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Residence Life

Safety and Security

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Emergency Management

The GHSU Alert System is a mass notification system, including outdoor sirens, for our university to instantly disseminate emergency information to students, faculty, staff, and designated groups.  During emergencies other time-sensitive events, GHSU will use this system to broadcast pertinent information and appropriate response measure.  Take these warnings seriously and follow the instructions provided.

The system can send messages by four different methods:

  • Voice messages to home, work, and cell phones - up to six different phone numbers that you designate.
  • Text messages to cell phones, PDAs, and other text-based devices (individual text charges from your provider may apply)
  • Messages to TTY/TDD receiving devices for the hearing impaired.
  • Written messages to your GHSU e-mail account

The sirens will sound with a loud, steady tone for an emergency.  When hearing this signal, you should immediately go into the nearest building to seek shelter.  Siren activations will be followed by a GHSU Alert message with information on the nature of the activation and/or instructions.

Students have been automatically subscribed to GHSU Alert.  Please review your contact information, make updates, and add additional phone numbers.  Your cell phone number or other contact where you can most easily be reached are especially important.  Go to MyMCG on the upper right side of the GHSU homepage.  Select the GHSU Alert icon under Popular Links on the right.  Click on the icon at the bottom of the page.  Login with your Novell username and password.  Select the icon at the bottom of the page that applies to you.  Follow the instructions given and you can change/add/delete your number(s) in the GHSU database and Alert.

The GHSU Alert system will be tested twice a year, once each semester.  The sirens only are tested monthly on the last Wednesday.  The campus will receive advance notice by e-mail prior to any testing.

Escort Service

Public Safety provides a 24-hour campus escort to students.  Students may be transported anywhere on campus by calling (706) 721-2911.  Students are urged not to walk alone on campus, especially after dark.

Fire Evacuation (Code 17 Procedures)

IN CASE OF A FIRE:

  1. Do not panic; remain calm
  2. Remove persons in immediate danger of the fire.  If not already closed, close door to room affected.
  3. If room is filled with smoke, get on hands and knees (or stomach) and crawl to the door.
  4. Feel the door knob; if hot, do not open the door.  If cool, open the door slowly.
  5. If the hallway is filled with smoke, stay next to the wall and count the doors as you crawl to the exit.
  6. Activate the nearest fire alarm box and call Public Safety at (706)721-2911.  Give the location and the type of fire.
  7. Calmly notify other residents in the area.
  8. Do not prop open doors to exit stairways.
  9. If possible, attempt to extinguish the fire with the fire extinguisher provided in your area.
  10. Once out of the area, do not return to the residence hall for any reason.
Fire Drills

Mandatory fire drills are conducted in each residence hall three times each year (fall, winter, and spring semesters) between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.  Fire drills are conducted by the Fire Safety Office.

Residents are required to evacuate their apartment/room when the fire alarm sounds to the designated evacuation site adjacent to the residence hall.  The names of residents failing to evacuate in an orderly and timely manner will be noted in the fire drill report by the Fire Safety Officers and reported to the Office of Residence Life.

Evacuation routes, destination maps, and fire safety tips are posted on the back of all unit doors.  The route identifies exits, stairwells, fire alarm stations, and fire extinguisher locations.

Fire Safety Equipment

Tampering with or the misuse of fire safety equipment is prohibited.  This includes removing or disabling the smoke detector.  If a smoke detector needs to be replaced, residents should contact the Office of Residence Life at (706) 721-3471.  Fire Safety equipment includes, but is not limited to fire alarms, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and unit door closures.  Anyone apprehended for vandalizing or suing fire safety equipment for any purpose other than safety will be reported to GHSU Public Safety.  Additional fire safety information may be obtained from the Environmental Health and Safety Division website at http://www.georgiahealth.edu/services/ehs/.

Fire Safety Systems

Residence 4 is a fully sprinkled residence hall.  There are smoke detectors, audible alarms, strobes, and fire extinguishers located throughout the building.  The fire alarm system is monitored by Public Safety 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Residents are advised to call Public Safety at (706) 721-2911 in the event of a fire.

Residence 5 (A, B, C, D Buildings) is not a fully sprinkled residence hall.  There are smoke detectors in each apartment that are not part of the building fire alarm system.  The fire alarm system has pull stations with audible alarms and strobes, but is not monitored by Public Safety.  Fire extinguishers are provided throughout the building.  Residents are advised to call Public Safety at (706) 721-2911 in the event of a fire.

Residence 6 is not a fully sprinkled residence hall.  There are smoke detectors in each apartment, audible alarms and strobes that are part of the building fire alarm system.  The fire alarm system is monitored by Public Safety 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Fire extinguishers are provided throughout the building.  Residents are advised to call Public Safety at (706) 721-2911 in the event of a fire.

The Alumni Center is not a fully sprinkled residence hall.  There are smoke detectors, audible alarms, strobes, and fire extinguishers located throughout the building.  The fire alarm system is monitored by Public Safety 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Residents are advised to call Public Safety at (706) 721-2911 in the event of a fire.

All fire alarm systems are checked and maintained on an annual basis.  Fire sprinkler systems are inspected and maintained on a semi-annual basis by an outside contractor.  Fire extinguishers are inspected and maintained by the Fire Safety Office on a monthly basis.

Missing Persons

In accordance with the Clergy Act, should the Office of Residence Life be advised that a student is missing, GHSU Public Safety will be notified for further action.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act (Public Law 110-315), GHSU has developed the following disclosure notification and action plan in the event of a "Missing Student."

Statement of Compliance

Resident students have the option to confidentially identify an individual and his or her telephone number to be contacted by GHSU within 24 hours from the time a student has been reported as missing.  Resident students may contact he Office of Residence Life at (706) 721-3471 to list confidential contact information.  The Office of Residence Life will collect and maintain the confidential contact information.  The student is responsible for ensuring that the contact information is up to date and accurate.  Only authorized campus officials and law enforcement officers will have access to this information.  Should a student under the age of 18 be reported as missing, the Office of Residence Life staff will immediately contact GHSU Public Safety, and take the necessary action in accordance with the "Reporting a Missing Student" process.

Notification and Reporting Procedures

Concerned individuals should report a missing student to the Director of Residence Life (or their designee) or contact the GHSU Public Safety.

The Office of Residence Life will forward any reports of a missing student immediately to GHSU Public Safety.  The Office of Residence Life will then work in conjunction with GHSU Public Safety until the matter is resolved.  This action will include us of the emergency notification system as necessary.

The Office of Residence Life will notify the listed emergency contact (or the custodial parent or guardian if a resident is under 18 years of age and not an emancipated individual) within 24 hours from when the student was reported missing.

Parking

The Parking Office provides a variety of services to assist residents.  Residents requiring a jump start, have a flat tire, out of gas, or need water for a vehicle my contact the Parking Office for assistance.

Security

In order to promote residence hall security, students are urged to keep their room/apartment doors and windows locked at all times.  Residents should not leave personal items in stairwells or outside the residence halls.  Outside doors are part of the security system also and should remain locked at all times.  At no time should the doors be propped open.

 

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Revised: 1/29/13