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Your safety and that of patrons, visitors, and employees at the War Memorial Opera House is a major concern of the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center, San Francisco Opera, and San Francisco Ballet.
The emergency guidelines below are intended to provide you with some background and direction in the case of an emergency; links will take you to pages outside of OHUG.
Active Shooter Present:
Medical Conditions:
+ Heart Attack, Stroke and Cardiac Arrest Warning Signs
Have suggestions for information to be posted here, or comments? Please send e-mail to <ushers@sfopera.com>
General Emergency Guidelines
Your own safety is of paramount importance. Assist patrons as long as you yourself feel safe.
An Emergency Exit Diagram appears on the back of the daily sheet distributed at the briefing before most events at the Opera House.
More information on evacuations is included below.
Pre-performance - please do the following:
Check that your flashlight works
Familiarize yourself with the exits nearest to your position
If not on the Orchestra level, review your position's path to the elevator lobby (the one on the north/courtyard side is preferred), so that you are ready to assist any patrons whose reduced mobility may preclude using the stairs
Note the location of any patrons who may require assistance during an emergency
If you see a fire -
Pull the nearest fire alarm; there are at least two on every level, near the elevators (those on level 5 are across from the auditorium doors)
If you see a patron in need of medical assistance -
Make sure that a companion or someone else stays with the patron and report immediately to a Head Usher or other staff with a 2-way radio
Note the condition of the patron,
the person's gender and approximate age
the person's location
and any other information you think relevant. Please be brief: time may be crucial
In case of an alarm or an evacuation announcement -
Direct people to the nearest exit and remind them to walk, not run
On the Orchestra level, escort patrons in wheelchairs, and those with reduced mobility, to the Carriage Entrance on the north side of the Opera House
On all other levels, escort patrons with reduced mobility to an elevator lobby (the one on the north/courtyard side is preferred); this is where Emergency Services will then assist patrons in case of evacuation
During an evacuation, you may be assigned to specific duties by your Head Usher:
Elevators will NOT be in service during an emergency evacuation. If you are assigned to help out in an elevator area, ask patrons to use the stairs if possible
If you are assigned to check restrooms, direct any patrons there to exit the building
If you are a door splitter, in an evacuation make sure your door is open. Then monitor your door to provide access to emergency personnel and/or to direct patrons to the nearest exit. For the
Grand Tier: direct patrons to the WEST stairs (Franklin Street end of the building)
Dress Circle: direct patrons to the EAST stairs (Van Ness end of the building)
Balcony Circle side doors: direct patrons to the WEST (Franklin Street end) stairs
Balcony tunnel doors: direct patrons to the EAST (Van Ness end) stairs
Balcony, 5th floor: direct patrons to the EAST (Van Ness end) stairs
Once you have exited the Opera House during an evacuation, please report to a ticket-taker or other staff with a 2-way radio in one of these designated meeting areas:
for ushers for the Orchestra => Van Ness Ave. front doors
for ushers for the Boxes => Van Ness Ave. front doors
for ushers for the Grant Tier/Dress Circle => Taxi ramp
for ushers for the Balcony/Balcony Circle => Carriage area
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