Movement Laboratory
Emergency & Evacuation Procedures

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In the case of a medical emergency or any emergency where you need help, a lab emergency alarm can be activated (worn as a key-ring to activate by remote control).

This alarm is provided for anyone who tests subjects in the Movement Lab - especially those testing on their own - to ensure prompt assistance in the case of an emergency involving a subject/patient or experimenter.

Aside from the instructions below, you should ask the Lab Manager to demonstrate how to activate the alarm.

 
Step 1. If you need assistance activate the lab emergency alarm (key-ring remote).

Step 2. Carry out normal first-aid procedures (DRABC).

Step 3. To notify for Ambulance/Fire/Police Call “0 000” as soon as possible. By this point you should have assistance from downstairs to do this for you. The information you/they will be asked for may include:

• The type of injury
• The address of the School of Physiotherapy – 200 Berkeley St, Parkville.
• The room number or physical location – 2nd floor, Room 224, next to the back lift
  

In almost all cases – you will have assistance from other lab or school personnel to assist with first-aid, calling “0 000” and arranging for the ambulance arrival.

Evacuation Procedures

• In the case of fire Do Not Use the Lift
  
• In the case of fire/security alert, Evacuation should be by the front stairwell (at the Grattan St end of the building) if it is safe to do so. Exit the building at the ground floor and proceed across the road to the park next to City Ford.
  
• There is also the stairwell next to the lift. Both stairwells provide fire-proof areas if required.
  
• If you are accompanying a disabled person and need extra assistance to descend the stairs – take them into the stairwell and go for assistance.
   
  

Lab Emergency Alarm

What for?

This alarm is provided for anyone who tests subjects in the Movement Lab (Room 224) to ensure prompt assistance in the case of a medical or other emergency involving a subject/patient or experimenter.

How to Use?

• The alarm activator is a small key-ring remote attached to by velcro to the centre pillar in the movement lab (there are 2 identical units there).
• One remote can be removed from the pillar and should be worn by the experimenter when testing subjects.
• The alarm is activated by pressing the “ON” button (it can be pressed several times to be certain of activation) or de-activated (in the case of a false alarm) by pressing the “OFF” button.
• If you are testing a subject on your own - you should explain the operation of the alarm to your experimenter in the event that something happens to you!
• Remember to return the remote when your experiment is finished.
  

Sounds like?

You will not hear the alarm sound from the lab - the siren itself can only be heard on the 1st floor.

It makes a pulsating high-pitched 'beep' which can be heard within the admin office (1st floor) and some distance away to other offices.

Occasionally alarm drills will be run to test the response time – or you can ask the lab manager to give you a demo for what it sounds like.

How to Respond?

For those who hear the alarm, please go immediately upstairs to the Movement Lab (Room 224) to assist in whatever way possible.

While it is preferable, you do not need first-aid or other medical skills to respond, the important thing is that someone responds promptly.