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Campus Safety Information
Wright State University is taking the following steps to ensure the safety of mail on campus.
Wednesday, October 24, 2001
Although the possibility of bioterrorism at Wright State is unlikely, university officials are prepared for possible incidents. This information is provided courtesy of the Wright State University Police Department, Business Services, and Environmental Health and Safety. Please assist us by distributing this information by e-mailing this notice to friends and colleagues or by positing it on bulletin boards located throughout the campus.
The U.S. Postal Service has briefed all Shipping and Receiving Staff and Mail Department employees, including student staff, concerning safety procedures. WSUPD has established a formal protocol for responding to suspicious letters or packages.
What constitutes a "suspicious letter, package or parcel?"
A letter, package or parcel should be considered suspicious if it:
- Is unexpected or from someone unfamiliar to you.
- Is addressed to someone no longer with your organization or are otherwise outdated.
- Has no return address, or has a return address that cannot be verified as legitimate.
- Is of unusual weight, given their size, or is lopsided or oddly shaped.
- Is marked with restrictive endorsements, such as "Personal" or "Confidential".
- Has protruding wires, tinfoil, strange odors or stains.
- Shows a city or state in the postmark that does not match the return address.
- Is marked "Foreign," "Air," or "Special Delivery".
- Has misspelled words.
- Has oily stains or discoloration.
- Has excessive tape or string.
- Has a powdery residue or contains a foreign substance.
- It has excessive postage
What should you do if you receive a suspicious letter, package or parcel in the mail?
Please familiarize yourself with this procedure and share it with your friends and colleagues
- Maintain an enhanced awareness of suspicious letters, packages and parcels.
- Open mail with a letter opener or electric mail opener; do not open mail with your fingers. Do not open mail in the direction of your face.
- Be alert to heavy envelopes and/or the presence of small bulges of powder or granules.
Do not handle a letter, package, or parcel that you suspect is contaminated.
Do not shake it, bump it or inhale the contents
- If you open a letter, package or parcel and you find a threatening message or a message that states that you have been contaminated with a biological substance and no substance is found, replace the letter in the envelope and place the envelope in a plastic bag.
- Wash your hands with warm water and soap.
- Call the Wright State University Police Department at ext. 911.
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If you open a letter, package or parcel and find a powder or if you open a letter, package or parcel, find a powder and the powder spills out of the envelope, package or parcel:
- DO NOT try to CLEAN UP the powder. COVER the spilled contents immediately with anything (e.g., clothing, paper, trashcan, etc.) and do not remove this cover!
- Then LEAVE the room and CLOSE the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away).
- WASH your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face.
- What to do next:
If you are at HOME, then report the incident to local police.
If you are at WORK, then report the incident to local police, and notify your building security official or an available supervisor.
- REMOVE heavily contaminated clothing as soon as possible and place in a plastic bag, or some other container that can be sealed. This clothing bag should be given to the emergency responders for proper handling.
- SHOWER with soap and water as soon as possible. Do not use bleach or other disinfectant on your skin.
- If possible, list all people who were in the room or area, especially those who had actual contact with the powder. Give this list to both the local public health
authorities so that proper instructions can be given for medical follow-up, and to law enforcement officials for further investigation.
- Call WSUPD at ext. 911.
- If there is a small explosion or release of an aerosol spray from a letter, package or parcel:
Turn off local fans or ventilation units in the area.
LEAVE area immediately.
CLOSE the door, or section off the area to prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away).
What to do next:
o If you are at HOME, then dial "911" to report the incident to local police and the local FBI field office.
o If you are at WORK, then dial "911 II to report the incident to local police and the local FBI field office, and notify your supervisor
- SHUT down air handling system in the building, if possible.
- If possible, list all people who were in the room or area. Give this list to both the local public health authorities so that proper instructions can be given for medical follow-up, and to law enforcement officials for further investigation.
* Call WSUPD at ext. 911.
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