EPCC Emergency Evacuation

EPCC Office of Risk Management & Safety

(ORMS)

• Promote a safe and healthy work environment

• Prevent accidents and injuries to staff and students through increased safety awareness and training

• To eliminate unsafe conditions, hazards, and work practices throughout the El Paso County Community College District.

Risk Management Mission

PREPARE YOURSELF

Connect to the ORMS Web page

• Information contained in this presentation can be found on the ORMS

web page.

Navigating to the ORMS web page

While there are a couple of

ways to access the web page,

the following is suggested:

1. From the EPCC main site,

click on the “Faculty & Staff”

link.

2. Locate and click on the “Office

of Risk Management and Safety”

link

3) Click on the link to the

Emergencies page

4) Emergency information and

links to handouts that can be

printed and distributed as

needed.

Student Evacuation Guidelines

Know where emergency exits are

located

Be familiar with at least two

exits from:

Each of your classrooms

The library

The cafeteria

Any labs you attend

Other locations you visit

frequently

Use the “Buddy System”• Connect with someone in your

class that can be your “Buddy”.

• A “Buddy” is someone who will

stay with you in case of an

evacuation and knows if you

need help leaving the building.

• If you are absent from class, your

“Buddy” will be able to let

emergency personnel know.

When you hear the fire alarm –

LEAVE

IMMEDIATELY!!!

Don’t wait for class to be

dismissed.

Stop what you are doing!

Shut down any experiments and

turn off gas and electricity.

Won’t worry about work on the

computer, hit save and leave. If

the computer is still there, the

College has employees that can

recover your files.

Turn off equipment that may

cause a hazard if left alone, or

when power is restored.

Stay calm. Don’t Panic

Depending on the situation, it

may not be easy to keep

calm.

If you practice, in your mind,

what you would do if the fire

alarm were to sound, you will

be more able to stay calm.

Take only your personal belongings

Proceed to the nearest EXIT

Close, but don’t lock the door as you leave.

Closing the door will help keep a

fire from spreading as quickly as it

would with the door open.

Don’t lock the door, because you

or someone else may need to

take refuge in that room.

If Unable to Leave:

Have one person call the EPCC

Police Department at 831-2200.

(multiple calls at the same time

will tie up the PD phone)

Tell the dispatcher your location

and stay on the line for further

instructions.

Dispatch is manned 24/7

Go to the nearest stairwell, if in a multi-

storied building

Stay to the right of the stairs as you

descend.

Keep talking and noise to a

minimum in order to hear any

directions if they are given.

Don’t take the elevator!!

Elevator shafts can fill with smoke.

Electricity can go out and leave

you stranded in the elevator.

Go to the nearest outside exit• Walk quickly, don’t run.

• Continue through the doors and

keep walking.

Pull the fire alarm

If the alarm cannot be heard

where you are exiting the

building, pull the alarm at the

outside exit.

Do not put the alarm in case of a

bomb threat.

Alarm Sounds

Leave the Building, Immediately

Go to gathering area, wait for instructions.

Go back in the building or leave when told to do so by EPCC PD or Safety Corps member

Do NOT stop at the doorway!!!

Stopping close to the doorways

can prevent others from being

able to exit.

Stopping close to the doorways

can be dangerous.

Keep Moving

As you exit the building, keep

moving until you reach a safe

area.

Safe Area

Safe areas are places that

are at least 100 yards away

from the building.

Your instructor may have a

designated safe area for

their class to assemble. If

so, meet there for further

instructions.

WHY 300 Feet?

Emergency vehicles need a lot of room.

Fire trucks are very, very large and

need a lot of room to operate.

Explosions can happen.

Gas lines can erupt from heat.

Go to a pre-designated gathering area or parking

lot.

•Do not leave. You may impede

emergency vehicles.

•Stay there until told to re-enter

the building or to leave.

•The EPCC PD will direct traffic.

In the parking lot

You can get into your vehicle, but

don’t leave until the EPCC Police

or EPCC Safety Corps members

direct you to do so. Leaving

could cause a traffic jam.

Emergency vehicles need the

room to come in.

Wait until told that you can re-enter the building by:

• EPCC PD

• Safety Corps Member

• El Paso PD

• El Paso Fire Department

Emergency evacuation due to fire.

A fire can double in size every

30 seconds!

• From the ground floor, you must be out of

the building in less than 3 minutes!!

Station Nightclub Fire• February 20, 2003

• Fire started due to pyrotechnics igniting foam insulation in walls and

ceilings

• Fire lasted about 5 ½ minutes

• 100 people died

Fire!!

Great White performing at the

Station Night Club in New Jersey

Seconds Count!!

• Remember . . .

In case of fire:

• Call 911 to report the fire

• Call EPCC Police, as soon as possible, to let them know you have

called 911, tell them the location of the fire.

• Stay on the line.

Tejano Alert

The Tejano Alert system will send

text messages and/or email to

students and employees.

Everyone will be automatically

enrolled.

Watch for instructions on adding

your cell phone, coming soon.

Quiz1. What is considered a safe distance for

evacuation?a. 250 feet

b. 100 yards

c. 300 feet

d. Both b & c

2. In how much time must a building be

evacuated?a. 3 minutes

b. 10 minutes

c. 1 minute

d. 1 hour

3. True or false: Running is the best way to

escape.

4. EPCC PD can be reached at:a. 831-9111

b. 831-2200

c. 856-5686

d. 831-4564

5. True or False: The Tejano Tribune will send out

alerts via email and texts if you are not

enrolled.

6. When you hear a fire alarm you should:6. Stay where you are

7. Look for the fire alarm

8. Leave immediately

9. Panic

7. True or False: It is very important to know where

all emergency exits are.

8. Which is the best to use to escape a building on

fire:6. Elevator

7. Stairs

9. True or False: When going down stairs, you

should always stick to the right side.

10. True or False: The “buddy system” is a great

way to make sure everyone gets out of an

emergency.