Emergency Response Guide

• Your location (campus is 7400 Augusta Street in River Forest; share the name of the building or area).
• Location of the emergency, if different from your location.
• Nature of the emergency.
• Physical condition of those involved; any injuries?
• Mental condition of those involved.
• Location and description of offender, if applicable, from head to toe:
  • Sex
  • Race
  • Hat/hair
  • Shirt/coat
  • Pants
  • Shoes
  • Weapons
  • Anything distinct or unusual that allows for immediate identification
    
    
• Description of vehicle, if applicable, including:
  • State and license plate number
  • Make/model/body style
  • Color and year (best guess)
  • Additional descriptive features (i.e., markings, damage, etc.)

Need to text 911? You can!

In situations where you can't speak on the phone, you can text 911. However, because voice calls to 911 provide more information to call centers, you should make a voice call whenever possible.

Thunderstorms

• Stay away from windows.
• Close shades or blinds to reduce injury from flying glass.
• Minimize use of electric appliances.

Tornado

• Take shelter in a basement or the smallest, most-interior room/hallway on the lowest floor. Crouch down and cover your head.
• Avoid glass enclosed areas with wide-span roofs such as auditoriums and gymnasiums.
• Wait for the “all clear” signal from authorized emergency personnel.

Please note: When the River Forest emergency siren is no longer sounding, that does not mean the emergency is over. Wait for an all-clear from authorized emergency personnel.

• Call 911 immediately.
  • Give the dispatcher your location and the location/condition of the victim.
    • Check for medical bracelets and provide information on known medical conditions.
  • Stay on the line as long as possible with the dispatcher to give updates on the victim’s condition.
• Do not attempt to move the victim unless they are in danger of further injury.
• If the victim is not responsive and not breathing normally and you have training, begin CPR. 911 will also provide directions on how to do so.
  • Have others locate an AED (automatic external defibrillator); voice prompts are built in and will guide you through the process. See campus map for location of AEDs.
• If you have first aid training and can render aid to the victim, assist in any way you can. Take precautions to avoid or minimize contact with bodily fluids from the victim.

Mental Health Emergencies

• Call 911.
• Give the location and description of the person to the dispatcher.
• Tell the dispatcher exactly what the person was doing and saying.

All fire alarms should be taken seriously. In the event of a fire or explosion, whether an alarm sounds or not, evacuate 100 feet or more from the building immediately. Call 911 to report the location.

As you exit, do the following, only if you can safely:

• Activate a fire alarm pull station if the alarm is not already sounding.
• Confine the fire by closing windows/doors as you leave.

Tips for exiting:

• Feel closed doors with the back of your hand. Do not open doors that are hot; attempt to exit via another direction.
• If you are confronted with smoke, stay low and go.
• Do not use elevators.
• Be careful of fallen debris, glass, or heavy objects that might be about to fall.
• If your exit route is blocked, or if you are physically unable to exit…
  • Stay in the room with the door closed.
  • If you can, safely get to an area of rescue (such as a staircase landing or window). Signal for help if near a window.
  • Call 911.

Do not re-enter until authorized emergency personnel give an “all clear.”

For all utility failures, report the situation to Public Safety and follow their guidance.

If you detect natural gas, fumes or vapors:

• Evacuate the building immediately. Avoiding the use of elevators unless necessary.
• Assist those who need help, but not at your own risk.
• If you are not able to evacuate, go to an Area of Rescue and wait for assistance.
• Call 911.
• Do not re-enter until authorized emergency personnel give an “all clear.”

In the event of a power outage:

• Remain calm.
• Report the outage to Public Safety.
• If the fire alarm sounds, evacuate the building.
  • Laboratory activities should cease and laboratories should be evacuated. Turn off equipment and secure chemicals. In laboratory buildings, fume hoods will not operate.

If people are trapped in an elevator:

• Call 911.
• Provide specific location information and number of individuals involved to the 911 dispatcher.
• Let the individuals know help has been summoned and stay nearby if safe to do so.

In the event of flooding/plumbing failure:

• Avoid contact with the water.
• Report the situation to Public Safety.
• Evacuate the area and do not return until safe to do so.

If you receive a bomb threat by telephone, via email, or if you see something online:

• Remain calm.
• Document all information possible, including the caller’s exact words and note the time of the call. If email/online, take screenshots of all communications.
• Do a quick visual inspection of your area. Do not touch or move any suspicious objects.
• Call 911 and give the Dispatcher as much information as possible.
• If your area may be affected, evacuate.

If you encounter a suspicious package:

• Remain calm.
• Do not touch, tamper with, or move the suspicious package.
• Be aware that cell phones can trigger an explosive device.
• Call Public Safety and follow their instructions.

Notification will be provided by text message, the Rave Guardian app, email, the University website, and/or CUC’s official social media pages. 

If a violent crime is currently in progress, use your judgment to run, hide, and/or fight.

• Remain calm and evacuate if safe to do so. Leave belongings behind.
• If you are unable to evacuate…
  • Close, lock, and barricade doors.
  • Turn off all lights and remain silent.
  • Stay away from all windows and doors.
  • Silence cell phones and limit use.
  • Fight the offender, only if you must.
• As soon as it is safe to do so, notify authorities by calling 911. Provide the location of the incident and description of the offender(s).

For more information on what to do in these types of situations, watch this video.

CUC’s priority is to support the survivor and preserve evidence when possible. Evidence can be lost through showering or washing, using the restroom, changing clothes, or eating and drinking. Clothing, bedding, and other fabrics are important sources of evidence. Document events, times, locations, and physical descriptions as accurately as possible.

If you witness a sexual assault:

• Call 911 immediately.
• Attempt to intervene, if it does not put you at risk.
• If you cannot do so, seek safety and provide as much information as possible to emergency responders.

If someone discloses to you that they were recently assaulted:

• Stay calm.
• Listen without judgment and support the survivor.
  • Call 911 if there is any immediate danger or medical emergency.
  • Contact Public Safety for immediate campus assistance.
  • Encourage prompt medical care. An exam by a certified medical care provider is available with or without filing a police report.

Reporting sexual misconduct:

• Anyone, including third parties and bystanders, can file a Title IX/ Sexual Misconduct Report electronically. This process allows for anonymous and confidential reporting. University response is required within 12 hours.
• Mandatory reporters who fail to report sexual misconduct about which they have witnessed or been made aware are subject to disciplinary measures, which could include termination.

In every emergency situation, be aware of people who will need assistance. If evacuation or relocation of persons with disabilities is not possible, notify emergency responders and/or call 911.

For the blind/visually impaired:

• Clearly announce the type of emergency.
• Offer your arm for guidance.
• Tell the person where you are going, and alert him or her to obstacles along the way.

For the deaf/hearing-impaired:

• Gain the person’s attention.
  • Turn lights on and off.
  • Wave or gesture to them.
• Indicate directions with gestures or a note.

For the mobility-impaired/wheelchair users:

• Elevators may not be operational in some emergency situations, such as fires.
• If safe to do so, seek volunteers to assist persons with physical disabilities to the nearest enclosed stairway or designated rescue area.
• Notify emergency responders of the location of the individual and/or call 911.