Emergency Resource Guide

Download Emergency Procedures Quick Guide (PDF)

St. Mary’s College of Maryland utilizes the following platforms to notify the campus of emergency conditions and provide updates of any ongoing situations and/or conditions.

Campus Shield SEAHAWK ALERT text notifications
External Campus Alert System (Siren & Voice Instructions)

College Website

• College Email
• Twitter

• @SMCMPublicSafety
• @StMarysMD

If you should receive an alert through one or more of these systems:

• Assess the alert, if it applies to your location follow the instructions provided in the alert.
• Isolate yourself from potential danger or threats, utilizing this guide.

Upon receiving a bomb threat by phone:

• Remain calm
• Listen Carefully
• Do not interrupt the callerTry to keep the caller talking.
• Keep the caller on the phone as long as possible.
• Write down exactly what the caller says.

Try to determine:

• The time the device is set to detonate.
• The location of the device.
• A description of the device.
• Type of explosive utilized.
• How the device is detonated.
• Did the caller place the device.
• Why was the device placed.
• Name, address and phone number of the caller.
• Organization the caller represents.
• Age, gender and voice characteristics of the caller.
• Background noises during the call.
• Ensure that the Office of Public Safety is notified at ext. 4911
• Do not erase threats if left on voicemail.
• Notify your supervisor.
• Do not pull the fire alarm.

Upon receiving a bomb threat by mail or email:

• If received by mail do not touch unnecessarily.
• If by email do not delete.
• Notify the Office of Public Safety at ext. 4911 immediately.
• Notify your supervisor.

Download Bomb Threat Call Procedures (PDF)

The College supports the rights of persons to self-expression, dissent, and to demonstrate provided that demonstrations are lawful, do not disrupt normal College activities, or do not infringe upon the rights of others.  Most demonstrations are peaceful.  People not involved in protests and/or demonstrations should carry on business as usual.  It is the illegal acts which may arise during these activities that concern the College.

If protests and/or demonstrations disrupt normal College activities, result in damage to College building or grounds, or threaten the safety of others:

• Remain calm.
• Notify the Office of Public Safety at ext. 4911.
• Avoid obstructing or provoking protesters.
• Alert persons in the area of the situation.
• If prudent lock doors and windows and close blinds.
• Follow the directions of responding Public Safety Officers.

College buildings will be immediately and totally evacuated whenever building fire alarms are sounding.

Procedures

• If safe to do so, shut off all machinery and equipment in work areas.
• Do no attempt to fight fires.
• Close doors and windows if time permits.
• Leave buildings using the nearest exit.
• Do not use elevators.
• Feel doors before opening them.
• Crawl if there is smoke.
• Call the Office of Public Safety, ext. 4911 and/or 911.
• Do not re-enter buildings until instructed to do so.

If you are trapped:

• Stuff the cracks around doors with towels, lab coats, throw rugs, etc. to keep out as much heat and smoke as possible.
• Go to windows and if there are no smoke or flames outside open windows. Signal for help by hanging a jacket, towel, etc. out of the window.
• Call the Office of Public Safety at ext. 4911 and let them know your exact location.
• Do not attempt to jump from multi-story buildings.

Gather at the following designated assembly areas:

Residence Building Assembly Areas

Caroline Hall: Montgomery Hall patio                                Queen Anne Hall: Wooded area behind the building

Dorchester Hall: Montgomery Hall patio                           Townhouse Crescents: Grass area near DPC

Lewis Quad: grass area near DPC                                        Townhouse Greens: DPC patio or Admissions Field

Prince George Hall: Montgomery Hall patio                      Waring Commons: grass area by DPC or Club Field

 

Academic and Administrative Building Assembly Areas

Admissions Office and Annex: Admissions Field               Library: grass area by Campus Center/Parking Lot K

Anne Arundel Hall: HSMC parking lot                                 Margaret Brent Hall: grass area by Campus Center

Baltimore Hall: grass area near Campus Center                M. P. O’Brien Athletics & Recreation Center: Game Field

Calvert Hall: Kent Hall steps                                                  Montgomery Hall: Admissions Field

Campus Center: grass area by Library                                  Public Safety: next to Kent Hall

Cobb House: Queen Anne parking lot                                   Physical Plant: grass area behind the MPOARC/Lot T

Ethel Chance Hall: Admissions Field                                    River Center: next to Kent Hall

Glendening Hall: Sycamore Lawn (quad)/Lot Z                 Schaefer Hall: Admissions Field/Glendening Lawn

Goodpaster Hall: Admissions Field/Game Field                St. Mary’s Hall: Front lawn

Kent Hall: next to Calvert Hall/River Center lawn             White House: River Center lawn

HAZMAT incidents may be:

• Indoor and outdoor fuel spills
• Solvent or other chemical spills
• Chemical or biological spills in laboratories and buildings
• Chemical odors
• Natural gas odors and leaks
• Fire in a facility involving highly toxic chemicals, infectious substances or radioactive materials.

If you witness a HAZMAT spill evacuate the spill site and warn others to stay away.

Procedures to take in the event of a HAZMAT spill:

• Leave the area of the spill first and go to a safe location nearby.
• If you have the proper training and protective gear:Follow proper cleanup procedures and use proper protection
• Limit the spread of the material
• Manage the generated waste appropriately
• Isolate the spill area and post signs as necessary
• Notify your supervisor
• Contact the Office of Public Safety at 240-895-4911 to report:The nature of the incident
• The name of the HAZMAT if known
• The exact location
• Injured or exposed individuals

If you suspect or witness a release of hazardous material to the environment call the Office of Public Safety.

Infrastructure failure can involve:

• Utilities
• Elevators
• Fire detection and suppression systems
• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning

To report infrastructure failures call:

• Physical Plant, ext. 4287 Monday-Friday during normal business hours
• Office of Public Safety, ext. 4911

Electrical Failures

• Turn off equipment to reduce the potential for damage caused by power surges.
• Evacuate laboratories because of the inability to operate fume hoods.

Plumbing Failures/Pipe Ruptures

• Turn off electrical equipment to minimize the potential for electrocutions and equipment damage.

Elevator Failures

• Persons trapped in elevators should use emergency telephones in elevators to call the Office of Public Safety, ext. 4911.
• Do not attempt to crawl through escape hatches or force elevator doors open. Only trained mechanics, elevator technicians, emergency response personnel may conduct elevator rescues.

Fire Detection and Suppression System Impairments

• Report all failures and impairments to the Office of Public Safety, ext. 4911

Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) System Problems

• Strange odors or unit failures should be reported to the Physical Plant, ext. 4287
• Report of large amount of smoke from an HVAC unit should be immediately reported to the Office of Public Safety, ext. 4911.

Propane Leak

• Open windows if possible to increase ventilation.
• Turn off all possible ignition sources.
• Do not turn on any lights or electrical equipment.
• Use phones away from the area of the leak.
• Call the Office of Public Safety, ext. 4911.

All medical emergencies occurring on campus should be reported immediately by calling SMCM Office of Public Safety @ 240-895-4911 and/or 911 (9-911 from a campus phone) or the Campus Shield safety app. Medical emergencies may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Any life-threatening situation
• Loss of consciousness
• Chest Pain
• Excessive bleeding
• Seizures
• Head injury
• Compound fractures
• Allergic reactions with shortness of breath, excessive swelling
• Ingestion or inhalation of a toxic substance

Quick Response

• Dial 240-895-4911 or ext. 4911
• Dial 911 (9-911 from a campus phone).
• Do not move victim unless safety dictates.
• If trained, use pressure to stop bleeding.
• Use CPR if no pulse and not breathing.

State that medical aid is needed and provide the following information:

• Location of injured person (eg. which building, room, number, etc.).
• Type of injury or problem.
• The individual’s present condition.
• The sequence of events leading to the emergency.
• Medical history and name of injured person’s doctor, if known.
• The phone number where you are.
• Stay on the phone with the dispatcher.

A public health emergency exists when campus air, drinking water, or food is contaminated with one or more hazardous agents such as chemicals or pathogens that could or will result in disease or injury impacting large numbers of people. Likewise, other campus wide incidents such as pest infestations or failure of the sewage system also have the potential to result in disease or injury that would be significant to communities.

Actions will be taken to notify the college community of these conditions as soon as St. Mary’s College of Maryland becomes aware of an outbreak of such an emergency.

The following types of outbreaks or epidemics represent public health emergencies:

• Communicable disease: widespread disease for which vaccination is not available;
• Food-borne disease: gastrointestinal illness;
• Waterborne disease: microbiological or chemical agents;
• Injuries resulting from infestation with insects, rodents or other pests (e.g. bedbugs);
• Infectious disease resulting from contact with sewage or other human wastes.

Student Health Services, the Office of Resident Life, Public Safety, Environmental Safety, and Facilities Services each have a responsibility to be aware of the public health significance of utility failures, reports of unusual diseases or injuries, or an unusual frequency of certain diseases and injuries. St. Mary’s College of Maryland will work closely with local and state agencies such as the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to respond quickly and effectively to public health emergencies that occur at St. Mary’s College of Maryland or in the neighboring community.

Violent weather is very unpredictable, but with the aid of modern technology the approach of such weather is often known in advance. Every reasonable effort will be made to warn the college community when severe weather is eminent.

Tornado / Hurricane / High Winds

• Stay indoors.
• Move away from windows and open doors (preferably into an interior hallway).
• If possible, move to the lowest level of the building.
• Do not use elevators, electrical equipment or telephone.
• Sit on the floor and cover your head with your arms to protect from flying debris.
• Await instructions from campus officials.

Earthquake

• Stay indoors.
• Crawl under a table or desk or brace yourself by standing in an interior doorway.
• Do not use elevators, electrical equipment or telephone.
• Do not use open flame.
• Be prepared for aftershocks.
• Await instruction from campus officials.

Floods

• Stay indoors.
• Never attempt to walk or drive through flood waters.
• Await instructions from campus officials.

Winter Storms / Blizzards

• Stay indoors.
• Do not walk or drive during the storm and risk becoming stranded.
• Await instructions from campus officials.

Sheltering in place means that individuals must seek immediate shelter in buildings or residences halls and remain there until College officials and/or law enforcement personnel issue additional instructions or declare that emergency conditions have ended.

In the event that a shelter in place order is given due to criminal activity on or near campus the following procedures will be followed:

• Remain calm
• If you are outside, seek cover in the nearest unlocked building.  Do not wait until you see the danger to seek shelter.  Resist the urge to go outside and “check it out”.
• All students, faculty, staff and visitors will immediately seek shelter in the nearest room with a door (locking door if available).
• Faculty and staff, if safe to do so, are requested to provide direction and assistance to students and visitors by directing them to a location where they may seek shelter.
• Close and lock all windows and doors. If the door has no lock, barricade with available items.
• If possible cover all interior windows and door windows.
• Stay away from all doors and windows, move to interior walls and try to remain out of sight of potential threats.
• Turn off all lights.
• Remain quiet, silence all cell phones.
• Do not leave until instructed to do so by law enforcement personnel.
• Cooperate with law enforcement. Keep your hands empty and visible when interacting with them.
• Monitor cell phones to receive emergency alerts through Campus Shield safety app.  Report any suspicious persons or activities to Public Safety @ 240-895-4911 and/or 911.
• If you are in an open area such as a dining area, seek concealment behind a solid object such as a door, file cabinet or counter. Remain quiet and wait for law enforcement to arrive and assist you.
• Once in a secure space the space needs to remain secure.  If there are individuals outside the secured door that seek to enter they may endanger you and others.  Use good judgement.
• Do not leave until an “all clear” is received.