Banner Home page

Security, Safety and Emergency Procedures

General Guidelines:
In the event of an on-campus medical emergency, the campus community should contact Wake EMS by dialing 9-911 from a campus phone or 911 from any other phone and then contact Campus Police by dialing 8888 from a campus phone or (919) 760-8888 from any other phone.

In the event of any other on-campus emergency, the campus community should contact Campus Police by dialing 8888 from a campus phone or (919) 760-8888 from any other phone. The Residence Director on duty can be reached at (919) 612-6350. Meredith College’s Campus Police Department is staffed 24-hours-a-day year-round.

Included on this web site are guidelines for what to do in case of the following emergency situations:

Bomb Threats
Bomb threats must be treated as a serious matter.

If suspicious object or potential bomb is discovered:

        
If a phone bomb threat is received, try to ask the caller the following questions and record the answers:

Keep the caller talking as long as possible and try to determine and record the following information:

IMMEDIATELY CALL CAMPUS POLICE AT 8888.

After evacuation, report to the Emergency Assembly Area. DO NOT RE-ENTER THE BUILDING UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO BY AUTHORITIES.

Building Evacuation

QUICK RESPONSE
1.  When the alarm sounds, leave immediately.
2.  Alert others to the emergency and ask if they will need help.
3.  Do not use elevators.
4.  Go to an emergency assembly point 500 feet from the building.
5.  Do not block roadways.
6.  Stay clear of hydrants.
7.  Remain at the emergency assembly point until further instructions are provided by Campus Police.

DO NOT return to an evacuated building until advised to do so by the fire department or Campus Police.

Building Evacuation Guidelines:
Buildings will be evacuated when an alarm sounds continuously and/or upon notification by emergency officials.

Be aware of people with disabilities in your area who might require assistance in an emergency evacuation.  Be prepared to render assistance if necessary.

^ top

College Closings and Cancellations
In the event of inclement weather, members of the College's Senior Management Team make decisions relating to the cancellation of classes and the closure of the College. Decisions are then announced immediately through the following avenues (listed in priority order):

  1. Meredith's Inclement Weather Line: 919-832-8878
  2.  A notification in a prominent location on Meredith’s “Enews” page and an e-mail to students and employees (providing that the college's servers are up and electricity is available to the college campus)
  3. WRAL-TV and/or WPTF radio.

Decisions about canceling classes or delaying the opening of the College are made available on the inclement weather line (919-832-8878) no later than 6 a.m. (on the day of the cancellation). 
If it is necessary to delay the opening of the College, any changes to that decision will be announced on the inclement weather line no later than 2 hours prior to the previously communicated time for opening the college.

For those Meredith community members who live a long distance from the College and/or in neighborhoods which are significantly impacted by inclement weather, we understand that decisions about whether or not to come to campus during inclement weather events are best made by you.

^ top

Criminal Behavior

The Meredith College Police Department is staffed 24-hours-a-day year-round for your assistance and protection.

IN-PROGRESS INCIDENTS

Call 8888 and provide the following information:

Stay on the line with the responding officer.

Reporting Crimes That Have Already Occurred
All crimes should be reported by calling Campus Police at 8888.

Do not touch or move anything that may relate to the crime.
When Campus Police responds, provide a description of property and the names/descriptions of any suspects or witnesses.

^ top

Crime Prevention Tips

REPORT ALL THREATS AND SUSPICIOUS PERSONS IMMEDIATELY.

^ top

Fire and Explosion

QUICK RESPONSE:

  1. PROTECT YOURSELF
  2. Contact Campus Police by dialing 8888 from a campus phone or (919) 760-8888 from any other phone.
  3. Fire: Evacuate to an assembly area.
  4. Explosion: (1) Take cover (2) Assist the injured (3) Evacuate to an assembly area.

Evacuation Procedures:

  1. Maintain a way to exit the room.
  2. Stay low. Avoid smoke and fumes.
  3. Once outside, move to an Evacuation Assembly Point.
  4. Campus Police and the Fire Department will respond to the scene.

Small Fire Procedures:

  1. Avoid personal injury and excessive risks.
  2. Alert people in the immediate area and activate the alarm.
  3. Call Campus Police at 8888.
  4. Smother fire or use nearest fire extinguisher.

Operating a Fire Extinguisher

  1. Pull the pin.
  2. Aim extinguisher hose at the base of the fire.
  3. Squeeze the lever.
  4. Sweep from side to side.

What to Do If You Are Trapped in a Building

  1. Place an article of clothing (shirt, coat, etc.) outside a window as a marker for rescue crews.
  2. If there is no window, stay near the floor.
  3. Shout at regular intervals to alert rescue crews of your location.
  4. Do not panic.
  5. If the door is warm, do not open it.

If smoke is entering through cracks around the door, stuff something in the cracks to slow the flow.

^ top

Hazardous materials

Quick Response for spills, leaks and incidents:

Chemical Spills Procedures

For Major Spills:

For Minor Spills

Biological (Blood) Spills Procedures

For specific questions regarding chemical or biological safety, call the Meredith College Campus Police at 8888.

^ top

Health/Medical Related Situations

Medical Emergency

What is Considered a Medical Emergency?
Medical emergencies include:

QUICK RESPONSE

What to Say When Reporting A Medical Emergency:
State that medical aid is needed and provide the following information:

Non-emergency Illness or Injury to Students

Illness or Injury to Faculty, Staff or Visitors

Personal Injury Procedures

Clothing on Fire

  1. Stop, Drop and Roll to smother flame or drench with water if safety shower is immediately available.
  2. Obtain medical attention, if necessary.
  3. Call Campus Police at 8888. Call 9-911 if unable to contact Campus Police
  4. Report incident to supervisor.

Hazardous Material Splashed in Eye

  1. Immediately rinse eyeball and inner surface of eyelid with water continuously for 15 minutes.
  2. Forcibly hold eye open to ensure effective wash behind eyelids.
  3. Obtain medical attention.
  4. Report incident to supervisor.

Minor Cuts and Puncture Wounds

  1. Vigorously wash injury with soap and water for several minutes.
  2. Obtain medical attention.
  3. Report incident to supervisor.

Biological Spill on Body

  1. Remove contaminated clothing.
  2. Vigorously wash exposed area with soap and water for one minute.
  3. Obtain medical attention.
  4. Report incident to supervisor.

Psychological Crisis
A psychological crisis exists when an individual is talking about or considering suicide, has attempted suicide, is threatening to do harm to someone else, or appears to be out of touch with reality (characterized by hallucinations, delusion, complete withdrawal, or uncontrollable behavior) because of drug use or a psychotic break.

Respond quickly if an individual is at risk of harming self, i.e., is talking about wanting to die; has plan to attempt suicide; or has a known history of past attempts.

QUICK RESPONSE

  1. If student is attempting or has attempted suicide, call Campus Police at 8888 immediately. Call 9-911 if unable to contact Campus Police.
  2. Notify Health Center/Nurse on duty at 8535 of attempt.
  3. Call RD on duty for support (cell phone number is 612-6350)

Primary Resource to assess a potential suicide:
Call the Meredith Counseling Center at 8427. (Counseling Center Hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. during the academic year). During the academic year, page the Counselor-on-Call by calling the RD on duty at (919) 612-6350, or Campus Police at (919) 760-8888.

The Meredith Counseling Center provides

Other resources:

Note: if circuits are busy, call Campus Police (8888) for access to a cell phone and outside line.

Sexual Assault and Rape
Sexual assault is defined as any incident of forcing another person to perform a sexual act against his/her will. Force can be implicit through the use of threatening words, gestures, or tone of voice, or explicit through actions of physical restraint. According to North Carolina state law, rape is defined as forced sexual intercourse against the will of another person. Rape is also considered to be sexual intercourse with a person who is physically, mentally, or otherwise incapacitated (including incapacitation from the use of alcohol and drugs), when the person performing the act knows of the victim’s incapacity.

Primary Resource:

Call the Meredith Counseling Center at 8427. (Counseling Center Hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. during the academic year). During the academic year, page the Counselor-on-Call by calling the RD on duty at (919) 612-6350, or Campus Police at (919) 760-8888.

The Meredith Counseling Center provides

Other Resources:

Seek medical assistance as soon as possible following the incident (at a minimum, within 72 hours). Be sure to advise medical personnel that treatment is necessary because of assault or rape. If a victim decides to press charges, medical information is essential.

For rape prevention information contact:

Meredith College recognizes the importance of assisting a member of the Meredith College community who is a victim of sexual violence in regaining a sense of personal control. In this respect, several College departments coordinate efforts to offer services to a victim and others upon whom the sexual violence might have an impact.

The College is obligated to take prompt and effective steps to end the sexual violence, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects, whether or not the sexual violence is the subject of a criminal investigation.

For more information, visit www.meredith.edu/titleix/sexual-assault.htm

^ top

Lockdown Purpose:
The purpose of an emergency lockdown on campus is to limit human exposure to an apparent life-threatening, hostile or hazardous situation. Emergency lockdown is necessary in situations where there is reason to believe that exiting a sheltered area will expose individuals to greater danger than remaining in place. 

Lockdown Authority:
The primary authority to initiate a lockdown will be Campus Police. Should the situation warrant it, all faculty and staff have the authority to initiate an emergency lockdown. Campus Police would be immediately notified by the faculty or staff initiating the lockdown. Situations where an emergency lockdown may be warranted include, but are not limited to:

A. observing an armed intruder or shooter,
B. a serious crime being committed in close proximity to campus, or
C. any situation where exposure to outside hazards may endanger staff, faculty, students and/or visitors.

Anyone observing any one of these situations should immediately call Campus Police at (919) 760-8888 and be prepared to answer detailed questions to describe the location and description of the perpetrator or event. (See Initial Action/Reporting Procedures below.)

Campus-wide/Off-campus Notification:
The Meredith Campus Community will be notified through MC Alert, our campus emergency notification system. In addition, individuals may be told by Campus Police personnel and/or Staff to go into lockdown, and encounter security personnel making their “lockdown rounds.” However, Campus Police personnel will be performing critical duties, locking buildings and communicating with other law enforcement agencies during the lockdown and may not be able to stop and provide individual directions. Therefore, it is important to know and follow the steps listed below.  Should circumstances prevent the "Lockdown" of a particular building, the Campus Police personnel will take appropriate steps to secure the building.

Initial Action/Reporting Procedures:
When an intruder on campus is actively causing deadly harm or the threat of imminent deadly harm to people, you must immediately seek cover and call or contact Meredith College Campus Police at (919) 760-8888 (extension 8888, from any campus phone). Give as many details as possible relative to location, number of assailants, means of aggression, and other pertinent information.

General instructions for individuals on campus during an emergency lockdown:

When instructions are given for a lockdown by a member of the Campus Police or a college administrator, the following procedures are to be implemented immediately:

1.  Active Shooter or Hostage Situation:

2.  Serious Crime Occurring or Committed in Close Proximity to Campus:

3. Hazardous Materials Incident:

^ top

Missing Residential Student Notification Policy

Meredith College takes student safety very seriously.  If a member of the College community has reason to believe that a Meredith student who resides in on-campus housing is missing, he or she should immediately notify Meredith College Campus Police at 919-760-8888.  Campus Police, in conjunction with College Programs staff (residence life staff, Dean of Students, etc.), will initiate an investigation which will include the following:

If the student cannot be located after reasonable efforts, the Dean of Students or the Chief of Campus Police will then contact the student’s emergency contacts no later than 24 hours after the student has been determined to be missing.  If a confidential contact has been listed by the student and the student is over the age of 18, that person will be contacted.  If the missing student is under the age of 18 and is not an emancipated individual, the Dean of Students or the Chief of Campus Police will notify the student’s parents or legal guardians. If the investigation indicates that a student is missing, Campus Police will file a Missing Persons Report with the Raleigh Police Department.

In addition to registering an emergency contact with the Office of Residence Life, students residing in on-campus housing have the option to identify confidentially an individual to be contacted by Meredith College in the event the student is determined to be missing for more than 24 hours.  If a student has identified such an individual, the College will notify that person no later than 24 hours after the student is determined to be missing.  Students who wish to identify a confidential contact may do so through adding the name and contact information on the emergency contact form completed by the student when moving into the on-campus residence, or by contacting the Office of Residence Life at 919-760-8633.  A student’s confidential contact information will be accessible only by authorized campus officials as appropriate. 

 

Severe Weather/Natural Disasters

QUICK RESPONSE

  1. Remain calm and ACT—DON’T REACT!
  2. Seek refuge away from windows.
  3. Call 8888 if assistance is necessary.

Tornado/Hurricane
1. Move away from open doors and windows and move into an interior hallway.
2. Do not use electrical equipment or phones.
3. Do not use elevators.
4. Go to the first floor of the building.
5. Take shelter.
6. Sit on the floor and put your head in your lap. Cover head with arms.
7. Remain calm.

Click here for more information on Meredith's Hurricane Preparedness Efforts.

Earthquake
1. Stay inside.
2. Watch out for falling objects.
3. Crawl under a table or desk or stand in a doorway and hang onto something.
4. Do not use open flame.
5. Do not use phones or elevators.
6. Remain calm and be prepared for aftershocks.
7. If evacuation is ordered, proceed to the designated assembly area.

^ top

Site Map | Directory | Questions?
© Meredith College | 3800 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27607-5298
Phone: (919)760-8600 | Fax: (919)760-2874