Shelter-in-Place

Emergency Preparedness - summary of general recommendations

"shelter-in-place" or SIP means

you must take immediate shelter where you are

DO NOT walk or drive outside

it may also mean "seal the room"

DO take steps to prevent outside air from coming in

Emergency services may instruct you to "shelter-in-place" i.e. during a major incident, if hazardous materials are released into the environment or during an attack.

​

​

info when to "shelter-in-place” | SIP

• fire or police warnings
• outdoor warning, all hazards sirens
• met office, environment agency warnings
• local and national news
• radio, television, internet, twitter alerts

​

​

shelter-in-place at work

know the location of the emergency kit, safe route and your SIP safe places

close the premises

inform staff, customers and visitors to stay, not leave

go to designated areas immediately and directly

​

shelter-in-place at work cont.

turn phones to silent

ask all people present to turn their phones to silent and call their emergency contact to let them know where they are and that they are safe (unless there is an imminent severe threat where silence must be observed)

redirect communication

activate your emergency communication protocol. For example, turn on business call-forwarding or alternative telephone systems. If you have voicemail, change the recording to indicate that you are temporarily closed, that staff and visitors are safe and will remain in the building until authorities have issued the all clear.

​

shelter-in-place at work cont.

• lock (and seal) air vents, doors, windows
• draw shades, blinds or curtains in case of an explosion
• turn off or disable fans, heating, air conditioning as well as all other non-essential electricals
• get hold of your emergency supplies
• go to your previously identified shelter-in place area

​

once securely at your shelter-in-place location:

• keep calm
• stay behind solid objects well away from glass
• place signs in exterior windows to identify your location where possible
• make list of everyone in the room, their address and affiliation with your business (employee, visitor, customer…) and call your designated emergency contact to report
• assist others
• listen to news to stay informed
• await further instructions until the all clear is given and it is safe to stand down

​

​

​

shelter-in-place room

above ground floor

• interior rooms with no windows and/or
• exterior rooms with loadbearing walls, few windows and vents that can be sealed

adequate space to sit people, avoid overcrowding by selecting several rooms

fire doors and a way to barricade yourself in may provide additional safety

​

​

Utility rooms, large storage rooms, pantries, conference rooms etc. may work well as designated shelter-in-place areas.

​

shelter-in-place room cont.

install a landline telephone, mobile phones may be overwhelmed

​

mark the room(s) with a ‘shelter-in-place’ sign on the inside of the room only for security reasons and assure your safety personnel and staff are well trained

​

strategically place preparedness supplies, i.e. emergency food and water, light & communication or a shelter-in-place kit

​

Emergency Preparedness is easy

​

get a kit - make a plan - be informed

​