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Safe Mail Handling Guidelines
Since October of 2001, incidents involving the possible spread of anthrax or other biological agents via the mail or package
deliveries have raised concerns among employees and students at the University.
With this in mind the University's departments of Public Safety, Environmental Health and Safety and University Postal Services
are publishing the following information and guidelines for identifying and handling suspicious packages.
We ask that you relax and remain calm. We have no reason to believe that BGSU is a target of the recent incidents involving
anthrax. Plus, experience has shown that many of these incidents are likely to be hoaxes. Please remember that a primary goal
of terrorists is to create fear and panic.
However, having said that, it is also important to recognize that any threatened use of a biological agent must be treated
as though it is real. Consequently, the FBI and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) continue to advise the general public to maintain
a state of heightened awareness.
The USPS has increased security measures at all of its locations. Mail that enters the postal stream is constantly monitored
by the USPS and other mail delivery services for a variety of possible safety threats.
What We're Doing
The University's Postal Services employees have been trained to recognize suspicious letters and packages and will continue
to receive training updates as well as information updates from the USPS and FBI. In addition, hoaxes that are identified
will be pursued and prosecuted to the fullest extent.
What You Can Do
First and foremost, you can be vigilant when handling mail. In the event you receive a piece of mail that you believe is suspicious,
remain calm and please follow the instructions below that have been jointly developed by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, the FBI and USPS authorities.
IF YOU ARE SUSPICIOUS OF A MAILING AND ARE UNABLE TO VERIFY THE CONTENTS WITH THE ADDRESSEE OR SENDER:
- Relax and remain calm.
- DO NOT OPEN. Treat it as suspect.
- Isolate the mail piece from the rest of the mail.
- Contact the University police department at 911 or 372-2346. The police will determine whether to call other agencies.
IF YOU HAVE OPENED A MAIL PIECE THAT CONTAINS A WRITTEN THREAT, SUSPICIOUS SUBSTANCE, OR A POWDERY SUBSTANCE:
- Relax and remain calm.
- Leave the mail piece at the location you opened it. You and co-workers or roommates should vacate the room, apartment or immediate
office area.
- Wash your hands with soap and water immediately and ensure that all persons who have touched the mail piece wash their hands
with soap and water.
- Call university police at 911 or 372-2346.
- Do not attempt to clean up the area or discard the mail piece.
- Do not allow anyone who has touched the mail piece to leave the general area until emergency response officials have arrived
and given their OK to do so.
INDICATORS OF SUSPICIOUS MAIL:
- Restrictive markings like "personal" or "confidential" from an unknown source.
- Postmark city that is different from return address city.
- Unusual packaging: rigid or bulky or excessive weight.
- Excessive security material such as masking or duct tape, string, etc.
- Excessive postage.
- Misspellings of common words.
- Addressed to a person who is no longer here.
- Poorly typed or poorly written addresses.
- Unfamiliar address or no return address.
- Powdery substances on surface of letter.
- Strange odor.
- Lopsided package.
- Oily stains on wrapping.
- Protruding wires or aluminum foil.
We again ask you to relax and remain calm during this difficult time. Feel free to share this communication with your family,
friends, loved ones or co-workers.
We've listed some links below with additional information that you may find helpful.
We appreciate your cooperation and if you have any questions, please call Public Safety at 372-2346 or Environmental Health
and Safety at 372-2171.
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