Emergency Guides

Medical Emergency

All medical emergencies occurring on campus should be reported immediately by calling 911. Medical emergencies include such things as:
  • Any life-threatening situation
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Chest pain
  • Excessive bleeding
  • Seizures
  • Head injury with loss of consciousness
  • Compound fractures
  • Allergic reactions with shortness of breath or excessive swelling
  • Ingestion or inhalation of a toxic substance
  • Lacerations of the eyeball
In most cases, emergency response personnel are only minutes away, and unless an injury is life-threatening, applying first aid may not be necessary. However, in the event of a disaster that extends beyond your location, response may be delayed, making it necessary for you to apply first aid and take appropriate action.
 
Quick Response: Call 911
Do not move victim unless safety dictates. 
If trained, use pressure to stop bleeding. Use CPR if no pulse and no breathing.

State that medical aid is needed and provide the following information:
  • Location of injured person (e.g. which building, room, number, etc.)
  • Type of injury or problem
  • The individual’s present condition
  • The sequence of events leading to the emergency
  • Medical history and name of injured person’s doctor, if known
  • The phone number at your location
  • Stay on the phone with the dispatcher
ILLNESS OR INJURY TO STUDENTS/FACULTY/STAFF
During the regular academic sessions, students with non-emergency, non-life threatening illness or injury should be referred to the Richardson Health Center located in the lower level of the Mabee Student Center at 417.626.1213. When the Richardson Health Center is closed, referral is made to either the Freeman Hospital Emergency Room (417.347.1111; 1102 W. 32nd) or Mercy’s Hospital Emergency Room (417.556.2300; 100 Mercy Way)
 
Serious illness or injury to students on campus should be reported by calling 911 for emergency medical service. A paramedic/EMT will respond to evaluate the situation and arrange for the student to be transported for medical treatment.
 
A NOTE TO COLLEGE PERSONNEL
A report must be completed for all incidents of work-related illness or injury. Call the Vice President of Campus Operations at 417.680.5603 for assistance.

Winter Weather Emergency

CANCELLATION OF SCHOOL (read more)
The authority to not convene classes or to dismiss school early lies with the Academic Dean and the President’s Office. When severe weather conditions (ice storm, blizzard, etc.) warrant making transportation hazardous, and those conditions are known by 6 a.m., a “classes canceled” or “campus closed” announcement will be made through email, the occ.edu website, OCC social media, and on various local stations: KOAM-TV (7), KZRG (1310 AM), KODE-TV (12) and KSNF-TV (16). Students should not call local media outlets or OCC Security or personnel to verify school closing. Rather, watch for the announcement through one of the above media outlets.

Active Threat: Run, Hide, Fight

 
WHEN AN ACTIVE THREAT IS IN YOUR VICINITY
 
RUN
   • Have an escape route and plan in mind
   • Leave your belongings behind
   • Keep your hands visible
HIDE
   • Hide in an area out of the shooter’s view
   • Block entry to your hiding place and lock the doors
   • Silence your cell phone
FIGHT
   • As a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger
   • Attempt to incapacitate the shooter
   • Act with physical aggression and throw items at the active shooter
 
CALL 911 WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO!
 
HOW TO RESPOND WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRIVES
   • Remain calm and follow instructions
   • Put down any items in your hands (i.e. bags, jackets)
   • Raise hands and spread fingers
   • Keep hands visible at all times
   • Avoid quick movements toward officers such as holding on to them for safety
   • Avoid pointing, screaming, or yelling
   • Do not stop to ask officers for help or direction when evacuating
 
INFORMATION YOU SHOULD PROVIDE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OR 911 OPERATOR
   • Location of the active shooter
   • Number of shooters
   • Physical description of shooters
   • Number and type of weapons held by shooters
   • Number of potential victims at the location

Fire

  • Anyone who discovers a fire must activate manual pull alarms, located throughout the buildings. Activating one pull alarm will sound all alarms within the building.
  • After activating the fire alarms, the individual must notify the authorities as to the location of the fire by dialing 911. The Physical Plant Director must be notified as well at 417.483.8702.
  • Upon hearing alarms, all occupants of the building must proceed to approved evacuation exits as instructed on the emergency exit maps located inside the building.
  • OCC personnel may check the building to see that all occupants have evacuated the building.
  • After above steps have been accomplished, personnel may attempt to extinguish the fire, if safe to do so, with portable extinguishers located throughout the buildings.
  • The Physical Plant Director will notify the President’s Office about the emergency. No one is to re-enter the building until the Physical Plant Director or fire department gives the all clear.

Civil Disturbance

In the event of a civil disturbance, OCC Security or personnel will contact the Joplin Police Department at 911 [see 911 Emergency Plan page].
 
If a civil disturbance should develop on or off campus during a school activity, the college administration may find it necessary to:
  • Cancel or delay scheduled activities or events.
  • Request Security Officers to remove individuals from campus.
  • Request Security Officers to contain and isolate disruptive persons.
  • Invoke lockdown procedure.
  • Request police intervention.
  • Request that Security lock all outside doors to the building to control traffic.

Bomb Threat

WARNING SYSTEM
If anyone receives a phone call with information that a bomb has been placed in a building on campus, immediately inform the OCC Physical Plant Director at 417.483.8702, the local authorities (police and fire) at 911, and the college administration at 417.626.1234.
 
If OCC’s main desk receives a bomb threat, they will notify the President’s Office then the Physical Plant Director, who in turn will inform local authorities. If a faculty or staff member receives a bomb threat, immediately notify Physical Plant Director at 417.438.8702 who will then follow the above procedure.
 
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
Clear the building by activating the fire alarm system. Notify the proper persons and take action listed under the warning system.
Inspection of the building will be accomplished by a special team composed of local authorities and selected school personnel, making sure that all persons have been evacuated.
 
SECURE ALL POSSIBLE INFORMATION
The person receiving the bomb threat should remain calm, and every effort should be made to receive as much information as possible.

Bomb threat calls are brief. Try to “talk the person” into giving such information as:

  • Time set for the explosion
  • Location of the bomb or bombs (what building/what section of the building)
  • Type and description of the bomb
  • Reason for call or threat
  • When asking the caller questions, listen for clues:
    • background noise
    • caller’s voice
    • threatening language
    • gender of caller

 

Tornado / Severe Weather

The National Weather Service constantly monitors weather conditions to identify areas which could be threatened by serious weather conditions such as tornadoes, ice storms, and flooding. The most likely severe weather condition to affect OCC is that involving a tornado or possible tornado. In the event that a tornado is likely or imminent, the National Weather Service will issue a tornado watch or tornado warning.
 
All students and employees are encouraged to sign up to receive “Severe Weather Alerts” issued from the National Weather Service by downloading the (local radio station’s) KZRG App for the iPhone or Android smartphone. In addition, all campus buildings are equipped with weather radios to alert staff in case of severe weather conditions.

TORNADO WATCHES

  • The National Weather Service issues a tornado watch when weather conditions are such that a tornado could develop in a particular area.
  • Check televised, radio, or online weather reports when sky conditions are threatening.
  • Be prepared to proceed to a posted shelter area.

TORNADO WARNINGS
  • A tornado warning indicates that a tornado has been sighted in the area. Joplin’s emergency sirens and National Weather Service alerts will be activated.
  • Proceed to a posted shelter area and notify others you meet to do the same.
  • Assist those with disabilities to a shelter area.
  • Do not use elevators.
  • If possible, in the shelter area, sit facing a wall and lean forward with hands over the head.
  • In the event someone is injured, call 911 immediately to request emergency medical assistance. Render first aid if possible and try to keep the injured person stable until help arrives.
  • Remain in the designated shelter area until the all-clear is given by Student Life, RDs or other building managers.

Bio-Hazard Event

A Biohazard Event can be anything that includes a blood spill, sewage spill, or clean-up after a medical emergency. When someone comes upon such an event they must:
 
  • Notify the Physical Plant Director immediately at 417.483.8702. Explain the location and what the biohazard event consists of. Do not hang up the phone until the Physical Plant Director hangs up first.
  • The Physical Plant Director will notify the proper agencies and explain the information reported.
  • The Physical Plant Director will determine if the biohazard event will need additional assistance for clean-up. The Physical Plant Director will notify the proper agencies to administer clean-up.
  • The area should be evacuated at once to prevent further contamination as much as possible without putting oneself in immediate danger. Follow fire emergency evacuation procedures when evacuating the building.
  • Anyone who may be contaminated by biohazard material is to avoid contact with others and remain in the vicinity.
  • Call 911 as necessary.

Earthquake

Earthquakes strike without notice or warning. With this in mind, faculty and staff should instruct students on general procedures and evacuation from buildings. In the event of an earthquake, certain precautions should be taken in case the building cannot be evacuated.
 
INDOORS
  • Take cover under desks, tables, or heavy furniture.
  • Take cover in interior doorways or narrow halls.
  • Stay away from windows and beware of falling objects.
OUTDOORS
  • Move away from buildings.
  • Avoid trees, electrical poles, overhead wires, and fallen wires.
After the earthquake is over, personnel will take charge.
  • Evacuate the buildings as soon as possible.
  • Do not light a fire until advised by the authority having jurisdiction that it is safe to do so.
  • Avoid fallen electrical lines and leaking gas lines.
  • Never enter or re-enter a building until it has been determined safe by the authority having jurisdiction.
  • Follow instructions from the college administration or authority having jurisdiction.
  • Check radio for latest bulletins.

Chemical Emergency

If a significant hazardous or chemical spill occurs, call 911 and the OCC Physical Plant Director at 417.483.8702. The Physical Plant Director will notify the proper agencies to administer clean-up.
 
The area must be evacuated to prevent any type of exposure or contamination. Anyone who may have been contaminated or exposed must avoid contact with others and must remain in the vicinity. If necessary and if trained in first aid, begin first aid procedures if safety permits.
 
If necessary, pull fire alarm (which activates all fire alarms within the building) and evacuate the building.
 
No one is to re-enter the building until the all clear has been given by the Physical Plant Director.