Emergency Procedures for Students, Faculty, and Staff

• 911 From a campus phone or cell phone on campus
• TEXT your emergency and location to 9-1-1 to reach CSUN Police
• Emergency "Blue Light" Phones and Yellow TTY Emergency Call Boxes (Activate the phone and you will be connected to CSUN Police)

• CSUN Home Page (http://www.csun.edu/) will display emergency bulletins
• Instagram (@csunpd), Facebook, and CSUN Police Services pages
• Twitter:@csunorthridge
• KNX 1070AM or KABC 790AM: Emergency Alert System (EAS)
• 1-866-535-2786: Faculty/Staff (For Campus Status)
• 1-866-515-2786: Students/Community (For Campus Status)

Student responsibilities in emergency management and preparedness include:

• Ensure your Emergency Contact information is up to date in the web portal for the campus mass communications system.
• Follow instructions from faculty, staff, and emergency personnel during emergency situations.
• Take drills seriously and encourage others to do the same.
• Familiarize yourself with building evacuation maps and emergency assembly points for the buildings in which you spend the most time. Identify at least two exit routes from each classroom you spend time in.
• DO NOT USE ELEVATORS during an emergency! USE STAIRS!
• Learn what to do in an emergency beforehand-understand different procedures such as evacuation and shelter in place that may be ordered depending on the emergency situation.
• Stay informed about any special hazards or vulnerabilities that may exist in your classrooms and labs.

Faculty responsibilities in providing a safe learning environment for students in their classrooms include:

Inform students at the first class meeting and throughout the semester of the appropriate safety information relevant to any hazards encountered in their classroom, and the following information:

• The location of the closest fire extinguishers to the classroom. 
• A primary and secondary exit route from the classroom that could be used during an evacuation. 
• The location and content of the building evacuation maps, including the designated emergency assembly point for the class. Building evacuation maps are located near the elevators. 
• Dial 911 on all campus phones or cell phones, or TEXT your emergency and location to 9-1-1 to reach CSUN Police.
  Outside on campus, use Blue Light emergency phones to report an emergency. 
• Inform students about campus emergency procedures. These include how to respond to a medical emergency, fire/explosion, hazardous materials spill, bomb threat, earthquake, evacuation, etc.
• Advise students to ensure emergency contact information is up to date in web portal for campus mass communications system.

• Be familiar with your College/Department or unit's Emergency Action Plan.
• Identify your Building Marshals and participate in any building evacuation drills. 
• Be familiar with your building's floor plan. Identify primary and secondary exit routes from your worksite. Know where fire extinguishers and first aid kits are located. 
• Know the location and content of the building evacuation maps including the designated emergency assembly area for your worksite. Building evacuation maps are located near the elevators. 
• Know about campus emergency procedures such as how to respond to a medical emergency, fire/explosion, hazardous materials spill, bomb threat, earthquake, evacuation, etc. 
• Be informed about appropriate safety information relevant to any hazards encountered in your work place. 
• Ensure your emergency contact information is up to date in the web portal for the campus mass communications system.

In general how you respond to an active shooter will be dictated by the specific circumstances of the encounter, bearing in mind there could be more than one shooter involved in the same situation.

If you find yourself involved in an active shooter situation, try to remain calm and use these guidelines to help you plan a strategy for survival.

Get Out!  When you hear gunshots, don’t second guess the situation.  Get out immediately if at all possible.  If you are out in the open, take cover or run away in a zig zag pattern.

Hide Out!  Find a location, lock or blockade the door, turn off the lights, spread out with others in the room and make a plan.

—Help Out! Help the injured as best you can until help arrives.  Remain calm and quiet and be a calming influence for others.

—Fight! If neither running nor hiding is a safe option, as a last resort, when confronted by the shooter, consider trying to disrupt or incapacitate the shooter. This can be done by using aggressive force such as using items in the environment to throw at a shooter (fire extinguisher, chair, backpacks, etc.).  This is a life/death situation in which your “survival mindset” must take over!

Report ALL bomb threat calls to the University Police at 911 from a campus phone or cell phone or TEXT your emergency and location to 9-1-1 to reach CSUN Police

Don't ever make a threat as a "joke."

Have a healthy suspicion that causes you to aleart faculty staff when something doesn't seem right.

Any person receiving a phone call that a bomb or other explosive device has been placed on campus is to ask the caller:

• Where is the bomb located?
• When will it go off?
• What does it look like?
• What kind of bomb is it?
• What will make it explode?
• Did you place the bomb?
• Why? What is your name?

Keep the caller on the phone as long as possible. Listen carefully to the caller and try to determine and record the following:

• Date and time of the call.
• Exact words of the caller.
• Age and sex of the caller.
• Speech pattern and/or accent.
• Emotional state.
• Background noises (i.e., traffic)

CSUN Police Officers and the CSUN K9 bomb unit will conduct a detailed bomb search.

IF YOU FIND A SUSPICIOUS OBJECT:

• DO NOT TOUCH THE OBJECT.
• CALL 911.
• REPORT THE LOCATION TO THE CSUN POLICE!
• CLEAR THE AREA IMMEDIATELY.

Should an earthquake strike while you are in a campus building, do the following: 

1. DROP – Drop down to the floor. 
2. COVER - Take cover under a sturdy desk, table or other furniture. If that is not possible, seek cover against an interior wall and protect your head and neck with your arms. Avoid danger spots near windows, hanging objects, mirrors or tall furniture. 
3. HOLD ON - If you take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture, HOLD on to it and be prepared to move with it. Hold the position until the ground stops shaking and it is safe to move.

• If you are in a hallway, drop to the floor against an interior wall - protect your head and neck with your arms.
• DO NOT enter or exit the building during the shaking - there is danger from falling debris. 
• DO NOT use the elevators. 
• If you are outdoors, find a spot away from buildings, trees, streetlights and power lines. Drop to the ground and stay there until the shaking stops.
• EVACUATION IS NOT AUTOMATIC! Check your surroundings to see if you can leave safely-evacuate if directed by emergency personnel or if the fire alarm is sounding.
• BE PREPARED FOR AFTERSHOCKS!

Building Evacuations will occur via one of the following things happen:

• When a building evacuation alarm is sounded; or
• Upon notification by a CSUN Police Officer or Building Marshal.

When a signal to evacuate the building is sounded:

• Take your personal belongings with you.
• Walk quickly to the nearest marked exit/stairwell.
• Do not use the elevators. USE STAIRS!
• Assist people with disabilities or special needs in exiting the building.
• Once outside the building, move to your designated Emergency Assembly Point.
• Stay at least 100 feet away from any affected buildings or structures.
• Keep streets and walkways clear for emergency vehicles and personnel.
• DO NOT return to an evacuated building unless directed to do so by a CSUN Police Officer or Building Marshal.

Under no circumstances should a student or any member of the university community unilaterally decide to ignore a fire alarm, fire drill, or a request for evacuation in order to continue working without interruption.

If you discover fire or see smoke:

Call CSUN Police at 911 from a campus phone or cell phone or TEXT your emergency and location to 9-1-1 to reach CSUN Police, or use a Blue Light emergency phone, identify yourself and report the following:

• Building name and address.
• Room/specific location of the fire.
• Smoke or flame.
• Smoke odor

For minor fires such as smoke in a waste basket, locate the fire extinguisher.

Fire extinguisher instructions:

• P - PULL safety pin from handle
• A - AIM nozzle at the base of the fire
• S  - SQUEEZE the trigger handle
• S  - SWEEP from side to side - watch for re-flash.

For large fires, evacuate the building and pull a fire alarm. If there is heavy smoke, stay low to the ground as you evacuate. Check doors for heat before opening them.

If you become trapped inside a building during a fire:

• Call CSUN Police 911 from campus phone or cell phone or TEXT your emergency and location to 9-1-1 to reach CSUN Police.
• Tell them your location and that you need Fire Department assistance to get out.
• Stay near a window and close to the floor. 
• If possible, signal for help.

Local wildfires that interface with the local area will be monitored by campus officials to include close monitoring of air quality for the CSUN area.  In the event of smoke in the air, campus officials will communicate updates in the event conditions change on campus.

For current information on air quality for the West San Fernando Valley, please utilize the links found on CSUN Environmental Health and Safety's site.

In case of hazardous material spill or exposure to infectious material, remain calm and proceed as follows:

Chemical and Solvent Spills:

 If spill involves personal injury: 

• remove clothing;
• flush with warm tap water for 15 minutes;
• call 911 from a campus phone or cell phone or TEXT your emergency and location to 9-1-1 to reach CSUN Police
  

If immediate hazard exists or medical assistance is required:

• Call 911 from a campus phone or cell phone or TEXT your emergency and location to 9-1-1 to reach CSUN Police.
• Immediately evacuate and limit access to the affected area. 
• All evacuations should be upwind from the release location.

For small spills/those not involving immediate danger to lives or property:

• Confine the spill.
• Evacuate and secure the immediate area; limit access to authorized personnel.

Contact Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) at campus extension 2401 or 818-677-2401 from cell phone. 

• Identify yourself and report the information. 
• Be as specific as possible about the type, amount of the spill/material released.
• Provide the location of the spill.

Unless immediate medical attention is needed, all persons who have been potentially exposed should report to emergency personnel at the Incident Command Post site (look for police vehicle with a green flag) and notify the Incident Commander that they have been exposed. 

Injury and illness are the most common of all campus-related emergencies.

If there is a serious injury or illness occurs, remain calm and proceed as follows:

Call CSUN Police at 911from a campus phone or cell phone or TEXT your emergency and location to 9-1-1 to reach CSUN Police.

• Give your name.
• Describe the nature and severity of the medical problem.
• Give the campus location of the victim.
• Provide an estimated age and gender of the victim.
• Describe whether or not the victim is conscious and breathing. 
• Look for an emergency medical ID and give all information to the Police. 
• Administer first aid to the extent possible based on your level of training.

Note: All CSUN Police Officers are trained in basic first aid, CPR and AED. During normal working hours (8-5) Monday through Friday,
a nurse and/or a doctor from the Klotz Student Health Center will also be summoned.

• In case of minor injury or illness, an injured person may go to the Klotz Student Health Center.
• If in doubt, contact University Police!
• All injuries must be reported to a faculty or staff supervisor.

Note: A Supervisor's Accident Investigation Report (EH&S Form 620) must be completed and EH&S must be called at x2401 within 8 hours for all employee injuries.

In the event that a Shelter in Place is ordered, you must stay in your building. Shelter in Place may be ordered for hazardous materials situations, severe weather events, or certain violent situations. Adhere to the following guidelines if a Shelter in Place is ordered:

• Move to an interior room or building space away from as many windows as possible.
• Do not use elevators.
• Bring everyone into the room.
• If available, take a radio or television with you to monitor the news if it is safe to do so (not during active shooter situations).
• Shut and lock all windows and doors.
• Make a list of who is there.
• Keep calm and review evacuation procedures with others that are with you.
• Check your CSUN email and text messages regularly for more information.
•  Stay where you are until authorities have notified you that it is safe to leave. Wait for further directions from a CSUN Police Officer or via official emergency notification methods.

Important note regarding phones during any type of emergency:

Overloading will likely bring down all telephone services, including cellular phones. Avoid using any telephone services except for life safety and emergency calls.

While there are many cyber security threats, it is important to remember that many are avoidable. Use good judgment and practice good cyber habits to keep your information and privacy safe.

• Passwords - Create a password that is at least 12 characters long using a mix of letters and characters and is something that cannot be easily guessed.  Do not share your passwords with anyone.
• Phishing & Other Scams - These can compromise your computer/device and trick you into revealing valuable information or trick you out of money.  Be aware of deceptive emails and texts informing you that there is a problem with an account or requiring you update or send your password to fix a problem.
• Internet Privacy - Set the privacy and security setting on web services and devices to your comfort level. Limit how and with whom you share information.
• Enable Automatic Updates - Updates fix problems in your operating system software and apps making your computer/device less vulnerable to viruses and hackers.
  
• Filesharing Risks - Improperly configured filesharing software can allow others to access your entire computer.  Run up-to-date anti-malware software.

Heat can be damaging and even deadly by pushing the human body beyond its limits. In extreme heat and humidity, evaporation is slowed and the body must work extra had to maintain a normal temperature.  A heat wave is an extended period of extreme heat, and is often accompanied by high humidity.

Before Extreme Heat:

• Check air-conditioning ducts for proper insulation.
• Listen to local weather forecasts and stay aware of upcoming temperature changes.
• Get trained in first aid to learn how to treat heat-related emergencies.

During Extreme Heat:

• Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
• Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.
• Postpone outdoor games and activities.
• Eat well-balanced, light, and regular meals.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Limit intake of alcoholic beverages.
• Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
• Check on family, friends, and animals frequently to ensure they are not suffering from the heat.
• Be aware of sunburns, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.