Emergency Response Procedures

Bowling Green State University, the City of Bowling Green, and Wood County utilize an emergency warning system to provide residents with immediate notification of impending emergencies or disasters, primarily tornadoes.

If a tornado is sighted in the County, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office will activate the audible outdoor siren system.  BGSU Police dispatchers will also send a message via AlertBG when the sirens are activated.  Everyone should go directly to the nearest tornado shelter area until the warning period given by the National Weather Service is over.

Fire

Evacuate immediately and follow these guidelines:

• Proceed to nearest exit
• Close doors 
• Remain low if encountering smoke 
• Activate nearest fire alarm if possible
• Contact BGSU Police (2-2346) or call 911
• Use stairs, not elevators
• Assist others if safe to do so 
• Meet at designated assembly areas
• Stay away from building entrance(s)
• Account for individuals
• Re-enter area only when directed by authorities

Severe Weather/Tornado

If a warning is issued for severe weather or tornadoes are imminent:

• Close all doors, including main corridors
• Move to lowest interior space of building, such as hallways, basements and restrooms away from windows and glass
• Look for severe weather shelter area signs in your building
• Crouch near floor or under heavy, well supported objects and cover the back of your head
• If outdoors and there is no time to move into an interior space, lie flat in nearest depression, ditch, or ravine and cover the back of your head

Medical Emergency

Helping others during a medical emergency can be intimidating, but there are steps we can all take:

• Contact BGSU Police (2-2346) or call 911
• Locate the nearest Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and follow instructions
• If trained, administer first aid/CPR as appropriate
• If not trained, stay clear of the area where emergency has occurred
• Stay on the line until directed otherwise
• Direct first responders to the incident location

Hostile / Violent Intruder

In the event of an active shooter or person using a weapon within the building, the following guidelines should be followed:

• Contact BGSU Police (419-372-2346 or 911) as soon it is safe to do so
• Utilize all the steps taught in ALICE in any order 
• Provide as many details of the suspect, location and other information as possible 
  • Alert – first notification of danger (tell others)
  • Lockdown – Your first instinct should be to evacuate, but if not possible secure/barricade the room you are in using whatever means available
  • Inform – Communicate information to law enforcement as quickly as possible 
  • Counter – As a last resort, if you encounter the intruder create noise, movement, distance and distraction
  • Evacuate – Whenever safe to do so, leave the location and consider all possible exits
• If you know location of suspect, consider escaping if a safe route is available
• Stay behind solid objects away from door and windows
• Minimize noise that may draw attention to your location - turn off lights, computers and radios and put cell phones on vibrate
• Obey law enforcement direction

Power Outage

During a power outage/blackout, phone lines may or may not work. If they are not working, use a cell phone to notify BGSU Police dispatch (2-2346 or 911).

• Shut down all equipment and machines that should be turned off during a prolonged power outage
• Implement general evacuation guidelines if necessary
• If people are trapped in an elevator, do not pry open elevator doors
• Isolate hazardous areas to prevent harm
• If the building is equipped with a backup generator, notify BGSU Police dispatch if the generator does not activate during the power outage
• Re-enter area only when directed by authorities

Natural Gas Leak 

If you smell natural gas, contact BGSU Police dispatch (2-2346 or 911) immediately.

• Leave the area at once and go to an exterior location where you no longer smell gas
• Do not operate any electrical devices, phones, including cellular phones, appliances, light switches or equipment with open flames
• Do not activate the fire alarm
• Do not try to locate the source of the gas leak
• Re-enter area only when directed by authorities

Hazardous Material Spill/Release

Any chemical release (spill, explosion, fire or leak) capable of affecting the health and safety of a person or the environment 

• Contact BGSU Police (2-2346) or call 91
• Evacuate and alert others in immediate area to evacuate
• Avoid breathing vapors from spill
• Unless properly trained, do not attempt to clean up spill
• If personally contaminated, seek eye wash and/or emergency shower
• Restrict access to the spill area except to those individuals responding to the hazardous materials incident
• If safely able to do so, collect safety data sheets (SDS) of the involved chemicals to provide to those individuals responding to the hazardous materials incident
• Re-enter area only when directed by authorities 

Bomb Threat

Bomb threats are made for various reasons, with most designed to cause disruption.  If you receive a bomb threat, remember the following: 

• Threatening Phone Call:
  • Remain calm and try to keep the caller talking. Ask the following questions:
    • When is the bomb going to explode?
    • Where is the bomb?
    • What kind of bomb is it?
    • What does it look like?
  • Listen carefully and remember details to tell police
     
• Threatening Email:
  • Notify BGSU Police immediately after the email has been received
  • Do not close the email
  • Do not delete the email
  • Print the email if able to do so
  • Stay available to answer questions from the BGSU Police 
     
• Threatening Text Message:
  • Notify BGSU Police immediately after the text message has been received 
  • Do not close the text message
  • Do not delete the text message
  • Stay available to answer questions from the BGSU Police
     
• Contact BGSU Police (2-2346) or call 911 as soon as possible 

Suspicious Package 

Always report unusual or suspicious packages to BGSU Police dispatch (2-2346 or 911) immediately.

• Do not touch or disturb unknown or suspicious objects
• Do not use cell phones, radios or electronic devices near the package
• If possible, isolate the package by securing the space and/or leaving the immediate area 
• If you touch an unknown substance wash your hands with soap and water
• Proceed as instructed by emergency personnel

Earthquake

While rare, if this does occur remember the following:

• Drop – Get under a desk or table or against an interior wall 
• Cover – Protect the back of your neck with your hands
• Hold on – Hang onto the object until the shaking stops