In case of emergencies

[otakuya]

Does the convention, convention center, and hotels have specific procedures when it comes to evacuations and/or emergencies? There were 3 small earthquakes this week in San Jose and was wondering what will Fanime, the hotels, and the SJCC do in case of major emergencies. Also, are Fanime staff/vols trained on what to do in emergencies? Of course, "keep aisles clear" and "fire hazard" are key words, but what about evacuations and similar procedures?

Hopefully it won't happen, but you never know.

[short_storiesgl]

Does the convention, convention center, and hotels have specific procedures when it comes to evacuations and/or emergencies? There were 3 small earthquakes this week in San Jose and was wondering what will Fanime, the hotels, and the SJCC do in case of major emergencies. Also, are Fanime staff/vols trained on what to do in emergencies? Of course, "keep aisles clear" and "fire hazard" are key words, but what about evacuations and similar procedures?

Hopefully it won't happen, but you never know.

.

[Moonblossom]

Hotels definitely have plans in place and the employees should be regularly refreshed on them, and while the Fanime staff and volunteers might not all have proper emergency evacuation training, some likely do and I'm sure the con center staff does.

Anyone who works in a public industry like that has to go through drills on a fairly regular basis. Even when I was doing IT the college I was attending, because I was an employee of a public building I had to go through evacuation drill, since I was in charge of ensuring the labs got emptied. For us it was fire, power failure, blizzard, and flood only, since earthquakes are few and far between in Montreal, but I'm sure it varies depending on what type of emergencies are "normal" in the area. I still had my First Responder certification up until a few years ago. It expired but I probably should renew it, just cause it's handy to have.

[BunofGovt]

You should make preparations for yourself (and your group).  When you check into the hotel, check where the fire exits and staircases are.  Same for the convention center.  How many people know how many exits are in the dealers' room and where they are?  I know we enter at one side and exit on the other, but aren't there also exits along the wall and at the back?

If you're in a group, make sure you set a place to meet if there's an emergency/earthquake/evacuation, etc., or have a means to communicate with each other.

I usually carry a flashlight and whistle on me so if the power goes out I won't be totally in the dark.

Practice beginning now what you would do if something did happen (visualize it, baby!):  remain calm, watch out for others, listen for instructions.  I used to imagine what I would do in an emergency (fire, someone falling out of a window, someone cutting his/her hand, etc.), more like a wish-I-were-a-hero thing.

Sign up for a first-aid course at your local fire station.

While the hotel and convention staff will be trained how to handle an emergency, they can only cover so much territory.  So the better you prepare yourself, the more likely you'll be okay.

[phoenixphire24]

You should make preparations for yourself (and your group).  When you check into the hotel, check where the fire exits and staircases are.  Same for the convention center.  How many people know how many exits are in the dealers' room and where they are?  I know we enter at one side and exit on the other, but aren't there also exits along the wall and at the back?

If you're in a group, make sure you set a place to meet if there's an emergency/earthquake/evacuation, etc., or have a means to communicate with each other.

I usually carry a flashlight and whistle on me so if the power goes out I won't be totally in the dark.

Practice beginning now what you would do if something did happen (visualize it, baby!):  remain calm, watch out for others, listen for instructions.  I used to imagine what I would do in an emergency (fire, someone falling out of a window, someone cutting his/her hand, etc.), more like a wish-I-were-a-hero thing.

Sign up for a first-aid course at your local fire station.

While the hotel and convention staff will be trained how to handle an emergency, they can only cover so much territory.  So the better you prepare yourself, the more likely you'll be okay.

Excellent advice! People should really think about this especially if they are part of a group with someone that might need help getting out. For example, I doubt the escalators or elevators would work during an emergency, so people might need help getting down stairs.

[G.I.R]

You should make preparations for yourself (and your group).  When you check into the hotel, check where the fire exits and staircases are.  Same for the convention center.  How many people know how many exits are in the dealers' room and where they are?  I know we enter at one side and exit on the other, but aren't there also exits along the wall and at the back?

If you're in a group, make sure you set a place to meet if there's an emergency/earthquake/evacuation, etc., or have a means to communicate with each other.

I usually carry a flashlight and whistle on me so if the power goes out I won't be totally in the dark.

Practice beginning now what you would do if something did happen (visualize it, baby!):  remain calm, watch out for others, listen for instructions.  I used to imagine what I would do in an emergency (fire, someone falling out of a window, someone cutting his/her hand, etc.), more like a wish-I-were-a-hero thing.

Sign up for a first-aid course at your local fire station.

While the hotel and convention staff will be trained how to handle an emergency, they can only cover so much territory.  So the better you prepare yourself, the more likely you'll be okay.

Good advise!

I know a lot of you attending aren't coming in cars, but I keep emergency supplies (water, packaged food, first-aid supplies, socks, underwear) money, and tools in the back of my car.  You never know where you might be when a disaster strikes. 

[Long]

OMG. An earthquake during Fanime would be CHAOS. D8

[dibbly]

last year at the hilton the fire alarm was set off, there were only 7 people on my floor including me and my gf and NO ONE ELSE. we all took the stairs down and the rest of the hotel was perfectly calm and ignoring the announcement. even tho the alarm was probably a fake, i scares me no one reacted for their safey. everyone do your selves this favor. pay attention a little=)

[Moonblossom]

I was at the Hilton from Thursday to Tuesday, I didn't hear the alarm go off once. I was on the eigth floor... I wonder if maybe they're fault in some rooms? o.O

[dibbly]

dunno, we heard it all the way down the stair well. it was later in the after noon,....not sure what day either. heh, the people that we were walking with had beers tho. wish they would of shared. ;D

[fold]

it's logical to think that you weren't in your room all day- and it went off a bit into the afternoon, perhaps you just weren't in the building.

[Shi_Musouka]

I know that Rovers/Safety staff is supposed to be adequately trained to handle evacuations and know who to contact for the larger emergency-hazard thingys(but I could be wrong on that one).

But for the most part, the hotel staff, SJPD(maybe?), and convention center staff are well-equipped for these types of situations.

[Moonblossom]

fold, I'd appreciate it if you just didn't respond to my posts at all. You're finding creative ways to be condescending after I asked you not to talk to me at all. That being said, I was in the hotel room for the better part of the afternoon almost every day. I worked a booth in the mornings, then crashed for a bit, then went out in the evenings.

Shi, I read in another thread that there will be SJPD in the building during the con, so if something does go wrong (hopefully not!) they will be around to help, and I'm sure they'll be able to guide/organize the less trained people as well.

[Shi_Musouka]

fold, I'd appreciate it if you just didn't respond to my posts at all. You're finding creative ways to be condescending after I asked you not to talk to me at all. That being said, I was in the hotel room for the better part of the afternoon almost every day. I worked a booth in the mornings, then crashed for a bit, then went out in the evenings.

Shi, I read in another thread that there will be SJPD in the building during the con, so if something does go wrong (hopefully not!) they will be around to help, and I'm sure they'll be able to guide/organize the less trained people as well.

Yea, I know SJPD will be there. I just didn't know if they were trained to handle these types of things. lol, but thanks.

[Moonblossom]

I believe all police officers go through at least basic emergency situation training (I know they do here in Montreal and it would make sense if it was standardized), and a con would probably be more likely to get someone who knows how to handle a panicky crowd than, say, someone who's trained to diffuse bombs.

[PassingTheBuck]

Does the convention, convention center, and hotels have specific procedures when it comes to evacuations and/or emergencies? There were 3 small earthquakes this week in San Jose and was wondering what will Fanime, the hotels, and the SJCC do in case of major emergencies. Also, are Fanime staff/vols trained on what to do in emergencies? Of course, "keep aisles clear" and "fire hazard" are key words, but what about evacuations and similar procedures?

Hopefully it won't happen, but you never know.

Hi Otakuya,

Both the SJCCF and FanimeCon have procedures for everything from attendees passing out from the lack of water and food to an airplane crashing into the building and everything in between.

Yes, we have procedures for Earthquakes and First Aid issues and the Convention Operations offices is the center point for those operations.

The City would be working with us if a case of an emergency where we had to empty out the SJCCF.

The FanimeCon ConOps and Rover/Safety staff have limited medical training, hence the reason that FanimeCon has EMT's on duty when the Dealers Hall is open to their closing.  After hours the Security Staff at the SJCCF has medical training to handle simple treatment and they are on duty 24/7.  Rover/Safety have access to a variety of communication devices that would allow them to get a fully trained medical team on site in literally minutes.

The uniformed Police officers that we have wandering the concourse and back halls all have training in medical treatment for most cases, however, their best tool is the radio they carry, which would give them instant access to a wide variety of services and personnel who could be on location, again, in minutes.

Does that help?

Craige...