One of the roles of the Tutors & Proctors is to assist in the orderly evacuation of the building in the event of an emergency. Pre-emergency planning, reviewing of evacuation maps, knowledge of emergency evacuation routes and emergency procedures are all critical.
As a Tutor & Proctor – you should never enter an area or place yourself at risk while assisting with the evacuation of a building. Your primary role is to direct people towards emergency exits, gather information as you exit the building and communicate information to Harvard emergency coordinators and/or emergency personnel.
Pre-Emergency Planning
• Conduct or facilitate the communication of fire safety information with students and other occupants
• Ensure that hallways in your area are kept free of obstructions
• Ensure that stairwell doors are not propped open and that fire doors close properly
• Report EXIT signs that are not properly lit and visible to the Building Superomtendents
• Participate in routine evacuation drills
Review Building Evacuation Maps
Evacuation maps contain all the information that you need to safely evacuate your building in an emergency, including:
• Primary and secondary egress routes
• Designated meeting site(s)
• Fire extinguisher locations
• Fire alarm pull stations
• Emergency numbers
Know the Locations of Your Meeting Sites
• Meeting sites are designated by building management largely due to their accessibility and distance from the building. A building may have multiple meeting sites depending on its size, number of exits, and number of building occupants and programs in the facility.
Meeting sites provide a method to:
• Keep occupants safe from hazards
• Allow easier building access for emergency responders
• Allow information to be distributed more easily
• Account for occupants
During An Evacuation
• Communicate – direct students to the closest exit
• Check assigned areas on your floor – as you exit (if it is safe to do so)
• Alert other occupants (particularly visitors), and direct them to use the stairs and report to the meeting site
• Direct disabled occupants to areas of refuge (if applicable) or ask them to stay in place.
• Close doors as you exit the building (Do Not Lock)
• Report to your designated meeting site
• Alert the CFD/HUPD if people are unaccounted for, if you know disabled occupants are present and any other hazardous conditions that may exist in the building.
During An Evacuation - Escape Tips
• If you are trapped – close and seal the doors and call 911 or signal for help
• Close all doors along your route – if the inside of a door is hot, do not open it and use an alternative route
• If you get caught in smoke, get down low and crawl towards the exit.
On Going Responsibilities
• Monitor housekeeping - look out for excessive storage
• Ensure fire doors are closed
• Ensure emergency exits and hallways are clearly accessibility
• Know and distribute emergency evacuation information
• Coordinate with other Tutors & Proctors in your area building
• Communicate problems – concerns to your House Master and or Building Superintendents.