Being prepared in an emergency

An emergency can happen at any time. Whether the emergency is a fire or an armed intruder, knowing what to do in an emergency can make all the difference. 

“Emergencies generate stress in all of us,” says Kevyn Bourgeois, Assistant Director (Ops Support, Training & Compliance) in Security Services. “Under stress it is harder to think critically because we mostly want to leave the proximity of the emergency.”  

Knowing what to do, or what not to do, builds confidence in how to act when it matters, says Bourgeois.  

Know what to do

Being prepared for an emergency is a shared responsibility. Everyone benefits when individuals know how to respond. 

Here are three things individuals can do in the event of an armed intruder on campus: run, hide and fight. 

Run: Evacuate if possible

If there is considerable distance between you and the gunfire or armed person, quickly move away from the sound of the gunfire or armed person, says Bourgeois. If it is safe to do so, run out of the building and move far away until you are in a secure place to shelter. 

Hide: Shelter in place

This means hide silently in as safe a place as possible, says Bourgeois. Here are some things to think about:

• If you cannot leave a building safely, hide in an area out of the armed person’s view.
• Choose a hiding place with thicker walls and fewer windows, if possible.
• Lock doors and barricade with furniture, if possible.
• Silence phones and turn off other electronics.
• Turn off the lights.
• Close windows, shades and blinds, and avoid being seen from outside the room, if possible.
• If you are outdoors and cannot RUN safely, find a place to hide that will protect you from gunfire such as a brick wall, large trees or buildings.

Fight: Take action to disrupt or incapacitate the shooter

• As a last resort, fight. If you can’t leave or hide safely, and when your life is in imminent danger, take action.
• Attempt to incapacitate or disrupt the actions of the shooter. Act with physical aggression and force.
• Use any items close at hand – such as fire extinguishers or chairs – to strike or throw at the armed person. 

Call 911 when it is safe to do so

Wait for law enforcement or emergency officials to assist you with leaving the building, if you are inside.  

When law enforcement or emergency officials arrive and clearly identify themselves, you must display empty hands with open palms. 

Safety resources and training

UM is committed to continuously enhancing campus security and our emergency response effort. As part of that commitment, UM provides a mobile safety app to faculty, staff and students, and is offering educational sessions to the UM community so that we are prepared when it matters most. 

Download the UM Safe App

UM Safe is a mobile safety app that enhances the safety of students, staff and faculty on campus. The app sends safety alerts and provides instant access to campus safety resources. 

It includes features such as the mobile blue light, Safe Walk, Friend Walk, and Work Alone. 

Download the UM Safe App for IOS or Android now. 

UM Today Staff