Preparation

Familiarize yourself with emergency stairwells, exit routes, and alternate routes for all buildings that you frequent, specifically the locations of areas of rescue assistance and refuge. These areas will be marked with signage.

Utica Campus

Building	Floor	Location
Academic Building	2nd Floor	Adjacent to the elevator
Academic Building	2nd Floor	Stair F, adjacent to room 273
Alumni College Center	2nd Floor	Stair A, adjacent to room 206
Jorgensen Center	2nd Floor	Adjacent to the elevator
Jorgensen Center	2nd Floor	Catwalk above the main lobby
Wilcox Hall	1st Floor	Stairwell adjacent to room 116
Wilcox Hall	2nd Floor	Stairwell adjacent to room 227
Wilcox Hall	2nd Floor	Stairwell adjacent to room 204
Payne Hall	2nd Floor	Landing of stairwell A, B, and D
Payne Hall	3rd Floor	Landing of stairwell A, B, and D
Payne Hall	Basement	Adjacent to elevator 3
Bellamy Hall	2nd Floor	Landings of North and South stairwells
Bellamy Hall	3rd Floor	Landings of North and South stairwells

Rome Campus

Building	Floor	Location
Plumley Complex	Basement	Adjacent to elevator 1
Plumley Complex	Basement	Stairwell 2
Plumley Complex	Basement	Stairwell 3
Plumley Complex	Basement	Stairwell 4
Plumley Complex	Mezzanine	Adjacent to elevator 1
Plumley Complex	Mezzanine	Stairwell 2
Plumley Complex	Mezzanine	Stairwell 4
Plumley Complex	2nd Floor	Adjacent to elevator 1
Plumley Complex	2nd Floor	Stairwell 1
Plumley Complex	2nd Floor	Stairwell 2
Plumley Complex	2nd Floor	Stairwell 3
Plumley Complex	2nd Floor	Stairwell 4

Action

When a fire alarm is activated, people with physical disabilities should proceed to the nearest stairwell or a designated area of refuge/area of rescue assistance and wait there to be evacuated by emergency personnel. Employees (faculty and staff) should assist to ensure the safe evacuation of mobility impaired individuals from their area of authority (classroom, office, etc.). 

If you have a mobility impairment, you should ask the person that accompanied you to immediately notify emergency personnel of your exact location once they have evacuated. Once you are in the stairwell, you should call 911, or the Department of Public Safety at 315- 731-5777 (Utica) or 315-334-3559 (Rome) and provide the following information:

1. Your exact location (Campus, building, floor, stairwell number, etc.)
2. Your Name, and anyone else with you
3. Your cell phone number
4. Any other information that may assist in your safe evacuation.

Be persistent: If you do not receive a response in 5 – 10 minutes, call again.

To assist visually impaired persons:

1. Announce the nature of the emergency, i.e. “There is a fire alarm and we need to leave, may I help you?”
2. Offer your arm for guidance
3. Speak aloud and inform the person where you are going and announce any obstacles you encounter
4. When you reach a safe location, confirm that they do not need anything else before leaving them.

To assist people with hearing limitations:

1. Use visual aids, such as turning the lights on and off to gain their attention
2. Indicate directions using hand gestures
3. Use a white board, chalk board, notepad, or even a cell phone to write a message