacuation information on the Seattle University Public Safety website http://www.seattleu.edu/safety/.

    • Campus Buildings Evacuation Assembly Areas Map/Area
    • Administration - The Quad A
    • Murphy Apartments - Logan Field B
    • Arrupe Jesuit Residence Library - West parking lot C
    • Bannan - Science & Engr. E. Columbia Mall & Library Lawn D
    • Bellarmine Hall - E. Columbia Circle E
    • Campion Hall - Logan Field B
    • Casey Building - The Quad A
    • Cherry St. House - Logan Field B
    • Connolly Center - Championship Field H
    • Fine Arts Building - Union Green/E. Spring Street F
    • Garrand - The Quad A
    • Lynn Building - E. Spring Street Mall I
    • Lemieux Library Library - West parking lot C
    • Loyola - The Quad A
    • Performing Arts Center - 11th & E. Marion parking lot G
    • Pigott Building 11th & E. Marion lot/Union Green G/J
    • Seaport Building 11th & E. Columbia Circle E
    • St. Ignatius Chapel Union Green & E. Columbia F/I
    • Student Center/Pavilion E. Columbia St. Mall D
    • Sullivan Hall Library Lawn & E. Columbia D/E
    • University Services Building 11th & E. Marion parking lot/Chapel G/J
    • Xavier - Union Green/ E. Spring St. F

Fire or Explosion

What to do:

  • Report a fire by calling Campus Public Safety (x5911).
  • Sound the fire alarm.
  • Evacuate the building.
  • Notify Building Marshals and or Campus Public Safety if you suspect anyone may be trapped in the building.
  • If clothing catches fire: STOP, DROP AND ROLL. DO NOT RUN.
  • If caught in heavy smoke, drop to hands and knees and crawl; hold breath as much as possible; breathe shallowly through nose, and use a blouse, shirt or jacket as a filter.
  • If trapped by fire, place wet towel or other clothing at the base of the door to prevent smoke from seeping in. Use a phone to request assistance by calling x5911 or yell out a window for assistance.
  • Retreat. Close as many doors as possible between you and the fire. Be prepared to signal from windows, but do not break glass unless necessary because outside smoke may be drawn in.

What Not to Do:

  • Do not attempt to extinguish a fire by yourself unless it is very small and localized. Always call x5911 for assistance.
  • Do not ignore alarms or assume they are false alarms.
  • Do not use elevators.
  • Do not return to your building until University officials notify you that it is safe to do so.

Hazardous Material Spill

What to Do Inside:

  • If you are inside where a spill has occurred, immediately evacuate the building.
  • If you cannot evacuate, go to a protected, interior area of a building where toxic vapors are reduced. Close all windows and doors. Seal gaps under doorways and windows with wet towels and duct tape or similar thick tape.
  • If there is risk of an explosion, close all shades and draperies. Stay away from the windows to prevent injury from flying glass.
  • If you suspect that gas or vapors have entered the building, take shallow breaths through a cloth or towel.

What to Do Outside:

  • Move uphill and upwind; hazardous materials can be transported quickly through air and water.
  • Go to a protected, interior area of a building where toxic vapors are reduced.
  • Notify Campus Public Safety from a safe location as soon as it is practical (x5911).

What Not to Do:

  • Do not attempt to clean up a spill.
  • Do not touch or step in spilled materials.

What to Do After Being Exposed to:

  • Corrosives. These are substances that cause visible destruction or permanent changes of the skin tissue upon contact.
    • Wash your eyes for 15 to 20 minutes if they are affected.
    • Eyelids must be open; do not rub the injured area.
    • Get under a shower; remove all clothing; wash with soap and water.
  • Flammables. These are liquids with a flash point below 100 degrees F with gases that burn readily.
    • Turn off the main electricity and gas jets.
    • Evacuate the building.
  • Toxics. These are poisonous substances.
    • Wash your hands.
    • Discard contaminated clothing or objects.
    • Use the appropriate antidotes.
  • Reactives. These are substances that can undergo a chemical or other change that may result in an explosion, burning and corrosive or toxic conditions.
    • Close all doors.
    • Evacuate the danger area.
    • Follow decontamination instructions from local fire or health authorities.

Medical Emergency

What to Do:

  • Report all medical emergencies to Campus Public Safety (x5911).
  • Indicate your location, the nature of the medical problem, and your name.
  • Remain with the victim until campus security officers or emergency personnel arrive.
  • If you are trained, give first aid.
  • Be aware that Campus Public Safety is equipped with AED's (Automatic External Defibrillators) to assist heart attack victims.

What Not to Do:

  • Do not move the victim unless there is an immediate threat to safety.