Skidmore College
Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP)

Classrooms and Laboratory Emergency Guidelines for Faculty/Instructors

Consistent with this guideline, instructors must:
  • Provide their classes or audience with general information relating to emergency procedures. This information should be shared during the first week of class or at the start of a seminar.
  • Know how to report an emergency from each classroom used.
  • Assure that persons with disabilities have the information they need. The instructor should be familiar with disabled students' plans and also be able to direct visitors with disabilities.
  • Take responsible charge of the classroom and follow emergency procedures for all building alarms and emergencies.

What Instructors Need to Know about Emergency Preparedness

The instructor is an authority figure for students, whether consciously or subconsciously, and can influence how students respond in an emergency. Instructors who are prepared for emergencies will be able to help calm students by being in control and giving calm and clear directions.
  1. Evacuation Routes

    The College is in the process of posting floor plans on building walls showing evacuation routes. Check your classroom(s) to see if the plans are posted.

  3. Emergency Assembly Points

    After a class leaves the alarmed building or area, it is important for them to go to a predetermined area where the each person's presence can be documented. This "safe area" will be a designated Emergency Assembly Point where the class will not interfere with responding emergency services nor place themselves at risk of injury from the emergency. Evacuation routes in most College buildings lead the occupants out the building.

    • Look on the building evacuation route floor plans for the designated Emergency Assembly Points.

    Accounting for all students can be very difficult, particularly with a large class. However, an attempt must be made. For example, it might be possible for the instructor to: wait until all the students have left the room/lab, use the class roster, use a head count, or have students see if the students seated next to them are at the assembly point. You must also account for persons with disabilities (see below).

  5. Evacuation for persons with Disabilities

    If there is a person with a disability in the class, the instructor must know the person's response plan and who may be assisting him/her. Four options are available to persons with disabilities (refer to additional procedures in the section on Evacuation Procedures):
    • Horizontal Evacuation to outside or another building, if available
    • Stairway Evacuation
    • Stay in Place unless danger is imminent
    • Area of Refuge if available
    • Elevators cannot be used during an emergency evacuation!

  7. Reporting to Campus Safety

    After exiting and accounting for students, Campus Safety will notify emergency personnel of persons missing or trapped or persons with disabilities that are waiting assistance in areas of refuge.

  9. Fire Alarms

    Fire alarms will be a sound and may include strobe lights for people with hearing disabilities. When the alarm sounds, everyone must exit the alarmed area according to the evacuation plan.
    • Everyone Must Evacuate Immediately!
    • Procedures that may be hazardous if left unattended should be shut down.
    • Verify that everyone leaves and that all the doors are closed. Closed doors significantly reduce fire and smoke damage.

  11. Earthquakes

    Most of the injuries that occur during earthquakes are caused by interior items falling on the building occupants, such as books, shelves, light fixtures, ceiling tiles and office equipment. Consequently, the first thing to do during an earthquake is to have everyone drop to the floor, cover their head, and hold that position. After the shaking stops and if there is building damage, tell the class to collect their possessions calmly and evacuate the building to the Emergency Assembly Point. Caution them to watch for brick and other exterior building materials that may have been knocked loose by the earthquake.
    • Equipment that may be hazardous if left unattended should be shut down.

  13. Power Outage

    Most campus buildings are not provided with emergency or standby power. Consequently, if the power does go out during class, have the people stay in their seats for a little while and wait for the power to return. If the power does not return in a reasonable length of time (~ 5 minutes), evacuate the classroom or laboratory. Evacuation should take advantage of available lighting unless the building is in alarm, in which case use the same evacuation procedures as during a fire. Caution students that there is no rush, they should take their time exiting the building. Emergency lighting may or may not be functioning in the room, hallway, or stairways.

  15. How to Report an Emergency

    Check each classroom, lecture hall, or laboratory for the nearest working telephone or the nearest fire alarm pull station.
    • Fire: Activate Fire Alarm Pull Station
    • Health/Police: Call Campus Safety at X5566
    • Hazardous Material Spill: Call Campus Safety at X5566
    • Facility or Utility Failure: Call Campus Safety at X5566

Emergency Preparedness Materials that Instructors should have with them in Class
  1. Class Roster

  3. Important telephone numbers (in addition to Emergency numbers):
    • Department Administrator / Manager_______________
    • Classroom Services_______________
    • Student Services_______________
    • Others as appropriate_______________