Evacuation Methods

Whether you are at home and a fire breaks out, or you are at work and a chemical spill has occurred, evacuation may be the only means of protecting yourself from harm. Evacuation methods differ depending on the situation in which you find yourself. Knowing how to respond in any situation will help you stay safe.

Bomb Threat

• The Fairfax, Virginia, emergency response plan suggests that if a threat has been made by phone, write down everything the person making the threat tells you and tell the police. In the event you receive a suspicious package, don't touch it. Move everyone away from the object and begin evacuation.

  Call 911 from a ground-line phone. According to Southern Connecticut State University, calls made from cell phones or the use of electronic devices may set off a bomb that's tuned in to such frequencies.

  After the call, employees designated as emergency responders for your building will move to their positions and begin searching for suspicious packages. Open all windows and doors to dispel the blast force of a potential bomb, suggests Southern Connecticut State University. Calmly begin evacuating the building, using a route that's been established to be bomb-free by the building responders.

  Once outside, don't go to your car or parking lot as a vehicle bomb might have been planted there. Remain outside until emergency personnel tell you it's okay to return.

Fire

• In the event of a fire that can't be snuffed by a fire extinguisher, pull the fire alarm. Notify your building's emergency responders, so they can begin evacuation procedures. Alert anyone who's in immediate danger to evacuate. Close doors and windows to prevent oxygen outside from feeding the fire, suggests Oklahoma State University. Vacate using stairwells.

  Stay as low to the ground as possible, if smoke begins to thicken. Don't use elevators, as the elevator shaft may fill with smoke, suffocating you, the Seattle Fire Department's Fire Prevention Division says.

Earthquake

• The U,S. Centers for Disease Control recommends that you shut off utilities, if possible. This will prevent gas from igniting and causing an explosion. Have a rope ladder handy if the stairs are unsafe. Never use an elevator after an earthquake, as the cables might be damaged. Watch out for aftershocks, too. Find a location away from any buildings to assess your situation. Ensure your family or co-workers are present.

Chemical Spill

• When a chemical spill occurs in your building, immediately evacuate colleagues. Close windows and the door of the room where the spill occurred to isolate any volatile gases that were released, suggests Northern Illinois University.

  Alert those in surrounding labs and use the fire exits to evacuate the building. Northern Illinois University recommends that if there are unconscious victims in the spill area, try to rescue them, but only if respirators and protective clothing are available.

  If the spill contains highly flammable materials, alert those nearby not to ignite a flame, as an explosion may occur, suggests Princeton University.