Emergency/Safety Tips For Students & Staff

BMCC wants to make sure students, employees and visitors feel safe and secure on campus and are as prepared as possible should an emergency or safety-related incident occur. The following information are tips for how to potentially respond in a variety of emergency situations. Please note that these responses could depend on the exact circumstances of the emergency and may not always be appropriate.

SaVE Act Information

In compliance with federal law, specifically the Jeanne Clery Act (Clery Act) and the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (SaVE Act), BMCC has adopted policies and procedures to prevent and respond to incidents of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. These guidelines apply to all members of the BMCC community (Students, Faculty, and staff) as well as contractors and visitors.

The following pamphlets outline information regarding sexual assault for both students and staff:

Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, Stalking

Sexual Assault Awareness

LOCKDOWN INITIATED

If a lockdown is initiated by BMCC, please move into the nearest secure room, close and lock or barricade the door, shut off the lights, close any blinds on windows, silence phones and stay quiet. For more lockdown tips, please click here.

SHOOTER IS IN YOUR VICINITY

Quickly determine the most reasonable way to protect your own life. Remember that other students and visitors to campus are likely to follow the lead of employees and knowledgeable students during an active shooter situation.

Please note that such incidents are highly unpredictable and your response will depend on the exact circumstances. Your first priority is to have an "out" strategy. If you can do so safely, leave the building or area immediately, via door, window or emergency exit. Move away from the immediate path of danger, and take the following steps:

1. Notify anyone you may encounter that they should leave the building or area immediately.

2. Get to a safe area away from the danger, and take protective cover. Stay there until assistance arrives.

3. Call 911, providing dispatchers your name, the location of the incident (be as specific as possible), the number of shooters (if known), identification or description of the shooter or shooters, the number of persons who may be involved, your exact location, and information about wounds and injuries to anyone, if known.

4. If you are not immediately affected by the situation, take protective cover, staying away from windows and doors until notified otherwise.

1. Go to the nearest room or office, close and lock the door, turn off the lights and seek protective cover. If possible barricade the door. Students should scatter when in the same room, rather than huddle in a corner, which can provide an easy target for a shooter.

2. Keep quiet, act as if no one is in the room, and do not answer the door.

3. If possible, pull the fire alarm to alert authorities to an emergency situation.

4. If you have a cell phone at hand and if it is safe to do so, notify 911, providing dispatchers with as much pertinent information as possible.

5. Wait for police officials to assist you out of the building.

 Avoid attempting to drive from the scene.  Transportation will be arranged/provided, if deemed necessary.  Once the event is contained, retrieval of vehicles and personal belongings will be facilitated by law enforcement.

1. Remain calm, use common sense, and provide aid. Take time to think before acting.

2. Always evacuate the building immediately when you hear an audible alarm or see a visible alarm, when directed by authorities or college staff, or when the building becomes life-threatening, e.g., smelling natural gas.

3. Proceed to the emergency gathering point for further instructions.

4. Do not use the telephone or a cell phone for reasons other than emergency purposes.

5. Do not enter elevators during an emergency. If stuck in an elevator do not attempt to force open stalled elevator doors, use the emergency phone to contact Human Resources.

6.  Know the location of all marked exits from your working area.

Dial 911 to reach the emergency dispatcher who can summon medical, fire or police response. These individuals can also contact emergency personnel who are not “first responders” but will oftentimes be needed to assist the first responders with incident resolution.

1. If you are in a hazardous situation, don’t endanger yourself further. Avoid unstable structures, smoke, electrical hazards, fire, radiation, chemical, or biological exposure, etc. Do not risk your well-being to save personal or College property.

2. When you call, give your name, telephone number and location, and the nature and location of the emergency.

3. Don’t hang up until the dispatcher ends the conversation.

4. If phone lines are dead, use your cell phone.  

Medical emergencies

1. Summon help by dialing 911 to report the illness or injury.

2. Provide the level of first aid for which you are trained and equipped.

3. Whenever possible, have someone meet the ambulance or Safety Officer at a clearly visible location to quickly direct them to the injured person.

4. Never put yourself at risk to help the injured or ill person.

5. Whenever possible, have someone accompany the injured or ill person to the emergency care facility.

6. Inform Human Resources and Student Affairs personnel about the incident to assure proper documentation and investigation of the incident are performed.

1.  . Know where the fire alarm pull stations are and how to activate them.

2. Know your evacuation routes and keep them clear at all times.

3. Never use the elevator to evacuate.

4. Always evacuate the building immediately when the fire alarm sounds.

 If fire or smoke is detected:

1. Activate the building alarm system.

2. Evacuate the building moving a distance of at least 200 feet from the building. Check your building evacuation plan to determine your gathering point.  

3. If there is no alarm system, notify others as you leave the building by shouting “fire” and knocking on doors.

4. If possible, close doors and windows as you leave to prevent the fire’s spread.

5. If there is smoke in the area, get down on the floor and crawl out of the building.

6. Feel all doors before opening them. If a door is hot, don’t open it. Move to a second exit, or if one is not available, stay there and try to open a window for fresh air.

7. Open doors slowly. If you encounter smoke, close the door quickly and stay in the room. Call 911 and give your location. Try to do something to help identify your location from the outside of the building.

8. Never try to fight a fire alone unless it is required to exit the building.