Marie Lynn Miranda UIC Chancellor | University Of Illinois At Chicago
The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) will conduct evacuation drills in campus buildings from Monday, September 8, through Wednesday, September 10. The drills will take place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day to comply with state and federal safety regulations.
The Environmental Health and Safety Office is organizing the drills in partnership with UIC Police and Facilities Management. Some buildings are excluded from this round of drills because they have already participated or have scheduled drills for the current year. These include University Hall, Student Center East and Student Center West, student recreation centers, all residence halls, the College of Pharmacy, School of Public Health West, School of Public Health and Psychiatric Institute, Marshfield Avenue Building, Science and Engineering Offices, and 2242 W. Harrison St. Additionally, the hospital, medical clinics, and UIC School of Law will not participate.
All other campus buildings will hold an evacuation drill on one of the specified dates.
A building evacuation is required during emergencies such as fires to ensure occupant safety. Occupants are advised to review their building-specific emergency action plans and evacuation route maps to familiarize themselves with exit routes and assembly areas. Evacuation maps are posted near main elevator lobbies or in main lobbies for buildings without elevators.
Guidelines for building evacuations include identifying two nearest exits using posted maps in case one route is blocked; knowing the location of fire alarm pull stations; following instructions from emergency services personnel such as UIC Police or the Chicago Fire Department; leaving immediately via stairs when a fire alarm sounds without using elevators; waiting in stairwells if unable to evacuate without assistance while contacting UIC Police at 312-355-5555; closing doors but not locking them when leaving to slow smoke spread; moving directly to designated assembly areas outside; and calling UIC Police once safely outside to report the alarm activation.
Reentry into buildings is only allowed after authorized emergency personnel give clearance.
“It is very important to treat each fire alarm as a true emergency. It is safer to evacuate and find out there is no emergency than to remain in the building and find out there is one.”
For more information about emergency procedures or becoming a floor evacuation monitor, members of the campus community can access online training courses or visit resources provided by the Environmental Health and Safety Office website. Questions regarding procedures can be directed to UIC Fire Marshal Mark Gaunky.