Crisis Management and Resource List for Resident Assistants and Commissioners

Crisis Management and Resource List for Resident Assistants and Commissioners At Coker College, it is our goal to provide every student with a safe and secure environment. Recognizing that emergencies do arise, the following are brief procedures and resources that should be used for certain situations. The Student Handbook contains additional procedures. RESIDENCE LIFE PERSONNEL Director of Campus Life The Director of Campus Life primary area of responsibility the task of supervising Campus Life including Residence Life, Student Activities, Programming, Wellness, Intramurals and Judicial. Director of Residence Life The Director of Residence Life (DRL) provides additional support for our residence life and resides in the Saleeby House. The DRL's primary area of responsibility is working with the Residence Assistants, hall programs, student s welfare, and security. Assistant Director of Residence Life The Assistant Director of Residence Life provides additional support for our residence life and resides in the Left RTC Apartment. The ADRL's primary area of responsibility is working with the Commissioners and developing a Freshman Year Residential Experience. This position also serves as the Cobra Den Manager. Resident Assistants Are trained undergraduate students that are supervised by the DRL. They are responsible for working with the students on their hall in planning activities for their hall, enforcing policies, writing reports, assisting in crisis situations, and referrals. Residence Coordinator The Residence Coordinator provides programming support for the Residence Life staff and resides in the RTC Right Apartment. Live-In Residence Life Staff Grannis 1 st Floor 101 2 nd Floor 201 3 rd Floor 301 4 th Floor 401

Coker Hall 2 nd Floor 200 3 rd Floor 300 Belk Hall 2 nd Floor 208 3 rd Floor 308

Memorial 1 st Floor 109 2 nd Floor 209 3 rd Floor 309 RTC 2 nd Floor Left 205 2 nd Floor Rt 220 3 rd Floor Left 305 3 rd Floor Rt 320 4 th Floor Left 405 4 th Floor Rt 420 Non-Residence Life Staff residing on campus, not part of the on-call rotation. These individuals should only be contacted in extreme emergencies. Belk 1 st Floor Apartment Faculty in Residence Commissioners Commissioners are sophomore students, supervised by the ADRL. These students provide support for freshmen. They live on freshmen halls, assist with goal setting, academic expectations, assist with extended orientation, and help as needed. On-Call Staff Members The Office of Student Services has devised the "on call" system to assure that consistent and appropriate measures are taken whenever an emergency occurs on campus. For emergencies that occur between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. call the Office of Student Services or Residence Life Office. After business hours, contact the "on call" person via the on call cell phone then their home phone number. If there is ever a time when the "on call" person cannot be reached by phone, you should call the following in order: DRL; Director of Campus Life; Vice President of Student and Enrollment Services; Vice President of Business Operations; President. While every situation requires a certain amount of personal judgment, it is more acceptable to err on the side of caution and contact the person on call. Copies of the on-call schedule for each semester are available from the Director of Campus Life. MAJOR EMERGENCIES Major Emergencies (including injuries/illnesses that require transport to medical facilities, major disturbances, bomb threats, suicide attempts, weather-related situations, fires, and facility problems that pose threats to safety of persons). Procedure: The staff member(s) who are first on the scene (Resident Assistant, Residence Life professional staff, or Security Personnel) should immediately assess the situation. If the situation poses a concern for the safety or well being of a person or persons, that staff member should contact the appropriate medical, fire, or police personnel by dialing 9-911 from a campus extension.

If Security is not present, they should then be summoned immediately at x8140. The attending Security Officer or Residential Life staff member should also contact the Student Services Staff member on call. This Staff member will make any decision regarding the additional involvement of Resident Assistant staff and/or Residence Life staff. As a rule of thumb, the Staff Member on call should be contacted anytime police, fire and/or emergency medical personnel are called to campus. The Staff Member on call will determine whether it is necessary to contact other college personnel. Minor Emergencies (fights, trespassing, injuries/illnesses that don't require ambulance transportation, false fire alarms). Procedure: Security Personnel should assess the situation and determine whether there is a need for assistance from medical, fire or police personnel. If it is determined that there is NOT a need to involve outside agencies, Security should work with the Resident Assistant on duty to resolve the situation. The Staff Member "on call" should be informed of the situation and the measures that are being taken. The Student Services Staff Member will provide any additional instructions to the Security Officer(s) and Residential Life Staff at that time. SPECIFIC ISSUES Notification of Parents: Coker considers students to be adults who are responsible for their own actions and who take ownership for the quality of their own educational experience through active participation in college life. In accordance with FERPA, Coker reserves the right and may contact parents or guardians under the following circumstances: 1. The student s enrollment is threatened by disciplinary action or poor performance. 2. The student s whereabouts are unknown and/or there is concern for his/her safety and wellbeing. 3. The student poses a threat to his/her own safety and well being or the safety and well being of others. 4. The student violates a state, federal, or local law regarding alcohol and other controlled substances. If Student Services Staff is aware that EMS has been called to transport a residential student under 21 years of age, the parents should be contacted. In the case of an accident or a medical emergency, parents may be contacted by the police or medical personnel. Should parents require notification, this should only be done by one of the Officers of the College, Director of Campus Life, DRL or the Assistant to the VP of Student and Enrollment Services. Noise Complaints: Alcohol: The Resident Assistant and/or Security can both address the situation. An incident report should be written. If underage, security should confiscate the alcohol and write an Incident Report. If of legal age, request they return to their room and RA s and security should write an Incident Report for open container in the halls.

Injury: Drugs: Search Warrant: Fire Alarm: If mobile, contact an RA to accompany the student to the hospital. If not mobile, call rescue squad @ 9-911 and the staff member on call. The hospital staff will evaluate the student and parental contact may occur. The person on call should be responsible for contacting the appropriate staff member. Security should call the Staff member on call. It may be best not to confront in this situation. A search warrant may be issued. The police may also be contacted. The Vice President of Student and Enrollment Services, Director of Campus Life or President may authorize the search of any College owned facilities by College personnel under the following conditions: 1) There is clear evidence of a violation from outside the room or area; 2) There is probable cause to believe that a room search will disclose a violation. Evacuate building immediately. IN CASE OF FIRE: 1. If you discover a fire: a. Pull the closest fire alarm. If there is no immediate threat, fire extinguishers or hoses should be used to extinguish the blaze. b. Try to notify the Hartsville Fire Department (9-911) and a Security officer at x8140. Do Not Put Yourself In Any Danger!! Be prepared to give an exact location and your name. c. If you are unable to reach a fire alarm pull, locate a phone in a safe building and report the emergency to the Fire Department and Security. d. Alert others in the area. 2. If you hear a fire alarm: a. Evacuate the building immediately. Leave all personal items behind. b. Close your doors and windows if time permits. This helps to suffocate the fire. c. Follow your assigned evacuation plan. Do not run. d. Once outside the building, report to your location (listed below) so that you may be accounted for. OTHER EMERGENCIES: Bomb Threat: Notify Security at x8140 (from cell phone, if possible) who will notify police who will initiate their procedures. Notify the person Campus Life On-Call Staff Member. Evacuate building(s), sending students to the front steps of the Student Center (interior campus side). DO NOT pull the fire alarm. Note their: voice, gender, specific locations of bomb, time limits, background noises, were they familiar with campus?

Personal Crisis: Tornado: See Attached. RA s and security should assist in gathering residential students in the designated shelter area. Stay away from windows and doors. Do not use elevators. Memorial 1 st Floor Memorial 2 nd Floor Memorial 3 rd Floor Belk Coker Grannis 1 st Floor Grannis 2 nd Floor Grannis 3 rd Floor Grannis 4 th Floor RTC 1 st floor Memorial hallway 2 nd floor Memorial hallway 2 nd floor Memorial hallway 1 st Belk hallway, away from all doors and windows Coker Basement hallway 1 st Grannis hallway from elevator to RA room 1 st Grannis hallway from elevator to RA room 2 nd Grannis hallway from elevator to RA room 2 nd Grannis hallway from elevator to RA room 1 st floor RTC interior stairwell Hurricane: Nuclear Accident: Official advisories normally allow ample time to plan. Emergency instructions will be given based upon these official advisories. In the event of an accident at the HB Robinson Plant, those that live within a 10 mile radius (Coker is within this radius) our residents will be directed to seek shelter at specific places in the Florence area. Tune into WPDE TV Channel 9, WBTW Channel 13, or WMBF. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES Emergency preparedness is vital for the protection and safety of everyone at Coker College. During emergencies, remember to keep calm. Take time to think before taking action the situation calls for. Become familiar with the emergency exits in the building at the College. During an emergency, practice good citizenship and cooperate with college staff or emergency personnel. If you become aware of a problem that needs immediate attention, please report it to Security at x8140 or any college official. Emergency warnings may be communicated by sirens, fire alarms, or voice. Evacuation orders must be taken seriously. Should classes be canceled, all local radio and television stations will be notified. Additionally, the College Switchboard will have all of the latest information. Should the College be closed, a message will be left on the answering machine informing the caller of important information or numbers.

SEVERE WEATHER General Hints: Do not use elevators during a storm. Do not try to drive or walk across campus. Remain in a safe location until danger has passed. Keep your keys, identification, medication, and other personal necessities with you at all times. If the storm becomes severe, go to the lowest level possible in a hallway or stairwell. If you cannot get to one of these locations, place yourself in an interior doorframe or under a desk. Sit down, place your head between your knees and cover your head with a book. Remain in a safe place until danger has passed. Residence Hall Hints: Keep a flashlight with extra batteries handy. Do not use candles. The desk of your hall should have at least one flashlight if your power should go out. Make sure you wear shoes if you leave your room. You do not know when you will be If you have blinds or curtains, close them and keep them closed. Do not open your Disconnect your computer and other electrical equipment. If you have any questions or need assistance, call your RA. Should the residence halls need to be evacuated, each RA and all floor residents are given instructions regarding their specific evacuation details. residence returning. window. specific Tornados. These violent storms give little or no warning. There are two types of advisory messages that the National Weather Service will broadcast. A tornado watch means that conditions are favorable for tornado activity. A tornado warning indicates that a tornado has been sighted. Local television and radio stations can be consulted. In case of a tornado, it might be inappropriate to evacuate the building. You must protect yourself from extremely dangerous winds and from injury due to flying debris. If you are in the residence halls, go to the lower levels of the residence halls and away from windows. If you cannot get to a lower level, go to your bathroom and close the door. Hurricanes. Because of the distance inland of the College, we will have abundant notice if landfall is predicted along the South Carolina coast. Should a Hurricane Warning be issued by the National Weather Service, students in the residence halls may be advised to travel home or inland prior to the onset of the adverse weather. Students who live in the residence halls should communicate with their RA s and their parents as to where they will be going and a telephone number where they can be reached. For residential students who have limited travel options, the College will maintain emergency space for these students. Thunderstorms. Normally, evacuation of buildings is not necessary. As the sky becomes threatening, you should stay indoors until the front passes. As the storm enters the area, unplug all necessary electrical devices to prevent damage from power surges or lightening strikes.

PERSONAL CRISIS (i.e. suicide, domesticate violence, death, mental breakdown) What if I begin to suspect that someone is in danger of attempting suicide? There are no textbook answers to this question because every case is different. As an RA you can play a valuable role in the identification of a student who may be heading for emotional crisis. However, if you become aware that someone is definitely thinking about suicide or if you even begin to suspect that someone might be suicidal, you should seek help immediately. Any contact with a potentially suicidal student will probably fall into one of three broad categories, each of which indicates a different course of action for you: 1. If suicide has been attempted and there is a medical emergency, you should call 9-911. Obviously the medical crisis is your first priority. Then call the Student Services person on call. Check emergency list for other numbers. Do not leave the student alone. 2. If suicide has been mentioned or strongly hinted at (e.g., discussed with friends, suicide note written, etc.), you should contact the Director of Counseling Services and the Director of Residence Life or the Student Services person on call. In any case a trained professional will take over the responsibility for the student; if at all possible you should stay with the individual until he or she is under the care of a nurse, doctor or psychologist. NEVER leave the student alone. 3. If the suicide has not been mentioned directly, but you have noticed a dramatic change in the person s behavior, or if a friend has become concerned, you should call the Director of Counseling and notify the Director of Residence Life. You or a friend could accompany the student to the Director of Counseling's office, which is in the Science Building, room 409. As an RA you are often in the position to be of significant help to students who come to you to talk about concerns and problems that are part of everyday college life. It is certainly normal to be upset about the end of a relationship, a poor grade on a test, or a quarrel with a roommate or with parents. It is normal for all college students to be concerned about the future, and possibly anxious about the uncertainties of the adult world which they are entering. However, it may happen that you being to feel uneasy about the intensity of a student s unhappiness, or uncertain about the meaning of their behavior. If you suspect that a student is suicidal, you need to recognize the limits of your capabilities and your responsibilities. You are not trained as a prevention professional, and you are not expected to function as such. No matter how well you know a student, you should be prepared to seek assistance when confronted with serious emotional crisis. Call the College Counselor for a suicide crisis or mental breakdown Call the professional staff member on duty for other personal crisis. When a judgment call has to be made, call the professional staff member on duty before making a decision. [8/08]