Active Shooter

In general, how you respond to an active shooter will be dictated by the specific circumstances of the encounter, bearing in mind there could be more than one shooter involved in the same situation.  If you find yourself involved in an active shooter situation, try to remain calm and focused.  Use these guidelines to help you plan a strategy for survival.  

What to do if you hear gunshots

If you hear what sounds like gunshots or popping, immediately assume they are gunshots and don’t investigate.  You need to quickly decide one of three courses of action:  

• Can you stay where you are and secure yourself from the shooter?  If so, take action to secure yourself, and, if it is safe, immediately call 911.
• Can you escape the building or get to an area where you are secure from the shooter (or at least some place where the shooter can’t see you)?  Get to a secure area if possible, and immediately call 911.
• Are you unable to escape from the shooter?  If you are unable to escape, you need to assess the situation to see if you can shield yourself, or if you need to prepare to take aggressive action to protect yourself.

Deciding on the best course of action

 The information below will aid in deciding on which course of action might be your best option: 

• If an active shooter is outside your building, proceed to a room that can be locked if possible, close and lock all the windows and doors, and turn off all the lights; if possible, get everyone down on the floor and ensure that no one is visible from outside the room.  One person in the room should call 911; you may hear multiple rings but stay on the line until it is answered.  Tell the dispatcher of what is taking place, and inform him/her of your location; remain in place until the police, or a campus administrator known to you, gives the “all clear.”  Unfamiliar voices may be the shooter attempting to lure victims from their safe space; do not respond to any voice commands until you can verify with certainty that they are being issued by a police officer.
• If an active shooter is in the same building you are, determine if the room you are in can be locked and if so, follow the same procedure described in the previous paragraph.  If your room can’t be locked, determine if there is a nearby location that can be reached safely and secured, or if you can safely exit the building.  If you decide to move from your current location, be sure to follow the instructions outlined below.  If the room cannot be locked, barricade the door with heavy furniture such as desks, tables, and bookcases if possible.  If you determine that escape is possible, run and attempt to alert others as you exit the area/building.  As you exit, warn others from entering the area/building of danger.  
• If an active shooter enters your office or classroom, try to remain calm. Dial 911, if possible, and alert police to the shooter’s location; if you can’t speak, leave the line open so the dispatcher can listen to what’s taking place.  At times the location of a 911 call can be determined without speaking.  If there is absolutely no opportunity for escape or hiding, attempt to shield yourself with any available object (i.e., desk, book bags, computers, etc.)  It might be possible to negotiate with the shooter.  If you and others decide to make an attempt to overpower the shooter, realize this will involve significant risk and cannot be accomplished half-heartedly.  If the decision is made to confront and attempt to overpower the shooter, experts recommend spreading out and not standing in a group.  It may be possible to disorient the shooter by yelling and throwing items.  Remember, this will involve significant risk and may involve final attempts to preserve innocent lives.  If the shooter leaves the area, proceed immediately to a safer place and do not touch anything that was in the vicinity of the shooter. 

Plan your escape route

No matter what the circumstances, if you decide to flee during an active shooting situation, make sure you have an escape route and plan in mind.    

• Do not attempt to carry anything while fleeing; move quickly, keep your hands visible, and follow the instructions of any police officer you may encounter and remain calm. 
• The police officer’s verbal commands will be loud and extremely insistent; do not be offended.
• Do not ask questions, but provide important information (such as the location of the shooter) if you are certain of such information.
• Do not attempt to remove injured people; instead, leave wounded victims where they are and notify authorities of their location as soon as possible.  
• Do not try to drive off campus until advised it is safe to do so by police or campus administrators; law enforcement authorities will want to speak with you to obtain information.

When the alarm is activated due to fire, the door to the room will automatically close and a special fire suppression system will activate; All staff and patrons in the JMRBR must evacuate the room immediately. 

1. To silence the alarm: Using the keypad at the 3rd floor desk, enter the security passcode and press the ENT.
2. Go to the door that was affected and investigate the issue. Make sure that the door is securely closed. When you are sure that there is no problem, re-enter the code and press the ESC button to reset the alarm.
3.  Exceptions:
   1. The 2nd floor A Stairs/Galleria door and the 3rd floor 24-Hour Study door have their own keypads. Alarms on those doors can be silenced from the 3rd floor desk, but the keypad next to those doors must be used to reset the alarm.
   2. The Rare Book Room alarm is on a different system and cannot be silenced from the desk. Only those with Rare Book Room emergency access (Damien, Janna, and Cassie) can silence and reset that alarm. Also, the police will come when the Rare Book Room alarm goes off.

The AED and Bleed Kit are located across from the reference desk (in the direction of the office) and are in cabinets on the wall. The AED kit has guided verbal directions, and includes CPR directions.

ALARM: The AED cabinet has an alarm, the alarm turns off when the cabinet door is closed.

Fire Emergency 

Hardin Library for the Health Sciences

If you detect a fire or smoke in the library (or if a fire/smoke is reported to you by someone else):  

• Pull the nearest fire alarm. This will send a message to UI Public Safety who will notify the Iowa City Fire Department.  A staff member should also call 911 to make certain that they have received the message from UI Public Safety.   
• A member of the staff should go to each stairwell to determine if anyone needs assistance moving up and down the stairs. The alarm will continue to sound until it is turned off by the Iowa City Fire Department. 
• If the fire is SMALL (such as smoldering papers), an attempt can be made to put it out by prompt use of a fire extinguisher or some other measure, if this is possible WITHOUT RISK to the individual.   

If the fire/smoke alarm goes off: 

• Staff at the circulation desk should determine if the alarm came from a pull station or not.  If the alarm did come from a pull station, the staff member should go to the area indicated and determine if it is a false alarm.   

If it is NOT a false alarm: 

• The staff member should call 9-911 (Iowa City Emergency) to make certain they are aware of the alarm.   
• A member of the staff should go to each stairwell to determine if anyone needs assistance moving up and down the stairs. 
• If the fire is SMALL (such as smoldering papers), an attempt can be made to put it out by prompt use of a fire extinguisher or some other measure, if this is possible WITHOUT RISK to the individual.   
• If the fire is extinguished, a staff member should call 9-911 to notify the ICFD that the fire is out.  Fire Department personnel will, however, arrive in any case to investigate the cause. 

If it IS a false alarm: 

• If it can be determined that the alarm was pulled accidentally, a staff member should call 9-911 to let the emergency crew know.  They will, however, need to come to the library anyway to reset the alarms and blowers.  

Resetting the system: 

• After the Iowa City Fire Department has arrived and the danger of fire is no longer present, authorized personnel (usually from UI public safety) will turn off the alarm and reset the alarms and panels.  
• After the alarm stops sounding, an appropriate announcement should be made via the P.A. System by a staff member stating that it is safe to resume activities within the building. 
• After the Iowa City Fire Department leaves, Facilities Services Group (Physical Plant) should be called to reset the air handling system (5-5071), unless this has already been done.  Make certain to mention that the air handling system has shut down because of the alarm system. 

Tornado Watch = Conditions are right for a tornado; be alert to weather conditions.

Tornado Warning = One or more tornadoes have been sighted in the area or are on radar; protective measures are required.

Note: Since it is difficult to hear the tornado siren from inside the Hardin Library, it is important that the weather is monitored from the National Weather Service website at www.noaa.gov. Johnson County will sound the siren for winds over 70 mph and golf-ball sized hail.

In the event of a tornado watch or severe thunderstorm:

• In the event of a severe thunderstorm warning with winds over 70 mph and golf-ball sized hail, Johnson County will initiate a siren, or steady tone, for a period of 3 to 5 minutes.
• The staff member who first becomes aware of the siren should make a PA announcement stating that there is a weather condition, but it is not a tornado warning. This can be done from one of the phones at the circulation desk. Dial 5-8254, dial 0 for all floors, wait for a tone, and make the announcement.

In the event of a tornado warning:

• Johnson County will initiate a siren, or steady tone, for a period of 3 to 5 minutes.
• We may also receive a call from the Building Supervisor at the Main Library that a warning is in effect.
• The staff member who first becomes aware of the warning should make a PA announcement stating that there is a tornado warning in effect. This can be done from one of the phones at the circulation desk. Dial 5-8254, dial 0 for all floors, wait for a tone, and make the announcement. In the announcement, recommend that patrons move to the 1st floor area.
• At the time of the warning, one staff member should check each floor for patrons who may not have heard the warning or to assist users who need help using the stairs. Ensure that student employees have vacated the East Commons and locked the door.
• All staff and student employees should relocate to the 1st floor. The 3rd floor desk will remain unattended during this time. Library doors do not lock during warnings. * Monitor weather conditions from the 1st floor desk at weather.gov.
• If the time estimate for the warning has elapsed or the warning is no longer in effect, make an announcement that the warning has expired.
• If people are injured, call 911. If materials or the library collections are damaged, call staff in the Preservation Department (5-5897). On weekends or evening, contact the library director. 

Health-Related & Injury Procedures 

Hardin Library for the Health Sciences 

Health Related Emergency 

Call 911 

Also inform Janna Lawrence (5-9870) 

Injury, General Public 

If a patron is injured while on University property (e.g., falling down stairs), encourage them to contact Public Safety (5-5022) to file an incident report.  

Injury, UI Employee 

Employees injured at work are entitled to medical coverage related to the injury at no cost as part of Workers’ Compensation. If an employee is injured at work: 

• Inform the Libraries’ Human Resources department at 5-5871 as soon as possible. 
• If appropriate, call 911. If you are unsure whether the injury is an emergency, call UI HealthWorks at 5-2111. 
• Arrange transportation to the UIHC Emergency Treatment Center (ETC) (6-2233), and inform the Libraries’ Human Resources department (5-5871). Transportation options include: 
  • Transportation via ambulance for emergencies; 
  • Yellow Cab of Iowa City (319-338-9777); no fee required if you show your University ID; 
  • Libraries Shipping Department (5-5874) for non-emergencies. 
• Inform the ETC staff that you are requesting treatment due to a workplace injury so care can be coordinated with UI HealthWorks. 
• Complete a Workers’ Compensation – First Report of Injury form (found in Employee Self Service) as soon as possible. 

Procedures for non-emergency work-related injuries https://opsmanual.uiowa.edu/human-resources/accidents.

• Pick up the receiver, and dial 5-8254;
• Wait for the tone; then
• Dial 0.