Active Shooter Guidelines
Run. Hide. Fight
The City of Houston, Texas, Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security released a video on surviving a shooter event. The video details the key steps individuals should take when encountering an active shooter: “Run. Hide. Fight.” This is titled for the three rules individuals should be aware of in order to increase the chances of safety and survival.
Personal Safety/Sexual Assault
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- Be assertive – try to set limits.
- Trust your instincts -- if something doesn’t seem right, use whatever means necessary to get away.
- Act quickly -- evaluate the danger of fighting, running, yelling, or submitting. Act immediately!
- Run towards areas with people, if possible.
- Scream for help -- it could attract others.
- Park close to your destination and in well-lighted areas at night.
- Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention document
When Threatened
- Scream, break free, and run.
- Run to the nearest building or residence hall and tell someone what happened.
- Call your parents, a friend, security, and/or the police.
- Remain there until your parents, a friend, security, and/or police arrive.
- Try to remember details about the person
Fire Safety
- Know you evacuation routes.
- When the alarm sounds, leave your area immediately.
- Do not use the elevator, take the stairs.
- Careless smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths in North America. Smoking in bed can be fatal.
- Always stay near cooking to monitor it closely.
- If you encounter smoke while you are escaping, crawl low under the smoke.
- Everyone on campus has a responsibility to help prevent fires. Please be aware of any potential fire hazards on campus, know the safety features and equipment in your residence hall and where the emergency exits are located, plan what you will do in the event of an actual emergency, and cooperate with campus authorities in fire prevention efforts.
- Never tamper with fire extinguishers or the fire alarms. A false alarm is not only completely dangerous but a serious criminal offense which will result in disciplinary and criminal sanctioning.
- Report any hazards such as open exit doors, blocked fire exits, and accumulated trash.
- Report any damaged or missing extinguishers, alarms, smoke detectors, or exit signs.
- Be alert for suspicious activities that may indicate a prank or potential arson. Report any suspicious activity to campus authorities.
- Fire drills are very important and will be practices several times a year. If you know what to do you are less likely to panic in an actual emergency. Take all fire drills seriously as they may one day save your life.
- In case of an actual fire, stay calm. Sound the alarm to warn others. Call campus police (x4488) and exit the building swiftly, but safely.
- Do not take your safety for granted.
Firearms and Weapons
- Possession of firearms or any weapon deemed capable of bodily harm in or upon University premises is strictly prohibited.
- Any violation of this policy will result in criminal and disciplinary sanctioning.
Hate Crimes
- Hate crimes are crimes against individuals or groups that are motivated by prejudice, bias, bigotry, or intolerance.
- Victims of such crimes are singled out because of their race, nationality, gender, religion, sexual orientation, political views, or disability.
- Such prejudice results in assault, vandalism, harassment, and theft.
- Remember, hate crimes are real crimes and will not be tolerated at Pitt-Titusville. Perpetrators will be harshly sanctioned, both criminally and under the Student Code of Conduct.
Emergency Procedures
The University of Pittsburgh's Environmental Health and Safety department is a valuable resource for procedures for various types of emergencies ranging from workplace safety to chemical spills.
Credit Cards
- Sign all new cards immediately and cut up expired cards.
- Examine your monthly statements.
- Safeguard your credit cards as you do cash.
- Don’t leave your cards sitting around your room.
- Don’t give information about your credit card over the phone.
- Don’t give your PIN number to anyone.
Buckle Up in PA
- Use your seatbelts when traveling.
- For more information, checkout the PA Traffic Safety Enforcement Resource Center.