Emergency Procedures - Massasoit Community College

General Information

Shelter in Place

What Should You Know?

During times of a campus wide emergency, the College Police Department may order a Shelter in Place warning. It is extremely important for our Community to understand what this order means and how to apply it. Below you will find the definition of Shelter in Place.
Shelter in place (or place of refuge) refers to a designated area of safety, such as an interior room with no or few windows, and taking refuge in that location. If you are told to shelter in place, follow the instructions provided. Different situations require different locations.

What Will Happen

You may be required to shelter in place for events such as an active shooter, severe weather, hazardous material incident, or when directed by police personnel.
When ordered, you must immediately seek shelter in the nearest facility, classroom, office, or building (preferably in a room with no windows).We strongly encourage that you have a cell phone, hard-wired telephone, or computer system in the shelter location to assist in obtaining additional information as well as being able to report any life-threatening conditions.
When safe to do so, the College Police Department will notify our Community of the “All Clear” using the aforementioned notification methods.

Severe Weather

What Should You Do?

Be prepared for severe weather well in advance of the threat(s).
Pay attention to emergency alerts, emails and web postings regarding the forecast for an approaching storm.

What Will Happen

The Massasoit College Police will monitor all approaching storms well in advance of any potential impact.
Massasoit’s Emergency Communication Team will issue information on evacuation and campus closure via text, email, voicemail, college television screens, and the web.
Massasoit will close and evacuate all campuses if necessary.
After a storm, information will be distributed on the status of campuses and dates for re-opening through various media outlets and the college web page.

Buildings & Grounds

Fire Procedures

What You Should Do

If you smell or see smoke or fire, activate the nearest fire alarm, if the alarm is not activated automatically.
Phone the College Police at extension 911 that there is fire.
Tell the MPD Dispatcher your name.
Give the MPD Dispatcher the exact location of the fire and any other relevant information you may have concerning the emergency.
Do not attempt to fight the fire yourself unless you have been trained in the use of firefighting equipment and it is safe to do so.
Evacuate the building, close doors behind you to contain the fire and proceed to the evacuation rally point. Exit via stairwells only. Do NOT attempt to use elevators.
Exit quickly and calmly; do not attempt to take anything with you.
Assist disabled persons or others who may need assistance. If you cannot assist others direct incoming emergency personnel to them.
Do not let the fire and heavy smoke come between you and an exit.
If caught in heavy smoke, take short breaths, crouch down or crawl as close to the floor and wall as possible.
If the fire or smoke keeps you from exiting the building, go to a room far away from the fire, shut the door, open or break a window and signal for help by waving an article of clothing or making loud noises. If possible, try to seal the bottom of the door with an article of clothing (jacket, etc.) to prevent smoke from entering the room.
Once outside a safe distance from the building, or at a rally area, return to the building only when instructed to do so by the College Police or other emergency responders.

What Will Happen

MPD will immediately dispatch all available officers to the scene.
MPD Dispatch will activate the Fire Department, as necessary.
MPD will establish on-scene command and coordinate all responding agencies to emergency area.
Once the actual fire or fire alarm is resolved, MPD will give the “all clear” to re-enter the building or give other directions.
If necessary, the Massasoit emergency alert system will be activated with instructions to stay away from the building that is on fire.

Hazardous Materials Release

What You Should Do

Report all releases or spills of hazardous materials that you may observe to the Massasoit College Police Department. Massasoit Police Emergency Numbers are:
1. 508-427-1296;
2. pick-up the nearest emergency blue-light phone, classroom emergency phone, emergency call box or;
3. Call 911.
Tell the MPD Dispatcher your name.
Tell the MPD Dispatcher the exact location of the spill or release.
If possible, give the source, character, amount and extent of the material spill/release.
Notify the MPD Dispatcher if there are any injuries associated with the incident.
Shut windows, turn off open flames and open hoods in the area, if possible. Do NOT risk your personal safety.
Stay a safe distance away from the material that has been released or spilled.
Keep others from entering the area.
Wait for MPD officers and emergency responders to arrive and direct them to the release/spill area.

What Will Happen.

MPD will evacuate the area or the building if necessary.
If the incident is large or cannot be controlled, MPD will activate the Fire Department for assistance, and EMS if necessary.
If the incident is large or threatens other areas of campus, the Massasoit emergency alert system will be activated with instructions regarding the area of the release.

Police Emergencies

Suspicious Mail / Package

What You Should Do

Do not handle the letter/package. Do not shake or bump
Isolate the letter/package and look for indicators of potential hazards. Indicators of potential hazards include:
1. No return address & the presence of restrictive markings (e.g. PERSONAL, SPECIAL DELIVERY).
2. Excessive postage or post marks from a foreign country.
3. Addressed to the employee’s title only (no name); or addressed to the wrong name or title.
4. Misspelled words or badly typed or written address.
5. Wires protruding from the package.
6. Package is lopsided or uneven,
7. Package has a strange odor.
8. Outside of the package shows evidence of oily stains, discolorations, or crystallization on the wrapper/envelope.
9. Excessive taping or string.
10. Do not open, smell or taste the package.
11. Treat the letter/package as suspect.
If received on campus contact the Massasoit College Police.
1. 508-427-1296;
2. pick-up the nearest emergency blue-light phone, classroom emergency phone, emergency call box or;
3. Call 911.
If the parcel is opened and/or a threat is identified, take the following actions immediately:
1. For a bomb:
  1. Evacuate the area where the package was received immediately.
  2. On campus, call the College Police immediately. See Bomb Threat for further information.
2. For a radiological hazard:
  1. Don’t handle the package and evacuate the area immediately.
  2. If you have contamination on your hands or person, do not spread the contamination to other areas or persons.
  3. On campus, call MPD immediately.
3. For a biological or chemical hazard:
  1. Do not handle the package.
  2. Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Do not spread contamination to other areas or other persons.
  3. On campus, call MPD immediately.
4. For other hazards, such as sharp objects or razor blades:
  1. Do not handle the package
  2. On campus, call MPD immediately.

What Will Happen.

MPD will immediately dispatch officers to the scene.
MPD Dispatch will activate the Fire Department, Specialized Agencies, and EMS, as necessary.
If necessary, the Massasoit College emergency alert system will be activated with information & instructions pertaining to the emergency.
MPD will establish on-scene command and coordinate all responding agencies.
If necessary, an “all clear” message will be issued once the situation has resolved

Bomb Threat

What You Should Do

If you receive a bomb threat via phone call, listen carefully and write down everything that is said, starting with the exact time of the call. And the number you are receiving the call from if it is available
Keep the caller talking as long as possible and ask the following questions:
1. When is the bomb going to explode?
2. Where is it right now?
3. What kind of bomb is it?
4. What will cause it to explode?
5. Did you place the bomb?
6. If yes, why did you place the bomb?
While on the phone with the bomb threat caller, have someone else nearby call the College Police, if possible. Massasoit Police Emergency Numbers are:
1. 508-427-1296;
2. pick-up the nearest emergency blue-light phone, classroom emergency phone, emergency call box or;
3. Call 911.
Attempt to determine the following characteristics of the caller and write them down:
1. Is the caller male or female?
2. Does the caller have an accent?
3. Is the caller calm, angry, excited, laughing, or crying?
4. Is there background noise (street noise, music, house noises, voices, machines)?
IMMEDIATELY after the call contact MPD and relay the information received from the threatening caller.
Give the MPD Dispatcher your name and location.
Wait for MPD Officers to arrive. Immediately Leave the area if you feel there is an imminent threat.

What Will Happen.

MPD will IMMEDIATELY dispatch officers to search for the device.
MPD Dispatch will activate the Specialized Agencies, if necessary.
Responding officers will instruct building occupants to turn off any electronic devices including cell phones.
The threatened building(s) will be evacuated if necessary by MPD.
The Massasoit Community College emergency alert system will be activated with information & instructions to stay away from the affected building.
An “all clear” message will be issued once the situation has returned to normal.

If a bomb threat is received on the day that an exam is scheduled, the exam will take place the same day even if the location has to be changed.

Active Shooter

What You Should Do

If an active shooter is OUTSIDE YOUR BUILDING:

Go to the closest room that can be locked.
Once you are in a secure room, close and lock all the doors and windows.
Turn off lights and get everyone in the room down on the floor so no one is visible from the outside.
Have someone in the room contact the College Police Immediately.
1. 508-427-1296;
2. pick-up the nearest emergency blue-light phone, classroom emergency phone, emergency call box or;
3. Call 911.
Tell the MPD Dispatcher quietly what you know about the situation, where you are, how many people are with you, what you are wearing, if there are any known injuries.
When you are finished talking to the MPD Dispatcher, put the phone on silent/vibrate so the dispatcher can call you back; answer only if you are sure it is safe to do so.
Remain in place until the police personnel give you further instructions.
An unknown voice may be the shooter trying to lure you from safety; do not respond to any voice commands unless you can verify it is a police officer. MPP has keys to ALL buildings/Areas on all campuses; they will be able to enter the room without asking you to unlock the door.

If an active shooter is INSIDE YOUR BUILDING:

Remain calm and follow the steps listed in number 1 above.
If you cannot find a secure room, look for an exit you can reach safely, moving away from the shooter.
Do not carry anything so you can move quickly and not be mistaken for the shooter.
Keep your hands visible for police and do exactly what they tell you to do.
Do NOT stop to help any injured victims or try to remove them. Leave them where they are and notify police and/or other emergency responders of their location once you have reached a safe location to do so.
Do not leave the area until you have been cleared to do so by the police personnel.

If an active shooter ENTERS YOUR OFFICE OR CLASSROOM:

If possible, immediately call the College Police emergency line or extension 911.
If you cannot speak, leave the line open so the dispatcher can hear what is going on.
If the shooter is giving commands do not resist. Remain calm and comply.
If there is no opportunity for escape or concealment, a possibility to negotiate may exist.
An attempt to overpower the shooter may also exist.
ATTEMPTS TO NEGOTIATE OR OVERPOWER THE SHOOTER MAY RISK YOUR LIFE OR THE LIVES OF OTHERS. THIS DECISION WILL BE MADE QUICKLY BASED ON WHAT GIVES YOU THE BEST CHANCE AT SURVIVAL.

What Will Happen:

MPD will respond IMMEDIATELY to the scene.
MPD Dispatcher will activate all available agencies, the Fire Department, and EMS.
The first officers on the scene will enter the building to locate the suspect. Police officers are trained to respond directly to the area where shots were last heard. Their purpose is to stop the shooting as quickly as possible.
Police officers may be dressed in regular patrol uniforms , or may be wearing tactical uniforms consisting of external bulletproof vests, helmets, boots and dark clothing, depending on the involved agencies.
Police officers may be carrying a shield and be armed with rifles, shotguns, and/or handguns. They may also use teargas or pepper spray.
Regardless of how they appear, remain as calm as possible. Do not be afraid of officers and follow their instructions carefully.
Put down anything you are carrying and keep your hands visible to the police at all times.
The first officers to arrive will not stop to aid injured persons. Rescue teams of other officers and medical personnel will follow the first officers into secured areas to treat and remove injured persons.
Continue to follow instructions of police and emergency responders until you are released.
The Massasoit emergency alert system will be activated immediately when an active shooter incident is confirmed. If you are not in the vicinity of the of shooting scene follow all instructions issued through the various alert systems.
If you are not in the vicinity of the shooting, and are outside, seek shelter in the nearest building and wait for the “all clear” signal given by police personnel or the College’s Emergency Communications Team. Shooters may continue to move from building to building so remain indoors and aware of any threats.
Once the incident is over and the threat is neutralized, an “all clear” will be issued through the various college emergency alert systems.

Medical Emergency

What You Should Do

If you are injured or encounter someone who is injured, immediately contact the College Police.
1. 508-427-1296;
2. pick-up the nearest emergency blue-light phone, classroom emergency phone, emergency call box or;
3. Call 911.
Give the MPD Dispatcher your name.
Give the MPD Dispatcher your exact location and any information you have regarding the injury.
Stay with the injured person until police officers arrive.
DO NOT attempt to render first aid or medical care unless you are trained to do so.
Remain calm and tell the injured person (even if they appear to be unconscious) that help is on the way.

What Will Happen:

MPD will immediately dispatch officers to the scene.
MPD Dispatch will notify the Fire Department and EMS.
MPD will establish command and coordinate all responding agencies.