What to Do in an Emergency
Every second counts in an emergency, and our priority at Jacksonville University is your safety. Planning ahead and knowing what to expect is integral when facing a disaster or threat. Please take a moment to read our step-by-step approach to handling high-alert scenarios on campus.
First, calling 9-1-1 and alerting Campus Security should always be your first action in the situations described in this guide.
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- Armed Assault & Terrorist Threat
- Sexual Assault
- Civil Disturbances and/or Riots
- Suspicious Package/Bomb Threat
- Suspicious Package/Bomb Threat
- Hostage Situation
- Death on Campus
- Fire
- Hazardous Material
- Weather Emergency
- Medical Emergency
Armed Assault & Terrorist Threat
You should be prepared to:
- Call 9-1-1 and alert Campus Security at (904) 256-7585.
- Keep out of harm’s way while awaiting for security and/or first responders.
- Provide as much information as possible to security and/or authorities, including details about who, what, when, and where.
You can expect first responders to:
- Direct evacuation as necessary.
- Clear fire lanes and building access.
- Provide immediate medical attention.
You can expect Campus Security to:
- Support law enforcement and first responders.
- Keep incident area clear of bystanders.
- Secure access to campus.
- Provide timely alerts and/or warnings.
Sexual Assault
You should be prepared to:
- Flee and fight back.
- Call 9-1-1 and alert Campus Security at (904) 256-7585.
- Seek medical attention at the first opportunity.
- Provide as much information as possible to security and/or authorities, including details about who, what, when, and where, including a physical description of the perpetrator.
- Do not bathe, shower, or dispose of clothing before a medical examination and an interview can be completed.
You can expect first responders to:
- Assist victim and remove from danger.
- Provide immediate medical attention.
You can expect Campus Security to:
- Support law enforcement and first responders.
- Keep incident area clear of bystanders.
Civil Disturbances and/or Riots
You should be prepared to:
- Call 9-1-1 and alert Campus Security at (904) 256-7585.
- If near incident, close windows and doors.
- Keep out of harm’s way while awaiting for security and/or first responders.
- Continue normal routine if incident is under control.
You can expect first responders to:
- Assist victims and remove from incident areas.
- Provide immediate medical attention.
- Direct evacuation as necessary.
- Clear fire lanes and building access.
You can expect Campus Security to:
- Support law enforcement and first responders.
- Keep incident area clear of bystanders.
- Coordinate movement to/from offices or classrooms in the event of non-violent demonstrations.
- Alert other personnel to make emergency repairs to damaged equipment and/or buildings.
- Secure access to campus as necessary.
Suspicious Package/Bomb Threat
You should be prepared to:
- Call 9-1-1 and alert Campus Security at (904) 256-7585.
- Evacuate the area and direct others to evacuate, providing assistance to others when possible and remembering that elevators may be disabled.
- Provide description of object and location.
- If a threat is received by phone, provide the following details, if possible:
- When will the bomb detonate?
- Where is the bomb located or allegedly located?
- What type of bomb is it?
- What does the bomb look like?
- Why was the bomb placed on campus?
- Who, if anyone, is claiming responsibility?
You can expect first responders to:
- Direct evacuation as necessary.
- Clear a 500-foot perimeter.
You can expect Campus Security to:
- Support law enforcement and first responders.
- Keep incident area clear of bystanders.
- Secure access to campus.
- Notify campus when the “all clear” has been given.
Hostage Situation
As a witness, you should be prepared to:
- Call 9-1-1 and alert Campus Security at (904) 256-7585.
- Remain on scene to provide information to security and/or authorities.
- Provide as much detail as possible, including descriptions of who, what, when, and where.
As a hostage, you should be prepared to:
- Remain calm and alert.
- Avoid unnecessary risk of personal injury or death, attempting escape only if it does not further endanger your life.
- Do not resist, allowing law enforcement to lead and respond.
- Comply with instructions from abductors and police.
- Avoid engaging abductor in conversation.
- Do not maintain eye contact with abductor.
- Maintain mental picture of perpetrators, events, movements, etc.
You can expect first responders to:
- Direct evacuation as necessary.
- Clear a perimeter and secure access to hostage area.
- Provide immediate medical attention.
- Assist and remove hostages from danger when possible.
You can expect Campus Security to:
- Avoid confrontation with abductors.
- Support law enforcement and first responders.
- Keep incident area clear of bystanders.
- Secure access to campus, as necessary.
Death on Campus
You should be prepared to:
- Call 9-1-1 and alert Campus Security at (904) 256-7585.
- If first on scene, remember—don’t touch anything.
- Remain on scene to provide information to security and/or authorities.
- Continue normal routine, avoiding incident perimeter.
You can expect first responders to:
- Create a perimeter.
- Gather information from all persons present and any persons connected to the deceased.
- Resist releasing details to others, leaving authorities and the University’s communications team to disseminate information to others as needed.
You can expect Campus Security to:
- Contact and support law enforcement and first responders.
- Keep incident area clear of bystanders and ensuring the scene remains unaltered before the arrival of law enforcement.
- In the event of an apparent suicide, removing a body from a hanging device is also considered altering the scene and to be avoided.
You can expect the University to:
- Handle all notifications to next of kin.
- Coordinate with University’s chaplain, counseling services, and administration regarding funeral arrangements and subsequent public notifications.
- Coordinate with other personnel to provide clean-up and make repairs to damaged areas and/or buildings.
Fire
You should be prepared to:
- Call 9-1-1 and alert Campus Security at (904) 256-7585.
- Provide detailed and accurate information about the location of affected areas.
- Evacuate the area and direct others to evacuate, providing assistance to others when possible and remembering that elevators may be disabled.
- Leave by nearest marked EXIT route.
- Avoid smoke by staying low to the ground.
- Utilize hand‐held extinguishers, as far as possible without endangering your life further.
- In the event fire becomes uncontrollable, isolate area by closing doors and windows, but do not lock them.
- If trapped in room with window access, alert Fire/Rescue by waving a cloth (any fabric available) outside the window.
- Remain a 500-foot distance from affected areas until Campus Security gives the “all clear” to re-enter buildings.
You can expect first responders to:
- Direct immediate evacuation.
- Assist victims and remove from incident areas.
- Provide immediate medical attention.
- Clear fire lanes and building access, maintaining a 500-foot perimeter.
You can expect Campus Security to:
- Support law enforcement and first responders.
- Keep incident area clear of bystanders.
- Secure access to campus as necessary.
- Notify campus when the “all clear” has been given by authorities.
- Alert other personnel to make emergency repairs to damaged equipment and/or buildings.
Hazardous Material
You should be prepared to:
- Call 9-1-1 and alert Campus Security at (904) 256-7585.
- Provide detailed and accurate information about the location of affected areas.
- Evacuate the area and direct others to evacuate, providing assistance to others when possible and remembering that elevators may be disabled.
- Leave by nearest marked EXIT route.
- Avoid material contact with skin, eyes, and clothing.
- Shut windows and doors to stop spread of fumes.
- Remain a 500-foot distance from affected areas until Campus Security gives the “all clear” to re-enter buildings.
You can expect first responders to:
- Direct immediate evacuation.
- Assist victims and remove from incident areas.
- Provide immediate medical attention.
- Clear fire lanes and building access, maintaining a 500-foot perimeter.
You can expect Campus Security to:
- Support law enforcement and first responders.
- Keep incident area clear of bystanders.
- Coordinate campus inspections to ensure compliance with evacuation order.
- Secure access to campus as necessary.
- Determine nature and source of spill/leak.
- Notify campus when the “all clear” has been given by authorities.
- Alert other personnel to make emergency repairs to damaged equipment and/or buildings.
Weather Emergency
For example, a hurricane, tornado, tropical storm, or severe thunderstorm.
Remember, the difference between a tornado watch and a warning is:
- Authorities are watching severe weather conditions for possible funnels.
- A tornado has been sighted and authorities are warning you to take necessary precautions.
More information about weather emergencies and hurricane preparedness is available here.
You should be prepared to:
- Seek shelter indoors, preferably an interior hallway or lower floor.
- Avoid seeking shelter in the gymnasium.
- Avoid windows and doors, taking shelter under heavy furniture, if available.
- If outdoors, find shelter in a ditch or depression.
- Report any injuries, damage, and/or flooding to Campus Security at (904) 256-7585.
You can expect Campus Security to:
- Monitor NOAA Weather Radio on 24‐Hour basis.
- Provide notifications and activating alerts for approaching severe weather.
- Patrol campus, urging everyone to stay indoors.
- Coordinating with other personnel to:
- Recall staff working in exposed areas across campus.
- Secure loose gear, inspect and secure buildings.
- Inspect campus after storm to assess damage.
Medical Emergency
Minor Injury/Illness
You should be prepared to do the following in the event of minor injury or illness:
- Alert Campus Security at (904) 256-7585.
- Provide detailed and accurate information about the location of victim(s).
Serious Injury/Illness
You should be prepared to do the following in the event of serious injury or illness:
- Call 9-1-1 and alert Campus Security at (904) 256-7585.
- Provide as much detail as possible, including your name, the exact location of victim, and the nature of illness/injury.
Choking
You should be prepared to do the following in the event of someone choking:
- Loudly direct someone to call 9-1-1 and alert Campus Security at (904) 256-7585.
- From behind, wrap arms around victim’s waist.
- Make fist, placing thumb side against upper abdomen.
- Grasp fist with other hand, press into victim’s upper abdomen with quick upward thrust.
- Do not squeeze ribcage, upward force comes from hand, repeat until object is expelled.
- Provide as much detail as possible, including your name.
Substance Overdose
You should be prepared to do the following in the event of a substance overdose:
- Call 9-1-1 and alert Campus Security at (904) 256-7585.
- Provide as much detail as possible, including your name, the exact location of victim, and the nature of illness/injury.
- If victim is conscious, ask the following questions:
- What type of drug or alcoholic beverage was ingested?
- How much was ingested, when, and for how long?
- Do not induce vomiting.
- Do not provide food or drink, including water.
- Locate and retain any container that might have held the substance ingested.
Mental Health-Related Crisis
You should be prepared to do the following in the event of a mental health-related crisis:
- Remain calm, stay with him/her, and enlist assistance, if possible.
- Alert Campus Security at (904) 256-7585, the Student Counseling Center at (904) 256-7180, and/or Residence Life staff.
- Provide as much detail as possible, including your name and the exact location of victim.
Thank you for taking the time to familiarize yourself with these steps and being prepared for an emergency.
