Health and Safety

Calling for Emergency Services:

Whether you are on campus or in the field, it is important to be aware of your surroundings and location. Call 911 in case of an emergency (i.e seriously illness, injury or fire). After calling 911, send someone to the main station entrance on Riggsville Rd./C-64 to direct the rescue authorities to the exact site of the emergency. If an instructor or student is qualified or has been trained by an accredited organization, apply appropriate medical treatment. Keep involved individuals comfortable and conscious until the emergency responders arrive. Make sure to notify any Biological Station staff or faculty of the emergency.

Severe Weather-- Shelter in Place at the Station

UMBS receives severe weather notices from Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Weather Radio (NOAA).  In the event of a severe weather warning or watch you will be instructed to take immediate actions to shelter-in-place in the nearest structure on the lowest level.  The Admin Office air horn will continuously sound until the severe weather event is over.  

1. Proceed to the nearest severe weather shelters:  Administrative Offices/Store, First Floor classrooms, First Floor Stockard lakeside Lab (see map HERE)

2. Contact your family/guests/friends to confirm that they have received notification and are proceeding to a shelter area.

3. If you are in the field when you receive notice, you may not be able to return to campus. You must identify a temporary shelter (e.g., storm drain culvert, beneath a bridge, etc.) and take cover. Please notify the Administration by email or phone (umbs@umich.edu, 231-539-8408).

4. The All Clear will be given when the event has passed.  The air horn will be silenced and the dinner bell will be rung continuously for 2 minutes. You may leave your shelter area at that time.

5. Please connect with family/guests/friends to confirm their well-being. If you are unable to locate a person, notify UMBS Main Office, 231-539-8408 (land line) or Karie Slavik, Associate Director, at 734-478-9521 (cell phone) or Eareckson Myers, Facilities Assistant, at 231-373-4564 (cell phone).

Severe Weather-- Take Shelter in the Field

If you are in the field when you receive notice via text, you may not be able to return to camp for shelter.  You must identify a temporary shelter (e.g., storm drain culvert, beneath a bridge, etc.) and take cover. Please call UMBS at 231-539-8408 and give your location and shelter details.

Wildfire Evacuation

If you receive a message via text to begin evacuation proceedings because a fire has been sighted within 50 miles of UMBS, if possible, return to camp, collect your belongings and check out. If it is not possible to return to camp, notify the Administration (in person, umbs@umich.edu, 231-539-8408, or fill out an evacuation form) that you and the members of your party are returning directly to the UM-Ann Arbor Campus or home.

If the fire hazard is an imminent threat, do not return to camp.

Wildfire Evacuation with Advanced Warning

You will receive a message via text to begin evacuation proceedings if a fire has been sighted within 50 miles of UMBS, we will receive ADVANCED warning from Emmet County Dispatch. Regardless of the likelihood of impact to our facility, you will be asked to evacuate your family and belongings from UMBS and return to the UM-Ann Arbor Campus or home. Please complete the evacuation steps within the next 24-hours:

1. Contact your family/guests/friends and instruct them to immediately return to your UMBS cabin.

2. Pack your belongings into your personal vehicle. Confirm the recommended evacuation route to avoid fire along your route home.

3. Check out at the Administration Office (umbs@umich.edu, or 231-539-8408, or fill out an emergency evacuation form)  and submit the names of all members of your party that are leaving.

4. If you traveled to UMBS via UM van, bring your belongings to the van staging area located at the Administrative Office. Load your belongings into one van and check out at the Administrative Office.

5. If you are conducting field work outside of camp with a vehicle, if possible, return to camp, collect your belongings, and follow the check-out procedure. If it is not possible to return to camp, notify the Administration by email or phone(umbs@umich.edu, 231-539-8408) or fill out an emergency evacuation form to submit the names of all members of your party are returning directly to the UM-Ann Arbor Campus or home.

6. A map with alternate evacuation routes is available HERE.  Use these maps to determine which route is the safest for returning to U-M Ann Arbor.

Wildfire Evacuation due to Imminent Threat

You will receive a text message from I-PAWS and/or UMBS to begin evacuation proceedings if a fire has been sighted in the immediate area.  You must immediately evacuate your family and belongings from UMBS and return to the UM-Ann Arbor Campus or home.  Please complete the evacuation steps and exit camp within 1- hour of receiving the IMMINENT THREAT WARNING:

1. Contact your family/guests/friends and instruct them to immediately return to your UMBS cabin.

2. Pack your belongings into your personal vehicle. Confirm the recommended evacuation route to avoid fire along your route home. 

3. If you traveled to UMBS via UM van, bring your belongings to the van staging area located at the Administrative Office. Load your belongings into a van and check out at the Administrative Office.

4. If you are conducting field work outside of camp with a vehicle, do not return to camp. Notify the Administration by email or phone (umbs@umich.edu, 231-539-8408) or fill out an emergency evacuation form to submit the names of all members of your party. UMBS will coordinate to recover your belongings. 

5. A map with alternate evacuation routes is available HERE.  Use these maps to determine which route is the safest for returning to U-M Ann Arbor.

6. After evacuating either email UMBS staff (umbs@umich.edu) or complete this emergency evacuation form to submit the names of all members of your party that are leaving.

Active Attacker on Campus

An active attacker situation can cause panic and disbelief. Knowing what to do in advance increases your chances of surviving. Your reaction matters.

Remember these three words – RUN, HIDE, FIGHT – these actions may save your life or the lives of others.

RUN: If there is an accessible escape path, use it.

   1. Move away from the threat as quickly as possible.

   2. Evacuate regardless if others agree

   3. Leave your belongings behind

HIDE: If evacuation is not possible, find a secure place to hide and barricade your space.

   1. Lock and secure doors

   2. Create barriers to prevent or slow down the threat from getting to you

   3. Remain out of sight and quiet - silence your phone

FIGHT: As a last resort – and only when your life is in imminent danger – attempt to disrupt and/or incapacitate the active attacker.

   1. Incorporate a distraction - throw items and yell loudly

   2. Commit to your actions - be aggressive and use improvised weapons

   3. Disarm the attacker - solicit help, there is strength in numbers

UMBS Safety Guidelines can be found at the links below. All researchers and students working at UMBS are required to read the statement and sign the online acknowledgement form.

Researcher Safety Protocols and Guielines/Acknowledgement

Student Safety Protocols and Guidelines/Acknowledgement

UMBS and UM-EHS strongly encourage researchers to develop/adopt a field safety plan that includes physical safety procedures as well as those for establishing a safe and inclusive work environment, as required by NSF. The following documents are provided as templates/resources.

Emergency Response Plan

Field Hazard Identification Form

Pre-Trip Orientation Checklist

The following basic guidelines are intended to prevent accidents and injuries while conducting field work based at the U-M Biological Station. All students and instructors must follow these guidelines.

• Field work should never be done alone. Take at least one other person with you when you go out into the field.
• Do not work in lakes or streams without a partner in the immediate vicinity who can see you and whom you can see.  
• Let someone know where and when you are going and when you plan to return.
• Know where the nearest medical facility is located. If you have your own EpiPen, make sure to carry it and self-administer, if necessary.  
• End fieldwork and seek shelter in the case of extreme heat, rain, wind or lightning. 
• Essential items to carry with you:
  • Charged cell phone 
  • First aid kit (which can be replenished at Health Services)
  • Extra water and snacks 
  • Raincoat and hat, insect repellent or netting

There is a resident nurse on campus May-August and can be found in the Health Services cabin (ES-2). Nurse hours are posted outside Health Services for one-on-one appointments and any questions. Additionally, the health services cabin is accessible 24/7 for first aid supplies, storing medication, Covid-19 tests and ice packs.

Here is a list of hospitals and dental clinics throughout the region.

Please make sure you have packed an adequate supply of medications and medical equipment before you come to the Biological Station. There is a fridge and freezer in Health Services for storing medication, if needed. If you have allergies, please carry your own prescription EpiPen. In case you do not have your EpiPen with you during an allergic reaction, there are extras available in Health Services.