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The University of New South Wales

Emergency Situations

Fire

Medical Emergency

Personal Threats

Bomb Threat

Evacuation

Internal Emergency

External Emergency

 

Fire

  1. Rescue people from immediate danger - if safe to do so
  2. Raise the alarm:
    • Push the Break Glass Alarm (if fitted)
    • Ring Ext. 56666
  3. If safe to do so, contain fire and smoke by closing all doors and windows
  4. Only attempt to extinguish the fire by using the appropriate fire fighting equipment, if trained and safe to do so
  5. Prepare to evacuate if necessary
  6. Leave lights on
  7. Following instructions from emergency wardens, security and other emergency personnel
  8. Save records if possible

 

Medical Emergency

  1. Remain calm, do not panic
  2. Assess the situation:
    • Danger to you and patient
    • Response of patient
    • If airway is cleared and unobstructed
    • Whether patient is breathing
    • Patient's circulation (do they have any pulse)
  3. Raise the alarm and call for help - ring Ext. 56666. Advise Security your location, patient's age/sex, symptoms and signs, any prior medical illnesses, medication
  4. Commence cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or first aid as required (if trained)
  5. Refer protocols for emergencies located in the UNSW Emergency Procedures Manual.

Note: Never leave casualty alone. Do not move casualty unless exposed to a life threatening situation. Provide support and appropriate assistance until emergency help arrives.

 

Personal Threat

Personal threats include assault, armed hold-ups, robbery, persons at risk (suicide) etc:

  1. Remain calm - Do not panic or shout, avoid eye contact. Do not make sudden movements.
  2. Do not take risks - Hand over whatever is requested and do not do anything which may antagonise the offender.
  3. Do only what you are told, do not volunteer any other information.
  4. Observe offender's characteristics, such as sex, height, voice, clothing, tattoos, jewellery, items touched etc. Also note type of vehicle use for escape, registration number if possible and last know direction.
  5. Altert other staff if it is safe to do so without risk. Contain yourself in a secure area by locking your office door, closing blinds and staying out of sight.
  6. Ring Security on Ext. 56666, do not hang up, stay on the line and keep the line of communication open. Give your name, room number, building and request urgent attendance. Mostly importantly - remain CALM.
  7. Record immediately the offenders description, what they may have taken, models and serial numbers, descriptions of any items they may have, or any other relevant details.

For an Armed Offender as above plus:

  1. Where possible, alert others without leaving your room. Advise people to secure themselves if safe to do so, in a secure area, remain out of sight and do not make a noise to attract attention to the offender/s.
  2. Call Security Ext. 56666 immediately, advising your name, location and your phone extension.
  3. Listen out for further instructions from either the warden or emergency personnel.
  4. If anyone is injured, treat with first aid until further assistance arrives.

 

 

Bomb Threat

  1. Remain calm and treat call as genuine. Record exact information on the Bomb Threat Checklist. Prolong conversation and DO NOT hang up.
  2. Attract attention of second person but ensure you do not alert caller to your actions. Get second person to call UNSW Emergency Line Ext. 56666 and report the call.
  3. Be attentive and note distinguishing background noises, music, traffic etc. Note voice characteristics and whether caller indicate knowledge of the building.
  4. Record details immediately referring to the Bomb Threat Checklist.
  5. Notify UNSW Security on Ext. 56666 and your floor warden.
  6. Prepare to follow instructions of warden, Security, police and other emergency service personnal. Evacuate if necessary or assist in search if requested.
  7. If object found, do not touch it. Report that you have found it. Open doors and windows where possible and evacuate area.

 

Evacuation

Evacuation is the rapid removal of people from immediate or threatened danger in a safe and orderly manner.

  1. Remain calm and calm persons who appear agitated around you.
  2. Alert the warden in charge of that floor. Ring Ext. 56666 and advise Security that you are evacuating.
  3. Inform staff and other personnel which Assembly Area to use.
  4. Evacuate of staff and visitors is to be carried out in the following staged order:
    • Out of immediate danger e.g. out of room
    • Total evacuation of the building

    Evacuate people in immediate danger first, then in the following order:

    • Ambulant
    • Semi-ambulant
    • Non-ambulant
  5. Use suitable carry/drag methods.
  6. Check that all rooms, especially change rooms, toilets, behind doors, storage areas etc. Note any persons who do not wish to evacuate i.e. their room number and ascertain their name if possible and report this to someone in charge.
  7. Conduct a headcount if possible. Also ask contractors and supervisors to account for their staff. If any persons are missing, report this immediately to someone in charge i.e. Security, floor warden etc.
  8. Report to any person in charge. Notify emergency services of any persons unaccounted for. Report to floor warden if your floor has evacuated safely.

It is everyone's responsibility to see where their Evacuation Assembly Point is. It is also your responsibility to learn and know your safe evacuation exit out of your floor. Every emergency can bring changes to the way you leave your building.

 

 

Internal Emergency

Other than fire/smoke, an internal emergency could be caused by explosion, electrical power failure, water supply failure, structural failure, spillage or leakage or hazardous substances, illegal occupancy etc.

  1. Hazardous substances, leakage or spillage of hazardous substances:
    • Ring Ext. 56666 immediately - advise location, what the substance is, if there is anyone hurt
    • Contain the area - close doors and windows, if possible identify the substance, i.e. its UN number, how much has been spilt etc.
    • If persons are injured treat appropriately with first aid, and isolate them from other non-contaminated persons
    • Evacuate immediate area and wait for further instructions from emergency services
  2. Illegal occupancy/intruders
    • Ring Security immediately on Ext. 56666
    • Get a description of the person/s - sex, approximate age, height, build, hair colour, complexion, clothing, carrying anything (bag, weapon etc)
    • Do not approach the person. Isolate yourslef from them and wait for Security
    • Secure your area by locking your door and wait for Security to attend
  3. Power/Water failure
    • Business hours - ring your Zone Maintenance office and/or Security Ext. 56666
      • Zone 1 - Ext. 51156
      • Zone 2 - Ext. 53512
      • Zone 3 - Ext. 55253
      • Zone 4 - Ext. 54159
      • Zone 5 - Ext. 55244
    • If there is an emergency, such as persons trapped in lifts, ring Security immediately Ext. 56666, identify the building and the Lift Number.
  4. Structural failure
    • Remain calm
    • Alert and evacuate immediate area - advise your floor warden
    • Ring Security on Ext. 56666, identify the problem and give them a return telephone number
    • Prepare to leave the building immediately

DO NOT attempt any action which puts your life or others in danger

  • Follow instructions of persons in charge
  • Prepare to evacuate if necessary

 

 

External Emergency

An external emergency could be caused by natural disasters, bushfire, earthquake, flooding, major road accidents, aircraft crash, civil disturbance etc.

It is essential that staff familiarise themselves with the Emergency Action guides, which are located on the Emergency Management Units website.

  1. Remain calm in the event of an emergency/disaster, call for assistance immediately on Ext. 56666. If phones are out, use someone's mobile phone and call 000. State who you are, your location, what the problem is and your phone number.
  2. Prepare to evacuate and secure your area.
  3. Treat any persons who may have been injured. Ring Ext. 56666 to report any persons injured or trapped.
  4. Advise employees and students of the situation. Explain to personnel how they may need to self-evacuate. Advise your emergency warden/s and wait for further instructions.

Only in exceptional circumstances use the telephone, otherwise listen out for instructions and wait to be called.