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4. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES |
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Emergency Action Plan
Emergency procedures for your work area are in the
Emergency Action Plan
(EAP) developed by your department. These include:
- Escape routes & procedures
- Disabled assistance & shutdown procedures
- Coordinators & emergency contacts
- Evacuation assembly site
- Reporting method & evacuation verification
Guidelines, requirements and updating information for the Departmental EAP
are provided in the program section of the safety web
(www.nmsu.edu/~safety).
Emergency Alert System
The EAS system is a supplement to
Emergency Action Plan. It is to used for
emergency incidents, threatening weather, fire, chemical release, etc.
It is a telephone-based notification system, which can be used to send
area-specific information to affected NMSU areas/buildings. Additional alert
information may be provided via NMSU web &/or NMSU announcement line
Chemical Spills - Immediate Danger
If
a chemical spill occurs or is discovered and in your opinion constitutes
an immediate danger to yourself or other building occupants ants
- PULL THE FIRE ALARM to evacuate the building.
- After activating the fire alarm, immediately call the campus emergency
number - 911.
For chemical contact, remove contaminated clothing and rinse contaminated
skin or eyes continually with fresh water or eye wash solution for 15
minutes.
All Spills - No Immediate Danger
This is for spills that present no immediate danger to you or other building
occupants.
 All spills with uncontrolled releases (water flooding, cleaning supplies,
etc.) or chemical contamination of a person must be reported to your
supervisor and EH&S. For mercury spills, don’t clean up, close the area and
call EH&S.
Emergencies are reported at 911;
Non-emergencies should be reported at 646-3311
Fire
If you see a fire, smell a burning odor or see smoke you believe to be
caused by fire, activate the fire alarm and immediately afterwards call 911.
Do not attempt to put out the fire unless you know it is safe to do so. Do
not use a fire extinguisher unless you are trained to do so. All NMSU
employees should attend extinguisher training conducted by the NMSU Fire
Department (646-2519).
If the fire alarm sounds in your building, evacuate the area immediately.
Move away from the building to a pre-designated area. Do not use the
elevators.
Medical Emergency
Quickly call 911 for immediate medical attention of employees, students, or
visitors.
Do not move an injured person unless they are in a life threatening
situation. Call 911 for:
- heart attacks
- unconscious persons
- cuts with extreme bleeding
- broken bones
- eye or head injuries
- chemical exposures
- electric shock
- seizures
Or if in doubt, treat the situation as a medical emergency and call 911.
Weather Hazards
The Sun. Along with the Organ Mountains, the sun is the most
prominent feature of the daytime skyline. With the sun comes certain dangers
from the high UV level in Las Cruces. Take appropriate precautions to
prevent overexposure to the sun such as sun block, headgear, and sunglasses.
The median Las Cruces summertime temperature is 95.5o F. Heat illness (heat
exhaustion, heat cramps, heatstroke) is a real issue and is easily
prevented. Prevention methods include drinking plenty of water (not tea,
coffee, sodas, etc.),
wearing lightweight, loose fitting, light-colored, clothing, and scheduling
outdoor activities during cooler part of day.
Lightning. Lightning is a major component of local storms. If you are
caught outside during a lightning storm, seek proper shelter immediately.
Safety tips include:
~Quickly get out & way from pools, lakes & water bodies;
~Avoid areas higher than the surrounding landscape
~Get in a hard-topped car;
~Never use a tree as a shelter
~Keep away from metal objects;
~Indoors stay clear of windows, doors, & electric units;
~Don’t stand in a crowd of people;
~Unplug computers and equipment and only use the telephone for emergencies.
Wind. Strong winds with blowing dust are also a frequent
problem. The peak
months for
strong winds in the Las Cruces area is during February and March.
However, strong winds can occur at any time during the year. You can best
protect yourself by wearing the proper clothing. If you suffer from
respiratory problems, a dust mask or equivalent may be required. Consult
your physician for advice.
Rain and High Water. Las Cruces is an extremely arid region. The average
annual precipitation for the area is approximately 11 inches. During rain
storms the streets can become slick from oils that have built up over time.
Strong and heavy rainstorms are also a reality. When this occurs dangers
arise from flash floods and street flooding. Low-lying areas, such as
arroyos, quickly flood and become very hazardous. Do not attempt to cross
flooded areas of unknown depth.
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