Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, public and private entities nationwide realized their vulnerability. Quinnipiac University was no exception.
The school has always had an informal emergency response system, but decided that this system needed further planning. Thus, the Crisis Management Team was established.
Robert Bisighini, associate director of Facilities, is the Vice-Chair for this team. The group, headed by Director of Facilities Joe Rubertone, is comprised of representatives from virtually all aspects of on-campus activity.
Some of the members hail from food services, Security, Student Affairs, Public Affairs, Administrative Services, Faculty, Academic Affairs and Information Systems.
In conjunction with members of the Quinnipiac community, representatives from Hamden forces (such as police, fire department, Red Cross, etc.) also play a role in the group.
The Crisis Management team looks at a wide variety of crises, ranging from natural disasters to fires to terrorist attacks and develops a plan of action to ensure campus safety in each possible situation. Areas around campus have been designated for different purposes in the event of an emergency.
Command centers would be located at the Facilities Department Building, the second floor of the Student Center, and Alumni House. Evacuation centers would be located in the Athletic Center, School of Law (both of which would have portable power generators), Alumni Hall and Tator Hall.
Auxiliary health services and triage centers would be set up at the Athletic Center, Alumni Hall, Buckman Center nursing labs and the Village/Hill residence halls. Food centers would be located in the dining hall, the Rathskellar/Student Affairs building, and Alumni Hall.
In addition to all of these centers, various buildings on campus have been set up with full power generator backup and partial generator backup. These buildings include residence halls, all of which have either full power or partial generator backup.
Bisighini has also formed another group, called the Emergency Training and Medical Response Committee, to work as a branch off from the Crisis Management team.
The goal of this team is to further provide for the on-campus safety of students and personnel. The group gathers resources available within the school community to allow for immediate response to events on campus grounds.
The committee has trained all security officers in basic first aid skills, CPR, and EMT skills to establish emergency aid for campus issues. Voluntary training is available for any member of the Maintenance department who wishes to take part.
Working in conjunction with RAs and hall directors, Bisighini hopes to be able to utilize the various science programs on campus (i.e. the Physician’s Assistant program, Nurse Practitioner and Nursing Programs, OT and PT programs, etc.) to create a strong system of emergency care for the student body.
Bisighini sees this as a necessity on campus.
He recalls several times when Security officers have responded to accidents on campus and, after being able to administer first aid to students, have saved lives.
Basic resources are still needed to make this program a success. Portable oxygen tanks and defibrillators must be brought on campus and stored at secure locations for easy access in case of emergencies.
Bisighini said he wants Red Cross officials come to Quinnipiac to train students and staff members in CPR techniques, and is asking that any students who are qualified and already trained to take part in the program.
Many aspects of this program could use immediate help.
To volunteer as a member of the telephone resource center, which would utilize the Polling Institute in order to dispatch emergency communication in a time of crisis, please call Lynn Bushnell, VP for Public Affairs, at x8651; to volunteer a four-wheel drive vehicle for emergency transport, or to inquire about the CPR/EMT training, please contact Bisighini at x8776.
