Safety

Personal Safety

Safety in University Residences means protecting people and property. Western's campus is a great place for students to learn and grow. But like any other community, Western can have its share of accidents, crimes and injuries. Fortunately, the right attitudes and actions can help protect you, your belongings and fellow students. Campus safety depends on everyone, including you.

Learn to Protect Yourself

  • Always lock your room when you go to bed at night. Even if you take a short nap during the day, make sure the door is locked.
  • Always find out WHO is knocking before you open the door.
  • Never leave doors propped open (your room door or the outside doors in your building).

Keep Your Keys Safe

  • Don't lend your key to anyone.
  • Don't leave keys lying around in your apartment or room.
  • If your key is lost or stolen, report it to your hall staff. Your lock will be changed, and you will receive new keys and will be billed for the re-key.

Public Safety

You are expected to obey local, state and federal laws. City, county, state and federal law enforcement officials have jurisdiction on campus.

Students who jeopardize the safety or security of other residents by propping or otherwise disabling exterior doors, or by letting unauthorized individuals into the building (intentionally or carelessly) will face disciplinary action.

The University maintains its own police department that is composed of full-time commissioned officers and student officers who patrol the campus. City, county, state and federal law enforcement officials have jurisdiction on campus.

University Police and the Office of University Residences have agreed that residential staff should be contacted first in the case of minor infractions of University rules. To report any fire, personal injury, crime in progress, traffic accident or other emergency, Dial x3911.

Earthquake Information

Western Washington University lies within earthquake country. To live in Washington is to live with earthquakes, past, present and inevitably in the future. Washington is part of a geological ring along the Pacific coasts of North and South America and Asia. Historically, the greatest seismic activity in Washington has occurred within the Puget Lowland area between Olympia and the Canadian border.

It is unpleasant to contemplate an emergency, but both the University and its residents must recognize the possibility that an earthquake can occur and be prepared to meet it and its effects intelligently. Safety is not a one-sided responsibility, and in an emergency, your knowledge can be as important as the proficiency of our professional staff.

The actual earth movement of a quake, frightening as it is, seldom is a direct cause of death or injury. The earth movement, however, can cause buildings and other structures to shake, crack or even collapse. Most casualties result from falling objects and debris, splintering glass, fires, and panic.

The following information is designed to give you concise, usable information, which will enable you to plan for, and deal intelligently with, the effects of an earthquake. Please take time to familiarize yourself with the contents of this publication; knowing what to do before, during, and after an earthquake could mean the difference between being seriously injured or not. Our chances during even the most serious earthquakes are excellent if we follow these Emergency Procedures for Earthquakes.

Think safety. Utilities are sometimes damaged during an earthquake. Natural gas lines can break and present a fire danger. Electrical power will be disrupted. Phone lines can be cut. Water and sewage lines can be broken resulting in a contaminated water supply. Also, emergency services may be limited after an earthquake. Fire and police departments will be forced to deal with larger emergencies first.

We thank you for your cooperation and recognition of your role in ensuring the safety of all residents in our housing system.

Preparation for an Earthquake

The most important thing you can do is give the matter some thought now, before the fact. Forethought prevents the panic and confusion that can lead to loss of life in a disaster.

  • Identify hazards in places where you spend most of your time heavy objects on high shelves, tall bookcases, etc. Know the danger spots such as windows, skylights, brick walls, and unsecured furniture.
  • Select safe areas in each room under tables or desks, or against inside walls and supported doorways.
  • Move objects from above your bed.
  • Know the location of stairways. Elevators should not be used after an earthquake.
  • Keep a battery powered radio and a flashlight in your room. Have extra batteries for both.
  • Learn where fire extinguishers are and how to operate them.
  • Know the location of emergency exits.
  • Have extra food and water available. If you take medicines regularly, have extra supplies on hand. Three days worth is the general rule.
  • Learn First Aid and CPR!

During an Earthquake

When an earthquake hits, it may come as a series of tremors strong enough to knock you off your feet. You have only seconds to react. If you are inside, do not run outside! Take refuge in a hallway, door frame or under strongly secured furniture to reduce the chance of being struck by breaking glass or falling objects.

If you are outside, get as far away as you can from buildings and structures that could pelt you with broken glass or collapsing debris.

  • Remain as calm as possible. Think through, as thoroughly as you can, the consequences of any action you take.
  • Stay where you are. Physically locate yourself in the innermost corner of the room, place your head between your knees to protect your face from shattering glass or flying objects.
  • If you are in the dining hall, get under the table.
  • Chances are the lighting system will fail within seconds after a quake. Visually identify potentially dangerous articles.

After an Earthquake

Remain calm. Take actions to prevent injuries and further damage.

  • Check yourself and those around you for injuries. Do not attempt to move seriously injured people unless they are in immediate danger of further injury.
  • Be prepared for additional earthquake shocks. These aftershocks are usually milder than the initial earthquake, but may be strong enough to cause additional damage.
  • Elevators can be unpredictable and dangerous after an earthquake. Never use elevators until University personnel assures you that they are safe!
  • Wear shoes at all times.
  • Do not use your telephone except for genuine emergency calls. An overloaded telephone system becomes worthless in a disaster.
  • Turn on your radio for instructions and information.
  • Check for fires and fire hazards. Indoor candles and open flames such as matches and lighters are a potential fire hazard around natural gas lines. If you smell natural gas, report the leak to University personnel.
  • Do not eat or drink from open containers as they might contain shattered glass. Do not drink water from domestic lines until determined safe by University personnel.
  • Before flushing toilets, check with University personnel to see that sewage lines are intact.
  • Closets and storage shelves should be opened with caution; heavy objects may fall out.
  • Watch for fallen power lines.

Fire Safety

In the event of a fire, it is important to follow these procedures:

What to do

If you discover or suspect a fire, pull a fire alarm and leave the building by the nearest exit. While exiting, make an attempt to warn your neighbors by banging on doors that you pass. When you reach the evacuation location, contact a staff member and give him/her as much information as possible.

Mobility and hearing impaired students

We notify University Police of the location of permanent or temporary mobility or hearing impaired students. In case of fire the Bellingham Fire Department will go to your room immediately. The Equal Opportunity Center can assist persons with a disability in developing an evacuation plan; more information is available from the EOC.

Where to go

When an alarm, a shouted warning, or the sensation of smoke or fire has alerted you:

  • Keep low to the floor if there is smoke in the room. If smoke is not present, close your window.
  • Feel the door before opening it. If it's hot, don't open it. If it isn't hot, open the door carefully. If smoke or heat are present, close the door and stay in the room. Seal the cracks around the door with whatever is handy (a towel, etc.). If the phone works, call "911" and report that you are trapped. Be sure to give them your room number and location. If the phone doesn't work, hang a sheet, jacket, etc. out of the window to attract attention.
  • If the hall is free of smoke or heat, close and lock your door and exit immediately by the closest stairwell. Do not use an elevator! If the nearest exit is blocked, go to another exit.
  • If all exits are blocked, go back to your room. Close the door, hang something out of your window and signal for help.
  • Move quickly in a crouched position when escaping through a smoke filled corridor. Place a wet cloth over your face and head.
  • Once outside the building, move away from the building and watch for vehicle traffic.
  • Do not reenter the building until you have been given the OK by police, fire officials or the hall staff. The silencing of the alarm does not indicate the building is safe to reenter!

Always try to remain calm. Never reenter a burning building to save your personal possessions.

Evacuation Locations

Whenever the building must be evacuated (bomb threat, fire alarm), students should be directed to the following locations. Go to the building's main lounge unless indicated otherwise.

  • Alpha to Delta
  • Beta to Kappa
  • Birnam Wood to another BW building
  • Buchanan Towers to Fairhaven Main Lounge
  • Delta to Alpha
  • Edens to Higginson
  • Fairhaven to Fairhaven Main Lounge
  • Gamma to Kappa
  • Higginson to Edens
  • Highland to Sigma or Omega
  • Kappa to Ridgeway Commons, first floor hallway
  • Mathes to Nash
  • Nash to Mathes
  • Omega to Sigma
  • Sigma to Omega

Smoke Alarms, Heat Detectors and Related Annunciator Panels

Hard-wired, regularly maintained Smoke and Heat Detectors are provided throughout the buildings for your safety.

Definition of terms:

  • Smoke detector - This device activates an alarm/horn when it detects a certain concentration of SMOKE particles. Generally, the smoke detectors are LOCAL alarms, meaning that they are designed to alarm only the room's occupants of a potential fire. *Smoke detectors are typically installed in sleeping rooms.
  • Heat detector - This device activates when it detects HEAT rising at a specified rate. Heat detectors are commonly used in kitchen areas since the sensitive smoke detectors would falsely activate from the smoke and steam generated in the normal cooking process. In addition to sounding an alarm locally, Heat Detectors send a GENERAL alarm to the main fire panel in the building that will trip the associated "zone". In turn the main panel sets off the building sounding devices and the transmitter sends the coded alarm to University Police and the Steam Plant. You should expect to see the Bellingham Fire trucks arrive very shortly thereafter.
  • Combination Smoke/Heat Detector - This is a device which integrates a smoke detector and heat detector in a unit. Most living/sleeping room areas in University Residences have these combination units.

*The alarm system in Buchanan Towers is unique. The SMOKE detectors in the bedrooms activate an alarm that is heard on the entire floor, not just in the room. The alarm sounds a series of beeps followed by a voice message saying "Warning, a smoke detector has been activated in one of the bedrooms on this floor. Fire has not been confirmed at this time." The alarm concludes with another series of beeps. The alarm causes the local panel to sound a trouble alert. It also notifies University Police that a room detector has been activated. University Police will check the situation. If the alarm is "false", the panel is reset.

Testing and Maintenance - ALL devices in University Residences are tested per the Bellingham Fire Department Confidence Testing Manual. Different types of structures are tested under varying methods dependent upon height and occupancy. All residence halls are tested annually per this manual. Smoke detectors are cleaned and tested annually. This coincides with the other mandatory confidence testing for the elevators and emergency generator systems. We are required to certify that these types of systems work in conjunction with the elevator recall system and on backup power. The system is also tested on battery backup power annually. Most of this testing for the more stringent requirements is completed in August and September of each year prior to the students moving in for Fall quarter.

What You Should Do If/When an Alarm sounds

General alarm ringing on your floor or in your building

Evacuate the building following the plan above.

Smoke detector in your room sounding a local alarm

Assess whether the alarm has been activated by a legitimate fire hazard. If so, evacuate the building following the plan above.

If the smoke detector has been alarmed inadvertently

Wait for the smoke to clear. Once it has cleared, the local sounding device will automatically reset itself and the sounding device will silence. There is no need for further action.

In some cases, the smoke detector may become over-sensitive and tend to activate for no apparent reason. A malfunctioning smoke detector may also beep intermittently. A malfunctioning detector should be reported by calling x3556 during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.). If the detector is causing a disturbance after-hours, contact the on-duty Resident Advisor in your area.

Fire Aisles and Exits

The Bellingham Fire Department requires that all exit aisles, hallways, and stairs be kept clear of any obstruction. Items left in these areas will be subject to impound by the Residence Life Staff.

Fire Doors in hallways and stairwells are to be kept closed at all times, unless they are held open by a magnetic device that releases the door when a fire alarm is activated.

Phone Numbers

Non-Emergency Emergency
University Police 650-3555 3911 (campus phone)
650-3911 (off-campus phone)
Bellingham Police 676-6913 911
Fire Department 676-6913 911

Fire Doors

Many of the doors in our buildings are required to be "fire doors." This means that the doors are designed to block a fire from passing through that doorway for a period of time that is established by fire codes and regulations. Doorways into public corridors and stairwells are generally required to be fire doors. These doors must remain closed in order to fulfill their intended purpose (blocking fire). Student room doors that exit into these corridors must never be propped open when unattended. Doors which separate corridors into smaller areas and which connect to exit stairwells must never be propped open.

Room doors in Alpha, Delta, Sigma, Omega, Kappa, Edens Hall, Edens North, Mathes, and Nash are equipped with spring loaded, self-closing hinges that automatically close the doors for fire safety. Students should not tamper with these safety devices. Evidence of tampering or disabling these devices will result in damage charges of at least $25.

Fireplaces

Please see your Resident Director for your community's policy on fireplaces.

Fire Safety Equipment

Any person who willfully tampers with or breaks any fire alarm apparatus or any fire fighting equipment or gives, transmits or sounds any false alarm of fire is guilty of a misdemeanor. Any such violation will result in conduct proceedings and could carry a maximum fine of $500 and six months in jail. Extinguishers and alarms are for your use, should the need arise. The cost of refilling a misused extinguisher, as well as any damages resulting from an extinguisher being discharged unnecessarily, will be charged to whomever was responsible.

Cyber Safety

Online social networking services (like Facebook, Myspace, etc.) can be a great way to connect with your peers. Please keep the following important guidelines in mind if you use these services:

  • Your online profile may be the only impression others have of you. Consider the messages you convey about yourself through your photos, personal information, group affiliations, friends and other postings.
  • Use privacy settings to help control who can access your information.While these settings provide no guarantees, they give you some control of the information you post. Being unsafe online can impact your physical safety by giving others information about your habits and where to find you.
  • Understand that what you post is public. While other students will see what you post, they're not the only ones. Depending on the service, your information may be viewed by faculty, staff, family, future employers, or online predators. Deleting information from these services does not mean that someone else didn't print or save your profile, comments or pictures. Also be aware that some services allow others to post information about, or pictures of you without your permission. Posting your phone number, address, or class schedule makes it easy for friends to contact you, but it also makes it easy for anyone else, including stalkers or predators, to find you. Read and understand the Terms of Use for each service provider which include important disclaimers, limits on liability, copyright and other policies.
  • Civility is important Western expects you to be a positive member of this community, and that extends to cyberspace.

Natural Disasters

University Residences strongly encourages residents to think about and prepare for a natural disaster. We encourage residents to assemble an Emergency Supply Kit containing:

  • Water: three-day supply
  • Food: at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food (crackers, peanut butter, canned goods)
  • Battery-powered radio and an NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, and extra batteries for both
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First Aid kit
  • Whistle: to signal for help
  • Dust mask or cotton t-shirt: to help filter the air
  • Moist towelettes and hygiene supplies: for sanitation
  • Wrench/pliers
  • Can opener
  • Unique needs: such as medication, eyeglasses
  • Garbage bags
  • Space saver emergency blanket
  • Photocopies of credit/ID cards
  • Cash

For more information, see:

University Residences recommends the Seattle 72 hour kit; check the AS Bookstore for availability.

Should a Shooting Incident Occur

If you are involved in a situation where someone has entered an area or building and started shooting, or you hear the sounds of gunfire, the following actions are recommended:

  • Exit the building immediately move away from the area and seek shelter. Avoid parking lots and open areas.
  • Notify anyone you encounter to exit the building immediately (or not enter)
  • Notify the Police by calling 911 and give the 911 operator the following information:
    • Your name
    • Location of the incident (be as specific as possible)
    • Describe what is happening
    • Number of shooters (if known)
    • Identification of shooter (if known)
    • Number of persons who may be involved
    • Your location (and stay on the line if possible)

If you are directly within range or in danger of an active shooter and exiting the building is not possible, the following actions are recommended:

  • Go to the nearest room or office and hide
  • Close the door, lock or barricade the door if possible
  • Cover the door windows, if possible
  • Keep quiet and act as if no one is in the room
  • Do not answer the door
  • Notify the Police by calling 911 (see above)
  • Wait for Police to assist you out of the building

If the shooting is occurring outdoors, the following actions are recommended:

  • Move inside a building, if possible, and follow the recommendations above
  • If you cannot go inside, try to hide behind something solid
  • Run away from the sounds of shooting, if you can do so without increasing your risk
  • Notify the Police by calling 911 (see above)

When you call 911, give the 911 operator the same information as listed above.

Good Health Habits for Preventing the Flu (from CDC)

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits and antiviral medications are other measures that can help protect against the flu.

  • Avoid close contact - Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
  • Stay home (in your room) when sick - If possible, stay home (in your room) from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
  • Cover your mouth and nose - Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing by washing with soap and water or cleaning with an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
  • Clean your hands - Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth - Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
  • Practice good health habits - Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

For more information, see: