purpose of this plan is to provide information and direction to
all employees and anyone else who may be in the Stewart Library
in the eventuality of the following emergencies:
Crisis Hotline (Police)
City Public Safety
(6693 after 5:00 p.m.)
Poison Control Center
TO REPORT A THEFT OR DAMAGE TO LIBRARY PROPERTY:
Call WSU Crisis Hotline at 6460, then notify the
Library Administration Office.
Please fill out a Stewart Library Incident Report Form
following any incident.
to Table of Emergencey Response Manual Table of Contents
1. If the intruder(s) are in your area:
a) Avoid antagonizing the intruder(s): Avoid eye contact. Avoid risks
b) Do not defend the library: It is not your responsibility to act as
a police officer. Resistance may only increase the destruction and bring
about bodily harm to staff and patrons.
c) If possible to do so without detection, call 6460 or 9-911. Provide
the following information, and remain on the telephone until released:
1) Your Name, department, phone number, and current
2) A brief description of the person or persons
3) Report the nature of the problem: How many
people are involved? Does there appear
to be an obvious motive? What type of weapons have been observed?
2. If the intruder(s) are in another area of the building:
a) Call 6460 or 9-911 to report the intrusion.
b) If you can begin to evacuate the library without detection, contact
staff and patrons via phone or personally. Direct them to exits located
out of the view of the intruder(s).
c) If undetected evacuation is not possible, direct staff and patrons
via phone or personally to an office, study room or area which can be
secured. Lock the door(s). Turn off the lights and keep out of sight.
BOMB THREAT CALL CHECKLIST
Remain calm. BE COURTEOUS AND LISTEN TO WHAT IS SAID. DO NOT INTERRUPT
THE CALLER. As they speak, record as much information as possible. Fill
in the following as quickly as possible:
Time of call?
When will the bomb go off?
How much time is left?
Where is the Bomb? In what room?
What kind of Bomb is it?
What does the Bomb look like?
When the caller is finished speaking, INFORM THEM THAT THE BUILDING IS
OCCUPIED AND THE EXPLOSION WILL CAUSE INJURY AND DEATH. Attempt to keep
the caller on the line. Ask questions such as: Why is the Library being
bombed? How do you know about the bomb? Why are you calling? What is your
name? Make a note of the following as the caller talks:
Loud; Raspy; Soft; Pleasant; Deep; Nasal; High; Intoxicated
ACCENT: Local; Foreign;
Fast; Slow; Distinct; Distorted; Lisp; Stutter; Slurred
Calm; Rational; Angry;Laughing; Coherent;Incoherent; Irrational;
LANGUAGE: Poor; Fair;
Good; Obscene; Profane; Abusive
Office machines; Factory machines; Music; Traffic; Trains; Planes;
When the call terminates: 1) Call 6460 or 9-911
(Bomb Threat Checklist)
DURING THE TREMOR
1. DON'T PANIC. The motion is frightening, but unless it causes something
to fall on you, it is relatively harmless.
2. If you are indoors, stay indoors. Get under a desk, door frame, table
or bench, or against an inside wall. Stay away from glass, out of stack
areas and the central lobby. Do not use candles, matches, or other open
flames either during or after the tremor. Do not be surprised if the electricity
3. If you are outside, move away from buildings and utility wires. Once
in the open, stay there until the shaking stops.
4. Do not run through or near buildings. The greatest danger from falling
debris is just outside doorways and outer walls.
5. If you are in a vehicle, stop as quickly as safety permits. Stay in
the vehicle. The car will move a great deal but it is a relatively safe
place to be.
AFTER THE TREMOR
1. Check for injuries. Do not attempt to move seriously injured persons
unless they are in immediate danger of additional life-threatening injury.
2. If the building is severely damaged, evacuate it immediately (see:
3. Do not turn on utilities, including light switches. Do not use any
type of open flame for lighting purposes. If you smell gas, open windows
and leave building. Do not re-enter building until officials say it is
safe.4. Do not use telephones except to report an emergency: 6460 or 9-911
If another person is stranded in an elevator
1) Assure them that help will arrive shortly. Let the
person know the emergency phones in the elevator connect directly with
the WSU Physical Plan
2) Do not attempt to force the doors open.
3) Call 6331 (WSU Facilities Management or 6693 after
5:00 p.m./weekends) to verify that the problem has been reported. If no
answer, call 6460 or 9-911: Give your name, department and current location,
a brief description of the person or persons involved, the nature of the
4) Wait for maintenance responder at the elevator.
If you are stranded in an elevator
1) Remain calm, and offer assurance to others in the
2) Use the emergency phone to call for assistance.
If the phone is not working, shout to draw attention.
3) Do not attempt to force the doors open.
4) Wait for assistance.
FIRE OR EXPLOSION
1. Activate the Emergency Alarms: The alarm system should
detect most fires and automatically activate. If not, activate an alarm
at a pull station. (Pull stations are located near exits and stairwells.)
2. CALL 6460 or 9-911. Provide the following information,
and remain on the telephone until released: Your name, department, phone
number, current location, exact Library location(s) affected.
3. Use of Fire Extinguishers: If the fire is small, you
can fight it with a fire extinguisher or building fire hose once you've
activated the fire alarm and called 6460 or 9-911. Be sure you use the
proper extinguisher for the type of fire you are fighting. If you are
not sure, read the instructions on the extinguisher. Remember to keep
yourself between the fire and the nearest exit. You should familiarize
yourself with fire extinguishers and pull stations in your immediate area
4. When Making an Emergency Exit of the Library: Feel doors
before opening them. If a door is hot, don't open it-there may be a fire
on the other side. If there is smoke, crawl to your exit. Cleaner air
is near the floor. The last person out of a room should close the door.
Help patrons and visitors locate exits.
5. Evacuating the Library: If the fire is large, very smoky,
or rapid-spreading, evacuate the building immediately. Inform others in
the building who may not have responded to the fire alarm to evacuate
immediately. The alarm may not sound continuously. If the alarm stops,
continue to evacuate. Warn others who may enter the building after the
alarm stops. Do not use the elevators during an evacuation.
6. If your clothing should catch on fire: Do not run. Drop
and roll to smother the flames. If you see someone on fire, use a coat,
or blanket etc., to smother the flames. Do not use your hands to extinguish
7. If you become trapped in the Library: Go to an exterior
window. All doors should be closed around you and sealed tightly to prevent
smoke penetration (use drapes, coats, etc.) Wait at the window and signal
for help. If there is no smoke outside the window, break the window to
attract attention and call for help.
(Fire or Explosion)
1. Call WSU Facilities Management at 6331 (6693 after 5:00
p.m./weekends) to report the problem.
If no answer call 6460.
2. Post a staff member or post a sign at the entrance of flooded area
to keep out unauthorized personnel.
3. If there is no danger of electrocution or other injury, move or cover
materials and furnishings to prevent damage.
(Flooding and Water Leaks)
- Call 6460 or 9-911. Remain on the telephone until released and provide
the following information: Your name, department, phone number, current
location, the nature of the problem, and a brief description of the
person or persons involved.
- Send someone to meet medics at loading dock door.
- Remain with the victim until help arrives. If trained, appropriate
first aid treatment should be applied. DO NOT EXCEED YOUR LEVEL OF FIRST
AID TRAINING. Look for "Medic Alert" tags.
- Do not attempt to use elevators or descend unlighted stairways to
exit. Remain calm and wait where you are for a few minutes. Advise those
in your area to do the same. In most cases the power will be restored
- Locate the flashlight(s) stored in your work area.
- Call WSU Facilities Management at 6331 (6693 after 5:00 p.m. and on
weekends). Provide the follwoing information, and remain on the telephone
until released: Your name, department, current location, and the nature
and extent of the problem.
- If the outage last longer than a few minutes, use the flashlights
to direct others to the main floor and the areas adjacent to the central
lobby. Turn off electronic equipment.
- If the power failure lasts longer than thirty (30) minutes, emergency
closing procedures should be initiated: A) Announce that the library
is closing. If necessary, use the flashlights to assist patrons to the
exits; B) Check all floors, restrooms, study rooms, etc. and direct
anyone in those areas to the main lobby for exit; C) When all patrons
have exited, secure the doors; D) Initiate closing procedures for your
- Remain in the building. If the campus is closed due to blizzard conditions,
high winds or severe thunder storms, do not attempt to "beat the
storm" home. Stay inside until it is safe to go to your car.
- Locate a flashlight in preparation for power failure (See: POWER FAILURE).
Monitor weather conditions via the Internet, radio (portable radio in
Circulation Services) or television (in Special Collections). If lightning
strikes seem near, turn off electronic equipment and do not use the
- During severe thunderstorm or tornado watches stay away from windows,
skylights, glass doors, etc.
- During severe thunderstorm or tornado warnings move to the lower level
of the north wing, or take cover beneath a desk. Alert library patrons
to do the same.
LEWD, LASCIVIOUS, OR
SEXUALLY THREATENING BEHAVIOR
- Call 6460 or 9-911. Provide the following information: Your name,
department, current location, the nature of the problem, a brief description
of the person or persons involved.
- Remain in the vicinity of the incident and wait for police to arrive.
Identify yourself and be prepared to provide authorities with a statement.
1. DON'T TOUCH OR MOVE THE OBJECT! Advise others in the vicinity
to move away and to keep others away.
2. Call 6460 or 9-911. Provide the following information,
and remain on the telephone until released: Your name, department, phone
number, current location, description of the package and why you think
it may be an explosive.
3. Meet police officers at the entrance to which you
have directed them and once more identify yourself
4. Calmly advise library patrons to leave the vicinity
or, if necessary, evacuate the building. (See: EVACUATION)