Evacuation Policy

PURPOSE

The School of Dentistry, consisting of: Brauer Hall, Old Dental School, Office Building, Tarrson Hall and Dental Research Center, is covered by the University of North Carolina Emergency Plan. The UNC Emergency Plan describes the coordination between the University and the community in the event of an emergency. The School of Dentistry Emergency Response and Evacuation Policy is an appendix to the UNC Emergency Plan and sets forth the steps to be followed by the School of Dentistry in the event of an emergency.

This plan provides guidelines for coordination of University and community emergency response teams during an emergency situation. As part of that effort, personnel from each building (Emergency Monitors) provide a first line of defense by providing information relative to a specific emergency situation (i.e., location, severity) to the Emergency Coordinator, who is the liaison between the School of Dentistry and the appropriate Emergency Response Team (i.e., fire department, paramedics, police).

Emergency Coordinator

• During a fire alert or other emergency, the Support Services Office will act as the Interior Response and Evacuation Command Post. In order to maximize the efficiency of response activities, all emergency related information and direction should be communicated through this office.

• The Emergency Coordinator will verify if a call to 911 has been placed. If not, the Emergency Coordinator will call 911 immediately.

• The Emergency Coordinator will report to the Chapel Hill Fire Department Incident Command to assist with evacuation, advise on specific hazards and keep occupants advised of the situation. The UNC Assessment Team will determine the level of response in accordance with the UNC Emergency Plan.

• The Emergency Coordinator will assign a staff member to each assembly area to gather information from the Emergency Monitors. Ultimately, the Assistant Emergency Coordinator will relay information to the UNC Assessment Team.

Emergency Monitors

• The Emergency Monitor will be responsible for a specific area within a building. The Emergency Monitor's responsibilities are:

• When an alarm is activated, assign clerical staff to assist in the orderly evacuation of the building.

• Proceed to notify all occupants within their assigned area. Message to include "Your attention please - as a precautionary measure please exit the building and gather at the (designated area)."

• Coordinate the relocation and safeguarding of occupants that remain (persons in-place) within the fire alert area. Persons-in-place are: Sedated patients, patients undergoing surgery or invasive procedures that prohibit immediate transport. Exit the building and proceed to an assembly area. Report the location and number of persons-in-place to the Assistant Emergency Coordinator at any of the assembly areas.

Clerical Staff

• Clerical staff, by direction of the Emergency Monitor, will direct the occupants in non-clinical areas to the appropriate fire exit and to a predetermined location outside of the building. Physically challenged occupants may be evacuated to the outside, an adjacent building, or to the nearest stairwell.

• Message to include "Your attention please - as a precautionary measure please exit the building and move toward the (designated area)." Repeat.

Care-Providers

• Care-providers will direct the occupants in clinical areas to the appropriate fire exit and to the predetermined location outside of the building. When required care-providers will reassure patients and assist in relocating persons-in-place who are in clinical areas to a designated safe area or to a predetermined location outside of the building. Physically challenged occupants may be evacuated to the outside, an adjacent building, or to the nearest stairwell.

Evacuation - When alarms are activated, occupants must exit the building via the nearest exit and assemble at any of the following locations:

• Burnett - Womack Lawn
• Health Sciences Library/Dental Research Center Lawn
• S-6 Parking Lot

All Clear - All faculty and staff are to remain at these locations until an all clear is sounded or faculty and staff are instructed to disperse.

An evacuation requires that all physically able persons leave the building immediately (except those assisting in transporting or attending to persons-in-place and the physically challenged). Physically challenged occupants are to be assisted to a safe place (outside the building, an adjacent building, or a stairwell). Care-providers assisting the physically challenged are requested to remain with that person and offer reassurance.

Care-providers may continue to render treatment to sedated patients, patients undergoing surgery or patients undergoing invasive procedures that prohibit immediate transport until it is determined that danger is eminent. If the situation requires the total evacuation of clinical spaces, care-providers are to move persons-in-place to a location outside the building, an adjacent building, or to the nearest stairwell. Chapel Hill Fire Department may also provide assistance for occupant transfer; however, primary responsibility for patient transfers rest with the careprovider unless conditions are too severe for staff. In such instances then the rescue will be performed by Chapel Hill Fire Department. School of Dentistry patients will be transferred via emergency medical services to hospitals for care and treatment.

Special systems (oxygen, nitrous oxide, and nitrogen) should not be shut off unless the fire is in the immediate area and provisions are in place to shut off the system.

The Emergency Coordinator is responsible for providing training to all monitors and their alternates on an annual basis. Drills will be conducted annually, and coordinated through the University Health & Safety Office. Drills will exclude care-providers that are rendering treatment and their patient. Faculty who are supervising students that are providing care are also excluded. All other occupants are to be evacuated in accordance with the evacuation procedures.

The facility is equipped with the following life safety features: non-combustible construction, fire detection and warning system, standpipe system for use by the fire department, smoke purge system, stairways and fire doors on each floor, portable extinguishers located throughout the facility, and a sprinkler system in Tarrson Hall.

1. Keep your working area free from debris.
2. Report unsafe conditions to your supervisor.
3. Report all electrical problems and exercise care in the use of electrical equipment.
4. Use extra care when working around or with anesthetizing gases or other flammable liquids.
5. Learn location of fire fighting equipment and its use.
6. Learn exits and escape routes.
7. Learn patient transportation and evacuation techniques.

R	Remove anyone in immediate danger.
A	Activate alarm and Alert others.
C	Close doors. Confine the fire.
E	Evacuate or extinguish the fire if it can be accomplished safely.

1. Crawl if there is smoke.
2. Feel doors before opening.
3. Go to the nearest exit.
4. Do not use the elevator.
5. Close as many doors as possible as you leave.
6. Use a portable fire extinguisher, only if you can use it safely.
7. Do not reoccupy fire alert area until permission is given.
8. Whenever possible, the patient's dental chart should be taken with the patient when evacuating.

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