After an explosion occurs on campus, there are several steps that need to be taken: First Call 911
1. Check yourself and others around you for injuries.
2. Check the area around you to determine if it is safe to leave or if it is safer to stay.
3. If it is safe to evacuate, do so as quickly and safely as possible, as secondary devices and structural damage may continue to occur. Proceed to Rally Points.
4. If you are trapped in a structure, alert others to your situation any way you can.
Note: Any and all explosions which occur on campus should be treated as though they were deliberately set and that the explosion did not occur by accident, until it can be determined otherwise. An explosion is caused by a rapid expansion of gas from chemical reactions or incendiary devices. This results in a sudden and violent release of energy from its contained environment.
5 Stages of an Explosion
If an explosion does occur there are 5 stages that will occur, they will occur within a second of the explosion.
1. Fire ball.
2. Concussion wave (this can destroy internal organs).
3. Fragmentation (moves at 18,000 feet per second).
4. Reverse concussion wave.
5. Crater.
Structural Damage
Depending on the size, force and location of the explosion a wide variety of structural damages may occur. For example, damaged gas lines, down power lines, water and sewer ruptures, fires, collapsed walls and buildings, weakened structures and various forms of fragmentation are common.