Campus & Public Safety

Personal Safety Guide

In the wake of a number of campus shootings we would like to provide Students, Faculty and Staff with a few strategies to aid you in preparing for a potentially violent situation in the unlikely event one should ever occur on our campus.

It's important to note that in the first minutes of a violent situation YOU become the first responder and YOU are responsible for your personal safety along with the safety of others around you. Many times the event is over before Law Enforcement arrives.

As you review this document please take time to consider how these guidelines would apply to you while you're in your typical learning/teaching/working environment. Research has shown that there is a significant advantage for people who have prepared to react in an emergency as opposed to those who are unprepared. Preparation helps develop a survivalist mind set.

We encourage everyone engage in the "what if's" exercise. What this means is to visualize a situation, apply our guidelines, formulate an action plan and practice the plan. Don't be afraid to think outside the box. Make this a group exercise. Involve your coworkers and students in the discussion; there is nothing like having everyone on the same page when trouble strikes.

Please program the College Emergency Number into you cell phone (781) 477-2100. Do it now! Also, encourage your coworkers and students to program this important number into their phone (the number is posted on a red sticker in every classroom).

The Campus Police are here to answer your questions. We also would appreciate you sharing your thoughts with us as well as any innovative strategies that we could share with the College Community.

As soon as you become aware of a potentially violent situation, if it is safe to do so, exit the building/area immediately, moving away from the immediate path of danger and take the following steps:

1) Tell everyone you encounter there is a danger and to exit the building/area immediately

2) Evacuate to a safe area away from the danger, and take protective cover. Remain until assistance arrives.

3) Be calm, quick and accurate. Call Campus Police immediately (781) 477-2100 and provide the dispatcher with the following information:

• Location of the incident and perpetrators direction of travel (be as specific as possible)
• Type of threat (gun, knife, bat, etc)
• Identity and description of perpetrators(s)
• Number of persons (bad guys) who may be involved
• Your exact location
• Your cell phone number
• Location & number injured people

4) Individuals not immediately impacted by the situation are to take protective cover, staying away from windows and doors until notified otherwise.

5) If you are directly involved in an incident and exiting the building is not possible, the following actions are recommended.

• Go to the nearest room or office.
• Close and lock the door (if the door cannot be locked, you can use a wedge, heavy furniture, or rolled up belt to place at the bottom of the door to prevent access).
• Turn off the lights.
• Seek protective cover (behind a file cabinet, heavy furniture, etc).
• Do your best to stay out of sight from any window and pull any shades
• Keep quiet. Place your cell phone on vibrate
• Do not answer the door.
• Contact the Campus Police. Be calm, quick, and accurate. Provide the dispatcher with the same information as above.

6) Emergency broadcast e-mails, web page notifications and digital signage network may be utilized to further provide relevant information pertaining to campus emergencies.

7) Wait for the police or Public Safety to assist you out of the building.

8) Follow directions of responding Police Officers immediately

• Make no quick movements.
• Put your hands up in the air with palms forward.

9) During the initial phase of the incident, Campus Police, the college Administration and responding law enforcement personnel will evaluate the situation to determine the best course of action for the safety of the NSCC community.

Should you have any question or would like additional information please contact the Campus Police at (781) 593-7032 or e-mail campus-police@northshore.edu

Remember; safety is a shared responsibility.