East Hounsfield Free Library Disaster Policy
Fire
Do not panic, but do not under-estimate the potential danger to customers or staff represented by a fire. At the first indication of smoke or flame, investigate the situation to determine location and extent of the fire. If the fire can obviously be contained and extinguished quickly and safely by staff, proceed to do so. However, if there is any doubt about whether the fire can be controlled, immediately call 911 or the fire department and then clear the building.
The time to think about fires is before they happen. Familiarize yourself with the type, location, and application of the fire extinguisher(s) in the building. Orient all staff and volunteers to this information. If you share a building with another agency and it occasionally initiates fire drills, library staff should respect those training exercises and respond as they would in the case of a real fire.
Health emergencies
Staff members should exercise caution when administering first aid of even a minor nature because of the safety of the injured individual and the potential liability of the staff member. Without specialized training it is not advisable for staff to undertake more than keeping the sick or injured patron comfortable and protected from needless disturbance until medical help can be obtained. Since each case is unique, staff members should use their own judgment to do what is prudent and reasonable.
The Rescue Squad/Police (911 if available) should be called immediately in the event of any serious problem. No medication, including aspirin, should ever be dispensed to the public.
Bomb threats
Keep the caller on the line as long as possible. Ask the caller to repeat the message and try to write down every word spoken by the person. If the caller does not indicate the location of the bomb or the time of possible detonation, ASK FOR THIS INFORMATION. Pay particular attention to peculiar background noises such as motors running, background music and any other sounds, which may indicate where the location from which the call is originating. Listen closely to the voice (male, female), voice quality (calm, excited), accents and speech impediments. Immediately after the caller hangs up, call the police. Clear the building. The police will handle the actual bomb search.
Snowstorms
The Library will follow the recommendation and actions of the city (or village) between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Closing during other days and hours will be at the discretion of the Library Director.
Policy Board Approved Date: Monday, September 23, 2019
Incident Report Form
Name of reporting staff: __________________________________________________________
Location of incident:
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Date and time of incident: __________________________________________________________
Patron(s), staff, or volunteers involved (provide names if known):
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Describe the incident (to the fullest extent reasonable)-attach additional pages if necessary____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Were police/emergency services called? _____Yes_____No
If yes, please provide detail of who responded (include name of officers) and how the incident was handled.
Was property damaged? _____Yes _____No
If yes, please provide description of damage.
Was someone injured? _____Yes _____No
What follow-up by Administration is recommended?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Signature__________________________________________________Date_______________________
Board Approved: May 27th, 2025