Instructions for emergency situations

Building porters have first aid supplies.

CPR in brief

Assess the situation

If the person loses consciousness and does not respond when shaken, call out for help.

Dial the emergency number 112

Indicate where you are calling from (address), the number of injured persons and the nature of their injuries. Provide directions to the scene. Follow the instructions given by the Emergency Response Centre operator.

Is the person breathing or not?

• Open the airways.
• Place the person on his or her back. Tilt the head backwards.
• Ensure that the airways remain open. Turn an unconscious, breathing person on his or her side.

If the person is not breathing

• Start chest compressions.
• Place the base of your palm in the middle of the chest and your other hand on top of it. Push firmly downwards 30 times with your arms straight at a rate of 100 compressions per minute. The recommended compression depth is 5-6 cm.
• Continue with CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
• Open the airways again. Close the nostrils with your thumb and index finger. Place your lips firmly on the person’s mouth and breathe twice into his or her mouth. At the same time, keep an eye on chest movements.
• Continue resuscitation at a rate of two breaths per 30 compressions until an ambulance arrives or you no longer have the strength to continue.

Heavy bleeding

• Stop or slow down the flow of blood from a bleeding limb by supporting the limb in an elevated position. Apply pressure to the wound with your fingers or palm.
• Place a heavily bleeding person immediately in a lying position.
• If bandaging is available, place a compress dressing just above the wound.
• Call 112 if you need emergency assistance.

Shock

Shock is a dysfunction of the circulatory system that may result from severe loss of blood, dehydration, a strong allergic reaction or emotional stress. The symptoms of shock include pale skin and cold sweat, a weak pulse and disorientation.

• Place the person on his or her back.
• Stop or slow down any bleeding.
• Call 112.
• Elevate the person’s feet.
• Protect the person from the cold with a cover.
• Reassure the person.
• Do not give the person any fluids.

Electric shock

• Ensure that there is no current in the victim or the appliance he or she is touching.
• Unplug the appliance or cut off power from the mains switch.
• If the current cannot be cut off, separate the victim from the appliance with a non-conductive object such as a dry piece of wood.
• If the victim is breathing, place him or her on his or her side and call 112. Monitor the victim’s breathing.
• If the victim is not breathing, first call 112 and then start CPR as instructed on the above section "CPR in brief: If the person is not breathing". Continue resuscitation until help arrives or you no longer have the strength to continue.

In the event of fire:

• RESCUE people in danger but without risking your own safety.
• EXTINGUISH the fire using the nearest extinguisher but without risking your own safety.
• LIMIT the fire from spreading by closing the doors and windows.
• ALERT the Rescue Department by pressing the fire alarm and dialing the emergency number 112.
• DIRECT the Rescue Department to the site by the shortest route.
• GO to the designated assembly area. Check that everyone has left the building. Do not leave the assembly area before being told to do so.

Using lifts during a fire is strictly forbidden!

Automatic fire alarm

Most University buildings have an automatic fire alarm system that will alert the Rescue Department directly. The buildings also have manual fire alarms that can be used to report a fire. Ensure that the Rescue Department has received the alarm by calling 112.

Fire alarm

In the event of a fire alarm:

• GO to the assembly area calmly but swiftly. Do not stay behind to collect your belongings. Tell others to leave the building as well. Do not use the lift.
• CALL 112 if you are certain about the cause of the alarm.
• REPORT any detected smoke and people trapped inside to the rescue workers.
• RETURN to the building only when allowed to do so.

The University has prepared for possible power outages and drawn up instructions for them (Flamma). In case of a power outage, the teachers and other staff members will guide you out of University premises if necessary.

You can also prepare yourself:

• If possible, an advance notice will be given of planned power outages. Follow notifications.
• Keep the batteries of your phone and laptop charged.
• Find out where the emergency exits of the building are.
• Learn how to use the flashlight function in your phone.
• Note that during a power outage the data connections in the building will not work and the mobile data network may become congested.

During a power outage:

• Stay calm and, if possible, find a location with more light.
• If you are stuck in a lift, press the alarm button and wait for help. The emergency system will remain functional during a power outage. You may have to wait for some time, as numerous lifts in the area will have stopped due to the power outage.
• If on-site teaching or an on-site examination is disrupted by a power outage, stay calmly seated and wait for the teacher's instructions.

Effects on on-site teaching and exams:

• If on-site teaching is disrupted by a power outage that lasts more than five minutes, the teacher will inform you how the course will continue and how the lost teaching session will compensated or, if necessary, held at another time. The teacher asks the students to vacate the room, when needed.
• If an on-site examination is disrupted by a power outage that lasts more than give minutes, the exam is suspended and the invigilators or the teacher in charge of invigilation guides the students out of the exam hall. The examiner decides on the date of the new exam and the possible assessment of the suspended exam. A new exam date will be arranged as soon as possible.
• Instructions what to do if a power outage interrupts your Examinarium exam are available in the exam spaces. Please take a moment to check the instructions before starting your exam. Should you like, you can check the instructions in advance at the Examinarium blog.

Effects on remote teaching and exams:

• If power is restored within 5 minutes and the remote tools used function normally, the remote teaching or exam can be resumed from where it left off before the power outage.
• If the blackout or related system failures continue after 5 minutes, the teaching or exam is suspended.
• The teacher notifies the students on how the course will continue and how the lost teaching session will compensated or, if necessary, held at another time.
• In case of exams, a new examination date will be arranged as soon as possible. The examiner decides on the date of the new exam and the possible assessment of the suspended exam.

No broad instructions covering all situations can be issued. Solutions should always be based on the location of the incident and the nature of the threat. When considering options for evacuation and shelter in violent situations, the solution may depend on the structure of the facility, the type of walls, the amount of glass and the possibility to lock doors. The location of the facility and its exits also play a major role.

The instructions may be difficult to follow in some University facilities.

Bomb threat

In case of a bomb threat, call immediately to emergency services at 112. Stay calm and follow the instructions given by the authorities.

Firearms threat

Threats involving firearms or similar threats must be reported immediately to the police, tel. 112. Follow the instructions provided by the emergency services.

In the event of a threat in university facilities or nearby:

• ENSURE that all doors are locked.
• TURN OFF the lights and close the curtains.
• ASK all persons in the facility to switch off their mobile phones. The teacher or other supervisor should, however, keep his or her mobile phone on.
• PLACE objects in front of the door of the room you are in.
• ENSURE that everyone in the room is lying on the floor.

(Source: Korkeakoulun turvallisuuskäsikirja, Vakavien henkilöriskien hallinta, p. 68, Laurea C14 2010)

Threatening person

If you are encountered by a person behaving in a threatening manner:

• LISTEN calmly. Do not interrupt, moralise or provoke.
• DO NOT SHOUT, but keep your voice calm and try to defuse the situation by talking with the person.
• KEEP your hands in view and maintain an appropriate physical distance from the person. Do not stare or make sudden movements.
• ASK the person to sit down. This makes it more difficult for him or her to directly attack.
• DO NOT TURN your back to the person at any stage.
• ESCAPE to the nearest safe facility using any excuse available if the person does not calm down.
• DIAL 112 when it is safe to do so. Also report the incident to the porter.

Assault

After an assault:

• SEEK medical treatment.
• REPORT the assault to the police by calling 112.
• SAVE any evidence.
• MARK DOWN the assailant’s identifying characteristics.
• ASK a doctor for a certificate of your injuries.
• MARK DOWN any witnesses’ personal details.

Theft

After a theft:

• Report the incident to the building porter (can usually be found by the entrance) and, if necessary, the police.
• Mark down any identifying characteristics of the thief, direction of escape and means of transport.
• Do not disturb any evidence at the scene of the crime.

Robbery

In the event of a robbery:

• Stay calm.
• Cooperate with the robber’s demands and wait for his or her orders; do not take the initiative.
• Observe the person without attracting his or her attention.
• Do not try to stop or catch the person.
• Dial 112 as soon as it is safe to do so and report the incident to the porter.

Burglary

In the event of a burglary:

• Report the burglary to the porter, the security control room or the security company.
• Inform the police or ensure that the porter or the security company contacts the police.
• Mark down any identifying characteristics of the burglar, direction of escape and means of transport.
• Block off the scene of the crime so that no one disturbs evidence.

First aid for poisoning

Dangerous chemicals may enter the body orally, dermally or by inhalation. Symptoms of acute poisoning include respiratory difficulties, convulsions and unconsciousness. The victim must be immediately hospitalised.

For first-aid instructions, please contact the Poison Information Centre, tel. (09) 471 977.

Inhaling toxic chemicals

Quickly move the victim to a place where fresh air is available and remove all restrictive clothing. Place a conscious victim in a semi-seated position, and an unconscious victim in a lateral position. If necessary, begin resuscitation. Dial 112.

Swallowing corrosive chemicals

Remove the chemical from the mouth and rinse the mouth. Do not make the person vomit. If necessary, contact the Poison Information Centre for further information and take the person to hospital or dial 112.

Eye or skin exposure to chemicals

Rinse immediately with plenty of water for 15–30 minutes. Wash the skin with soap and plenty of water. Immediately remove any contaminated clothing. Use a safety shower if a large amount of the substance was involved or if the substance is a strong acid. The patient must be immediately hospitalised.

Safety showers are located in the laboratory hallways and are marked with green signs. Eyewash stations can be found at or near many safety showers.

Prepare for chemical accidents. In the event of an accident, chemicals may cause dangerous situations in both the workplace and surrounding areas. Examples of dangerous situations caused by chemicals:

• Gas hazard (e.g., chlorine, ammonia, sulphur dioxide and liquid nitrogen)
• Explosion hazard (flammable liquids such as ether, petrol, acetone, ethanol)
• Fire hazard (hydrogen, acetylene, liquefied petroleum gas)
• Radiation hazard (radioactive substances)

Chemical accident

In the event of a chemical accident in university facilities:

• ASSESS the situation. If the situation is serious, escape and help others to do the same by exiting via a safe route.
• DIAL 112 and report the substance involved and the location (building and floor) of the accident. Follow the instructions provided to you.
• REPORT the incident to the building porter (can usually be found by the entrance).
• DIRECT the emergency services to the correct location.

Flammable gas or fluid leak

In the event of gas or fluid escaping indoors:

• ALERT others and, if necessary, begin evacuating the building.
• DO NOT switch electrical devices on or off in the leakage area.
• REPORT the leak to the emergency number 112 and the porter.
• MOISTEN a piece of cloth and breathe through it.
• CUT OFF the main gas supply if possible.
• EXIT the building and stop people from going towards the leakage area.
• If you cannot exit, go to another fire compartment.
• PROHIBIT people from smoking or handling fire in the surrounding area.
• DIRECT emergency services to the scene.

In the event of gas or fluid escaping outdoors:

• GO immediately inside. If you cannot go inside, evacuate in a crosswind direction higher up from the scene.
• HOLD a wet cloth or a clump of turf or moss over your mouth and breathe through it.
• STAY indoors and ask others to join you.
• REPORT the leak to the emergency number 112 and the porter.
• CLOSE all windows, doors and ventilation systems.

If you notice any water damage or some kind of fault in the facilities, contact the building porter. If you cannot reach the porter, call the University's service number 02941 44500 (open 24/7).