Cell Phones can be a valuable asset in an emergency, but there is a possibility that the call is received by an agency outside of your geographical area. You must be prepared to provide as much information as possible, including detailed description of your location.
| Police-Fire-Ambulance | 9-911 or 9-911 from a campus phone |
| University Police | 342-1584 (after hours calls are forwarded to the Platteville Police) |
| City of Platteville Police | 348-2313 (24 hours) |
| Dean of Students | 342-1854 |
| Facilities Management | 342-1155 |
| Hazardous Waste/Safety | 342-1188 |
| Employee Assistance Program | 342-1530 |
| University Counseling | 342-1865 |
| University Health Services | 342-1891 |
| Southwest Health Center | 348-2331 (24 hours) |
| Unified Counseling | 1-800-362-5717 (24 hour emergency line) |
| Family Advocates | 348-3838 / 1-800-924-2624 (24 hours) |
| University Human Resources | 342-1176 |
UW-Platteville uses a Behavior Review and Response Team when concerns are raised about the behavior of a student or employee. You may reach the team by contacting the Dean of Students Office during office hours or e-mail concerns@uwplatt.edu. (NOTE: This e-mail is not monitored 24 hours a day so do not use for time sensitive information or questions.)
The emergency call boxes should be used for emergencies requiring immediate police, fire or ambulance services. They are not intended for routine service requests.
The emergency call boxes are radios that operate on the University Police radio frequency. When the call box PUSH FOR HELP button is pressed, all on-duty police officers monitoring the University Police frequency, including the Platteville Police and the Grant County Sheriffs Dept, receive the announcement providing the location of the activated call box alarm. Police response to the alarm does not rely on the caller’s ability to provide information on his/her location, or ability to speak.
In the event of a medical emergency or a suspected emergency, contact an Emergency Services Dispatcher by dialing 911 (9-911 from a campus phone). Be prepared to provide the following information:
University Police is dispatched as First Responders for all ambulance calls on campus. It is likely that the police officers will arrive prior to the ambulance, with the possible assistance of the Platteville Police. The police officers will assume care of the person until the ambulance service arrives. If possible have someone meet the police/EMTs and escort them to the sick/injured person’s location.
A seriously injured person should not be moved unless he/she is in a threatening situation. Also, do not forget to check the area to make sure it is safe for you to be present. If possible, someone should remain with the person, keeping him/her warm, and monitor the person’s breathing. If necessary, severe bleeding should be controlled by using direct pressure.
If an adult person is conscious and oriented, that person has the right to determine his/her own health care needs and the response to those needs. If the patient is unconscious and/or not oriented, the Platteville Ambulance Service will transport the person to Southwest Health Center Emergency Room.
The fire alarm system on campus sends an announcement over the University Police radio frequency if an alarm is activated for any reason. If you know an alarm has been activated accidentally, contact the University Police immediately at 342-1584. All fire alarms are treated as an emergency unless the on-duty officer is informed otherwise.
In the event of an actual fire, smoke or explosion, pull the fire alarm immediately if it has not activated itself, and evacuate the building. The Emergency Services Dispatcher should be contacted by dialing 9-11 (9-911 from a campus phone) after evacuating the building.
When a fire alarm sounds, complete evacuation is required unless told otherwise by a member of the police or fire departments. People should use the nearest exit or stairway exit unless there is smoke or fumes present. No one should use an elevator during a fire alarm. In most cases, the elevator will automatically shut down once an alarm is activated. Doors and windows should be closed as you evacuate the building if it is safe to do so.
People should be at least 100 feet away from the evacuated building, and remain in a group to account for all that should have evacuated. The Fire Department needs to be notified immediately if there is a possibility that someone may not have been able to safely evacuate or a disabled person was left in an area of rescue.
Report potential hazards or refer fire prevention questions to the University Safety Office, 342-1188.
Familiarize yourself with locations of fire alarm pull stations and locations of fire extinguishers in your work area(s).
Pre-planning to evacuate or shelter in place is an essential part of emergency planning, and it is a critical issue for anyone with a disability.
Persons Using Crutches, Canes or Walkers
The type of assistance will depend on the individual’s mobility and request for help. Someone should stay with the individual in the event that circumstances change, and the individual would need to move. Individuals using crutches, canes or walkers should be treated as if they were injured if they require or request assistance. If necessary have the individual sit on a sturdy chair in order to carry the individual to an area of safety.
Non-ambulatory persons Evacuation may not be necessary or advisable depending on the circumstances. Many stairwells are designed to provide temporary protection from fire or other danger. Fire/stairwell doors should be closed for added protection. In addition, someone should stay with the person, while a second person notifies emergency responders of the location. If possible, the person should not be moved unless it becomes unsafe to remain in the location reported to emergency responders.
If immediate evacuation is necessary, the following needs to be considered:
A person utilizing a wheelchair is the best person to provide advice, ask the person:
Most visually impaired persons will be familiar with their immediate work area. In an emergency situation, describe the nature of the emergency and offer to act as a “sighted guide”; offer your elbow and escort the person to a safe place. Remember to inform the person of any obstacles and the location you are going. Once you arrive at a safe place, orient the person and ask if there is any additional assistance needed.
Because persons with impaired hearing may not perceive an emergency alarm, another method may have to be used to inform the individual of an emergency. A written note with a brief description of the emergency and the nearest evacuation route; or gaining the attention of the individual and providing gestures are two alternatives.
Psychological emergencies may include drug/alcohol overdoses, mental illness, violent behavior, or simply someone under a great deal of stress. In the event that the person becomes an imminent danger to him/herself or others, Wisconsin Statutes provides law enforcement officers with the authority to take that individual into protective custody.
If there is an imminent danger or threat an Emergency Services Dispatcher should be contacted by dialing 911 (9-911 from a campus phone.) If necessary, go to another location, away from the individual to make the telephone call or have someone else call. Be prepared to provide the Dispatcher with a detailed summary of the behavior involved, including any threats or weapons present, and if drugs or alcohol is involved.
While waiting for help to arrive, it is very important to be supportive, and avoid upsetting the individual. If possible, have someone meet the police officer to provide any additional information prior to the police officer approaching the person.
If at any time you are afraid the individual will become violent, as quietly as possible, leave the area for a safe place.
All acts of violence should be reported to the police as soon as possible. If you are not comfortable with reporting to the police, then discuss the behavior with a supervisor. The behavior should be documented. What may appear to just a one time fit of anger, may be an indicator that there is a serious problem that needs to be addressed before escalating.
Violent behavior may occur anywhere, anytime. It is difficult to be prepared for the unexpected, but taking time to think about what you would do in certain situations could help prepare yourself for such an event.
When a hostile person enters a building threatening or causing harm to others, the following procedures are recommended:
NOTE: In the situation of an intruder in the same room, these are options to consider but you have to decide on what actions to take.
If you are in an open area, you need to make an immediate decision regarding your safety. You may have to find a safe place to hide; make a decision to run from the area, fight or even attempt to negotiate with the individual(s).
When emergency response teams respond to situations such as a hostile intruder, they do not immediately know who the “suspect” is. For the safety of all, police will direct all individuals to the ground, to keep hands held up in the air, or possibly even begin to handcuff people.
Hopefully you will never have to be involved in a hostile intruder situation. However you should spend sometime evaluating your work area(s), and become aware of potential escape routes. Ask yourself what would you do if someone came into your work area with the intentions of hurting your or someone else.
If you observe an activity that is suspicious or criminal, please contact the University Police as soon as possible. A majority of crimes that occur on campus are solved by information received from members of the campus community.
Individuals who wish to report suspicious or criminal activity may remain “anonymous.” If someone is uncomfortable with reporting information to the University Police, the information may be provided to the Grant County Crime Stoppers, 608-723-4271.
Severe Thunderstorm – a thunderstorm that produces hail at least ¾ inch in diameter and winds of 58 mph or stronger.
Tornado Watch - Weather conditions are favorable for a tornado. People are encouraged to watch for changing weather conditions, and be prepared to take safety precautions if necessary.
Tornado Warning - a tornado has been spotted, either by a trained spotter or the National Weather Service in the area, or reported to be traveling towards the area.
Additional storm information can be found at http://www.weather.gov/om/severeweather/index.shtml
The City of Platteville provides storm warning notification by sounding the storm sirens for three minutes. The storm sirens are tested the first Wednesday of every month. You may listen to the storm sirens by going to the City of Platteville web page, and scrolling to the bottom of the left column. www.platteville.org
The local radio, television stations and various web sites serving the Platteville area provide additional storm warning information.
In addition to the storm sirens, the Platteville Fire Department utilizes a fire siren as a back-up notification system in the event that the paging system fails. People should be familiar with both sirens. You may listen to the fire siren by going to the City of Platteville web page, and scrolling to the bottom of the left column. www.platteville.org
In the event that the University Police receives a severe storm or tornado warning, the on-duty officer activates the public address system to notify as many people as possible of the weather conditions. If time allows, on-duty officers will attempt to contact as many people as possible attending outdoors events, or in buildings that may not be served by the public address system.
When a tornado warning is issued, building occupants should find interior shelter immediately:
There will NOT be an all clear provided. An assessment should be made of your area regarding damage in order to make a determination of whether it is safe to move from the area, or remain in place until help arrives. When you feel safe to move, account for all occupants and if possible prepare a list of those who are safe to the University Police. You should prepare a separate list for persons with injuries or who are unaccounted for.
Class Cancellation and Campus Closure Policy Document updated December 2008
The State of Wisconsin has delegated authority to the UW System for decisions concerning the cancellation of classes or the closing of campuses to the public due to inclement weather. At UW-Platteville, the Chancellor determines whether or not to cancel classes. The Chancellor also determines, in consultation with UW-System Administration, whether or not to close the campus to the public. Only the Governor has the authority to close state offices, including University offices.
If at all possible, people should avoid contacting local police for questions regarding road conditions or class cancellations unless an emergency exists. In the event of severe weather, anyone wishing information on whether a particular class or event will be postponed or canceled should contact the department or faculty member for that information.
The Chancellor will notify the University Public Information Officer whenever a decision is made to cancel classes or close the campus to the public. In the event that the Chancellor is not available, the Provost has the responsibility for taking this action. Once the Public Information Officer is notified, a press release will be issued to local media outlets; a campus wide e-mail issued, information posted on www.uwplatt.edu, and on the UW-Platteville Update Line 342-7000.
Cancellation decisions are made in each College. The College Dean, Department Chair and faculty members will make the decision to postpone and reschedule evening classes on and off campus. Classes will be rescheduled by the faculty in conjunction with the students in the class. As soon as cancellations/postponements decisions are made, a message notifying the students can be received by calling a specified telephone number furnished by the instructor for emergency class information or e-mail/web notification.
For certain types of emergencies, you will be requested to shelter in place rather than evacuate a building. Sheltering in place is normally utilized during a weather/tornado warning, but may occur in other emergencies as well.
In most cases, if you are requested to shelter in place, emergency personnel are already aware of the situation and there is no need to contact 911, unless there is a life threatening injury or illness.
General Guidelines
In the event of an airborne release
Additional information is located in the Psychological, Criminal or Violent Behavior section.
If you believe someone is being sexually assaulted, call 911 (9-911 from a campus phone) immediately. You should be prepared to provide the Emergency Services Dispatcher with as much information as possible, and remain on the telephone until the dispatcher tells you to hang up.
If a victim, who is not in immediate danger, reports a sexual assault to you, it should be the victim's choice to report it to a law enforcement agency. The victim should be encouraged to have a physical exam as soon as possible even if the victim does not wish to pursue a criminal investigation
If a rape date drug is suspected, it is extremely important that the victim seek medical treatment as soon as possible
If neither you nor the victim is sure of the services available to assist the victim, you may contact any of the agencies listed below. The victim's identity will be kept confidential.
| Dean of Students | 342-1854 |
| University Counseling | 342-1865 |
| University Health Services | 342-1865 |
| Southwest Health Center | 348-2331(24 hours) |
| Family Advocates | 348-3838 or 1-800-924-2624 (24 hours) |
| Unified Counseling Services | 1-800-362-5717(24 hours) |
| University Police | 342-1584(24 hours) |
| City of Platteville Police | 348-2313(24 hours) |
| Grant County Sheriff | 723-2157(24 hours) |
Mandatory report: Any university employee who witnesses or receives a report of a sexual assault involving a student is required to report the assault to a Dean of Students for statistical reporting required by WI State Statute. The name of the victim is NOT required.
If you receive a bomb threat by telephone:
The use of cell phones, radios or any other piece of equipment that could create a spark should not be used within 300 feet of the area identified by the threat.
If the area is evacuated, the area should be cleared at least 500 feet from the area. People are more aware of their own work areas, and can easily identify something that is out of place. A quick visual scan of the work area for anything that appears strange or unidentified packages, containers, or other suspicious articles should only take a few minutes. Areas which should be searched/checked include:
Suspicious items should not be touched or moved, and reported immediately to the police. Any information that can be obtained from the caller will help the investigation, so don’t be afraid to ask questions that are not listed above. The important thing to remember is not to say anything that may anger the caller or cause the caller to hang up the phone. It is also possible that the caller may agree to speak with someone else in the work area if you are having a difficult time communicating with the caller.
If you receive a suspicious package or letter you should avoid handling it and follow the stpes listed below.
How to identify a suspicious package or letter: