Serious business is going to go down at least once in your life, and while every context demands a unique response, there are some things to keep in mind when responding to emergencies. When you're on campus, call 911 if it's an emergency. Please don't hesitate to call for help for you or a friend because you're afraid of getting written up or in trouble. It is so much safer to get help when help is needed than to leave someone in danger. Also, call campus security (and the RHD, if you're in the dorm) so that they know what's going on and can coordinate the situation.
Here are some handy dandy tips for various emergencies. More to come.
FIRE!
Don't open really hot doors or doors with smoke billowing out of them. Chances are, there's a fire behind it.
Stop, drop, and roll. If your clothing is on fire, it is a good idea to try to get your clothes not on fire.
Important tips you may not have learned or remembered as a child:
Cover your eyes and mouth as you roll. Keep those sensitive areas safe.
Roll with your legs out, like a log. Rolls in the fetal position will not be as effective.
Keep a smoke detector in all rooms in which people sleep. Fires release gases that can make an individual confused or drowsy; if a fire starts at night, the fumes may make a person sleepier rather than alert.
The heat alone can ignite materials not directly exposed to fire (called "flashover"). Needless to say, any heat that makes materials combust can kill.
Use cool water to treat burns - NOT butter. No butter. Not even "I can't believe it's not butter" or margarine or vegetable oil. This is just for minor burns, however. For major burns, full immersion in cool water can cause hypothermia. Cover all burns in a dry, clean cloth.
Seriously, though, more than 2500 people die from house fires every year in the US. (Ready.gov)
EXTREME COLD
Here are some handy dandy tips for various emergencies. More to come.
FIRE!
Don't open really hot doors or doors with smoke billowing out of them. Chances are, there's a fire behind it.
Stop, drop, and roll. If your clothing is on fire, it is a good idea to try to get your clothes not on fire.
Important tips you may not have learned or remembered as a child:
Cover your eyes and mouth as you roll. Keep those sensitive areas safe.
Roll with your legs out, like a log. Rolls in the fetal position will not be as effective.
Keep a smoke detector in all rooms in which people sleep. Fires release gases that can make an individual confused or drowsy; if a fire starts at night, the fumes may make a person sleepier rather than alert.
The heat alone can ignite materials not directly exposed to fire (called "flashover"). Needless to say, any heat that makes materials combust can kill.
Use cool water to treat burns - NOT butter. No butter. Not even "I can't believe it's not butter" or margarine or vegetable oil. This is just for minor burns, however. For major burns, full immersion in cool water can cause hypothermia. Cover all burns in a dry, clean cloth.
Seriously, though, more than 2500 people die from house fires every year in the US. (Ready.gov)
EXTREME COLD
If your house or living space loses heat during episodes of extreme cold, text SHELTER and your zipcode to 4FEMA/43362 to find the closest shelter to you. (Ready.gov)
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