By Alex Looman

When disaster strikes, not everyone knows how to react. However, there are many ways to overcome and deal with these scenarios. The Glenville State University website covers scenarios from fires, active shooter, medical emergencies, all the way up to natural disaster. The link is https://www.glenville.edu/about-us/emergency-information

So What Can You Do in These Situations?

When a medical emergency occurs, the most important step is to stay calm, and do not panic. Call 911 first, then the Campus Safety number (304-462-6450). Follow the instructions from the 911 operator until help arrives.

In the event of a seizure, Officer Mike Wheeler of Public safety stated, “Always call 911 first. Some seizures can be violent, some aren’t. If the person having the seizure is sitting in a chair against a wall, slide the chair so that they do not hit their head on the wall.” The important thing is to protect their head. “You don’t want them to cause injury to themselves. You really don’t want to move them until an ambulance arrives.”

For an active shooter situation, Officer Wheeler states, “Each classroom and facility is different, so every situation is different. Contact Public Safety as soon as possible, because we will be the first to respond to the threat.” This is one exception to the rule of calling 911 first.

“Stay out of sight of the shooter,” Officer Wheeler said.  “If you’re in a room, stay away from windows and doors with a lot of visibility. You want to hide in a blind spot, where the shooter cannot see you. Do NOT pile up desks or chairs in front of the door, because it can send a signal that there are students in the room.”

While there may be other safety issues on campus, the university is working on them. As a first step, Officer Wheeler said “I would like to set up a meeting or presentation for students to hear what to do in these situations. We could set up something like that during welcome week.”

Director of Facilities Tommy Ratliff stated “It’s an ongoing process. We’re always looking to improve. We look at what happens with other colleges, high schools, or just what’s going on in the state. We look for the warning signs so that we can prevent an emergency before it happens.”

University President Mark Manchin said, “The safety and health of our students, faculty, and staff is our number one priority.” He encourages everyone to make the administration aware of any problems that arise.

Sign up for Emergency Notifications on your Phone

Another way to be aware of emergency situations is to sign up for and download the Emergency Alert Notifications on the GSU Website at https://www.glenville.edu/emergency/emergency-notifications. Notifications are also posted through Twitter and Facebook.