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Student Accessibility Services

Emergency Evacuation Procedures

All students should review fire safety guidelines included in the Student Handbook and familiarize themselves with important areas in Thomas Jefferson University buildings, including exits, exit routes, rescue areas, stairways, elevators, and telephones.

Students who expect to need assistance during evacuations should discuss their needs with Student Accessibility Services each semester. Student Accessibility Services will communicate specific needs with both the Office of Public Safety & Security and the Office of Residential Life.

Students who will need assistance leaving a building during an emergency must contact Student Accessibility Services to implement a plan. Student Accessibility Services will develop an emergency plan in collaboration with the student and Security. Students with hearing impairments who require visual alarms in residence halls must inform Student Accessibility Services of their needs as soon as they receive their room assignments. Untrained persons should not attempt to lift people or wheelchairs down flights of stairs.

If students are unable to evacuate an academic building, they should proceed to the nearest stairwell and designate someone to inform emergency personnel of their location. In residential buildings, the building monitor will be informed of a disabled students' room numbers. In the event of an emergency, students should proceed to the nearest emergency exit. If students are not able to access an emergency exit, they should proceed to the lobby for exit.