Never be caught unaware.
That is the organization’s desire for every employee and student of Loma Linda University Health should disaster or emergency strike. LLUH Alerts is the new strategy for ensuring that everyone on the Loma Linda campuses receives timely notification of such an event in the manner they choose.
This requires action on the part of every student and employee. Make your choice today on how to receive emergency notifications.
“Our highest priority is maintaining a safe campus,” says Ehren Ngo, MS, emergency operations manager at Loma Linda University Health office of environmental health and safety.
“While it is best to have multiple pathways for receiving notifications, we want to ensure individuals receive notifications in the manner most accessible and convenient for them,” he adds.
The options are:
• ContactBridge app (free)
• Text message (most efficient)
• Call to cellular phone
• Call to office phone (landline)
• Email (work or personal)
• Two-way pager
• Combination of the above choices
Manage your choices — and update them every six months — by clicking “edit contacts” at myllu.llu.edu/contacts.
The only option that cannot be selected there is the free ContactBridge app. For that, Loma Linda University Health will email a quarterly invitation to employees and students who have not yet signed up. To request an invitation immediately, email lluhalerts@llu.edu. If worried about privacy, note that you can disable the app’s location and camera functions.
Additionally, in the event of emergency, LLUH Alerts will send desktop notifications that will appear on all campus workstation computers.
When a disaster occurs, it is more than students and employees who will need notification. Thousands of people come to campus every day as visitors, whether to receive medical care, visit a patient, tour the campus or conduct business at on-campus enterprises such as Loma Linda Market or Bank of America.
For them, LLUH Alerts provides a service called Nixle, which sends text message alerts. Community members can sign up by texting LLUH411 to 888-777.
Will I be inundated with messages?
As part of the new LLUH Alerts strategy, the office of environmental health and safety is using specific parameters for its emergency notifications. First, messages will only be sent in actual emergency and for occasional tests and drills.
Second, each message sent will be actionable, stating what is happening, how the organization is responding, and what the individual should do. The message will also provide resources for more information and specify which campus audience is affected by the notification.
Finally, when a notification is received, taking a moment to confirm receipt of the notification will allow individuals to stop additional, duplicate messages.
To request more information or offer feedback, contact the emergency management team at: lluhalerts@llu.edu.
Safety at home
The office of environmental health and safety also wants to ensure home safety for its employees, students and community members. Visit the “12 Months of Preparedness” website to learn how to have a complete disaster plan by the end of 2017.