Daniell Heights Living Guide

Emergency Info

911

This is the main emergency telephone number requiring either ambulance, fire control, or police response. When calling this number, please remember to remain calm, speak clearly, and tell the dispatcher what is wrong, including the location of the problem and your name and address. Be willing to remain on the telephone to provide additional information that may be needed.

Department of Public Safety and Police Services—487-2216

Use this number for emergencies that cannot wait until the office is open and for accidents on campus. Department of Public Safety and Police Services are on campus 24 hours per day.

Fire Prevention

Electrical Cords and Outlets

• Avoid the use of extension cords whenever possible; never use a frayed extension cord.
• Do not use an extension cord smaller in diameter than the cord of the electrical item you plug into it.
• Keep all electrical cords away from any type of heat source.
• Do not use adapters to plug in more electrical cords than the outlet allows.
• Do not remove the faceplates for the electrical outlets or switches to make repairs. If you think an outlet or switch is malfunctioning, call the office.
• Use child protector covers to close unused plugs if you have small children.

Heating Equipment

• If you detect any problems in the operation of your heating equipment, call Housing and Residential Life immediately at 906-487-2682 or if after hours call Duty Phone at 906-487-3889. Do not attempt to correct the problem yourself.

Cooking

• Do not leave your apartment while cooking on the stove or in the oven.
• Wear short or close-fitting sleeves to avoid brushing the burners while cooking.
• Do not use open barbecue grills inside your apartment.
• Use your kitchen fan. If your alarm is triggered by cooking, open a door or window. Do NOT take the battery out of the alarm.

NO SMOKING

• The apartments in Daniell Heights are smoke free. Smoking is not permitted inside any building. Cigarette butt containers are located outside.

Flammable Liquids and Trash

• Store flammable liquids in a secure place away from heat sources and out of the reach of children.
• Clean up flammable liquid spills immediately and put rags outside the trash containers in your apartment so spontaneous combustion cannot occur.
• The trash that often collects in breezeways and in hallways of some buildings presents a serious fire hazard. Please keep them clean.

In Case of Fire

• Stay calm. The more excited you are, the more poisonous gases you will inhale which will further affect your judgment.
• Make sure all apartment occupants hear the alarm.
• Feel the door of the room. If it is warm to the touch or if smoke is seeping around the door, do not open it. Use a planned means of escape, probably a window. If possible, crawl out the window feet first, hang from the sill, and drop to the ground.
• If the door is not warm to the touch, slowly crack it open. If it is reasonably free of heat or smoke, quickly exit this way.
• Crawl through smoke, do not walk. There is less smoke near the floor.
• Set a meeting place outside the building so you will know everyone is safe. Once outside, call 911 and ask for fire department assistance. Never go back into the building. If you think someone is trapped, tell the fire department.

Precautions

• Know the exits from your apartment. Usually a door will be the primary exit, and a window will be an alternate one.
• Establish an escape plan and conduct fire drills every six months. Train all members of your family to recognize the alarm signal and how to respond. Instruct children on how to open windows and to leave the house immediately when the alarm sounds.
• Do not nail windows shut—it could be the difference between life and death for someone escaping a fire.
• Do not tamper with the smoke detector. If you feel it is not operating properly, call the office immediately.
• Plan with neighbors the steps you can take together for fire safety.
• Make sure the babysitter knows the exact address of your apartment. Precious minutes may be lost by the fire department trying to locate the fire.
• If your windows are screened, learn how to remove the screens before an emergency occurs. In cases of fire, break a window or screen if necessary.

Smoke Detectors

• Each apartment is equipped with smoke detectors. These detectors are checked annually as well as when the unit is vacated. The batteries are replaced once a year. Never dismantle the smoke detector or perform any service or
  repairs.
• Call the office if you have any questions or concerns.
  Remember, if your detector sounds because of smoke or fumes from cooking or smoking, do not remove the cover or battery. Open a window to clear the air and fan fresh air into the detector. When the air has cleared, the alarm will stop.

Fire Extinguishers

In the Lower Heights, the fire extinguisher is inside the red cabinet in the first-floor breezeway. In the Upper Heights, it is in the public area of the interior hallways on each floor. Once you have found its location, please be sure you know how to use it. If you need help, contact the office for assistance.

Tornado

In the event of threatening weather, turn on a radio or television to a local station. If a tornado is sighted or a warning issued, let your neighbors know and take appropriate precautions:

• Find a flashlight and close all doors.
• Make sure all members of your family remain together.
• Remain in the apartment hallway or bathroom. Be sure to avoid areas with windows or glass.
• When a tornado is imminent, it sounds like a freight train. If you hear this, you only have a few seconds to get yourself into the protective position: lie face down, draw your knees under you, and cover the back of your head with your hands.

Intruders

If a hostile person(s) is actively causing harm or the imminent threat of harm within the apartments, there are recommended procedures to follow:

• Lock yourself in your room. Barricade your apartment with desks, beds, or anything you can push against the door.
• If possible, call 911.
• If you are away from your apartment, join residents in another apartment that can be locked.
• Do not stay in the open hall.
• Do not sound the fire alarm. A fire alarm would signal occupants in the rooms to evacuate the building and, thus, place them in potential harm as they attempt to exit.
• Lock your window and close blinds or curtains.
• Stay away from the window.
• Turn off all lights and audio equipment.
• Try to stay calm and be as quiet as possible.

If you are caught in the open, you must decide what to do. This is a very crucial time and your actions could mean life or death.

• You can try to hide, but make sure it is a well-hidden space or you may be found as the intruder moves through the building.
• If you think you can safely make it out of the building by running, do so. If you decide to run, do not run in a straight line. Keep any objects you can between you and the intruder.
• If the person(s) is causing harm to others and you are unable to run or hide, you may choose to play dead if other victims are around you.
• The last option you have if caught in an open area is to fight back. This is dangerous, but depending on your situation, this could be your last option.
• If you are caught by the intruder and are not going to fight back, obey all commands and do not look the intruder in the eyes.

Once the police arrive, obey all commands. This may involve putting your hands in the air. This is done for safety reasons, and once circumstances are evaluated by the police, they will give you further directions.

Safety First Alert

This system allows Michigan Tech to send emergency messages via your cell phone, email, or mobile device. To subscribe log into banweb using your ISO information and click the Safety First contact information link at www.banweb.mtu.edu.