Emergency Response Guidelines: Suspicious Mail or Package


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Suspicious Mail or Package
Characteristics of Suspicious Letter or Package
Some typical characteristics, which in combination may trigger suspicion are:

Restricted marking such as "Personal" or "Special Delivery"
No return address or one that cannot be verified as legitimate
A city or state in the postmark that does not match the return address
Unusual weight based on size
Lopsided or oddly shaped, strange odors, oily stains, crystallization, protruding wires, rigid or bulky, excessive tape or string

If you receive a suspicious letter or package:

Do not try to open it.
Isolate it.
Call university police at 285-1111.

If you open a parcel containing suspicious material or alleged to contain suspicious material:

Set it down where you are. Do not move the contaminated material. If any material spills out of the letter or package, do not try to clean it up and do not brush off your clothes as this could disperse material into the air.
If the material is corrosive or presents an immediate danger, wash or rinse your hands.
Close the door to the area where the suspicious parcel was opened and do not allow others to enter the area.
Call university police at 285-1111.
Stay at the scene to answer questions from university police and environmental health and safety personnel. If anyone enters the closed area in which the suspicious letter or package, that person should also stay at the scene.