Here's What To Do In an Evacuation

  • Be aware of all the marked exits from your area and building.
  • When the building evacuation alarm is sounded, or when you are ordered to leave by the police or college staff, walk quickly to the nearest marked exit and ask others to do the same.
  • Make sure all students have evacuated the classroom or lab.
  • Assist the disabled in exiting the building and escort them to PE 13 if it is safe to do so, unless otherwise directed (see guidelines below).
  • To the best of your ability, and without re-entering the building, assist the police or college staff in determining whether everyone has evacuated.
  • Once outside, proceed to the football field if it is safe to do so, unless otherwise directed. Keep walkways clear for emergency vehicles.
  • Do not return to a building until told to do so.

Pickup Points: Where to Meet Rides

  • For disabled students:  VTA paratransit should use the Peppertree (east) entrance to pick up disabled students from PE 13 unless otherwise directed.
  • For all other students: Parking Lot D, near the Kirsch Center, has been designated as the student pickup area. People picking up students other than disabled students should use the McClellan entrance to reach Lot D.

Assisting Students With Disabilities

Visually Impaired Individuals

  1. Explain the nature of the emergency. Alarms or confusion may disorient a person, even when they are normally familiar with the area.
  2. Guide the person or provide someone to serve as guide. Students will take the guide's arm below the elbow and will follow.
  3. Tell the person where you are as you walk.
  4. Advise the person of any obstacles in the way.
  5. When you have reached safety, orient the person to where they are and ask if they need any further assistance before you leave.

Hearing Impaired Individuals

  1. If you need to get the person's attention, try flashing room lights, waving your arms or tapping the person's shoulder.
  2. Use gestures to explain what is happening and what to do.
  3. Write on a whiteboard or paper a brief description of the emergency and evacuation route.

Mobility Impaired Individuals

  1. Always ask first if the person has special needs or requirements.
  2. Individuals using wheelchairs can be pushed or accompanied to safety.
  3. Individuals using canes, crutches or walkers should evacuate themselves except in the event that rapid evacuation is deemed essential.
  4. Call the Building Monitor, Security, Disability Support Services or other trained college personnel and wait for help before transferring a person from a wheelchair or transporting a person on a stairway, unless the situation is imminently life threatening.
  5. Wheelchairs for emergency use are located in PE 13 and the Health Services office (lower Level of Campus Center).

Where to Find Evacuation Chairs

Special evacuation chairs may be used for stairway evacuation or to transport injured or non-ambulatory individuals. These are mounted near the stairwells in the following building locations

A 1

Chair is located at the top of the stairs, behind row J, seat 2

A 3

Chair is located lower level of performance hall by the lift

ATC

Chair is located on the 2nd floor on the right wall

Baldwin Winery

Chair is located at the bottom of the stairs

Kirsch Center

Chair is located on the 2nd floor inside the division office on the left

Library

Chair is located on the 2nd floor by the main elevator

LCW 
Two chairs located at the top and bottom of the stair well
MLC
Chairs are located at the top of both stair wells
PE
Two chairs are mounted on the wall next to the shed on the pool deck
PE 11
Chair is located on the 2nd floor by the elevator
RSS
Chair is located on the 2nd floor on the wall outside of the conference room
 Science Center 2
Chair is located on the 2nd floor near the passenger elevator
VPAC
Chair is located on the 2nd floor by the main elevator

Each evacuation chair has instructions on the back. You can also borrow an instructional video in DVD format from the Health Services office, or watch the video below.

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