Emergency Information

At the first indication of FIRE, pull the closest fire alarm station.

Call Security at ext. 711 or 819-822-9711. Evacuate area immediately, stay calm.

If possible, wait for the Security or Fire Officers and direct them to the exact location of the fire. Attempt to knock on doors to notify people of potential danger.

Advise the Security Department at ext. 711 or 819-822-9711. Give your name, the location and the nature of the incident.

A Security Officer will go to the site and will advise emergency authorities, if necessary. The Officer will note the details on a security report.

The Security Officer may report the incident to the Police or ask you to contact them directly, depending on the circumstances.

Hit and Run

If damages are found on your vehicle, advise the Security Department at ext. 711 or 819-822-9711. Give your name, the location and the nature of the incident.

A hit and run accident comes under the Criminal Code and requires a police investigation. The Security Officer may report the incident to the police, or ask the victim to contact the police directly depending on the circumstances.

Dangerous and Reckless Driving

Dangerous and reckless driving is a CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

The Security Officer will make a report and depending on the circumstances may request a police investigation which could result in the following:

• Charges laid under the Criminal Code by police
• Driving and parking privileges on campus suspended

Report any dangerous driving on campus immediately to the Security Department at ext. 711 or 819-822-9711.

First, verify if item(s) might have been borrowed or misplaced.

Advise the Security Department, ext. 711 or 819-822-9711. Give your name, the location and the nature of the theft. A report of the theft should be made in collaboration with the Security Officer. If possible, give the make, model and serial number of the stolen item.

Answer the questions of the investigator.

Items Belonging to the University

The Security Officer must report the theft to the police. An incident report form will also be completed.

Personal Items

The Security Officer will report the theft to the police upon request of the victim or ask the victim to contact the police personally depending on the circumstances.

As directed by:

• fire alarm; or
• verbal instruction from Security.

To the occupants of the building

1. Be ready to leave the building. Stay calm.
2. Do not use elevators: take the stairs and go outside. Always use the closest exits.
3. Avoid obstructing exits at street level to allow emergency personnel into the area with their equipment – CLEAR THE AREA.
4. Follow the instructions given by the Security Officers or by the members of the Emergency Action Team.

To teaching personnel

Evacuate the class area as quickly as possible; warning, helping and directing the students towards the closest exit.

As soon as possible, warn the Fire and Security Officers of problems like blocked exits, persons who are trapped in their work area, etc.

All regular staff will direct any temporary employees, contractors, truck drivers, tour groups, or other visitors to the proper exits and routes to the gathering areas.

During regular hours an Emergency Response Team, equipped with radios, will be stationed at exit/entry points to make sure that no one re-enters a building and remains clear of responding emergency personnel. These people will be identified with fluorescent traffic vests and will aid in relaying information and ensuring roadways and building’s accesses remain free for the emergency services.

In case of adverse conditions (weather or others), evacuees must head to the designated shelter(s) as per the following:

Designated Shelters and Gathering Areas

Administrative and academic buildings

Residences

Service Buildings

Follow all instructions issued by the Emergency Action Team.

At the time that Town officials decide that the Bishop’s campus should be evacuated, the Town will contact our Security Department. Once this order has been received, Security will advise University officials as follow:

• The Dean of Student Affairs;
• The Principal, or if unavailable;
• The Vice-Principal, or if unavailable;
• The Vice-Principal. Administration.

As soon as one of the University officials above has been advised and an evacuation has been authorized, the Dean of Student Affairs and the Director of Housing are to be advised by Security to arrange that all students residing on-campus be assembled at an agreed upon location. The Town will provide buses to remove students from campus.

In the event of an evacuation order received during normal working hours (class time Monday to Friday), the Emergency Action Team will be instructed to advise all persons on campus, building by building, to evacuate. If needed, the Town will also provide transportation for persons other than on-campus residents.

Due to Bishop’s location in the St. Francis and Massawippi flood plains, the order to evacuate may be received before floodwaters actually cover the highways leading to and from the campus. IT IS IMPERATIVE, HOWEVER, THAT THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY COOPERATE FULLY, EVEN THOUGH THE RISKS MAY NOT SEEM APPARENT, IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE FULL EVACUATION BEFORE HIGHWAYS BECOME IMPASSABLE. FAILURE TO REMOVE PEOPLE FROM THE CAMPUS COULD RESULT IN LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE STRANDED WITH NO SAFE EXIT AND THE VERY REAL POSSIBILITY THAT ELECTRICITY, HEAT, FOOD AND WATER WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE.

In Case of an Accident involving a Dangerous Chemical Product

Leave the area of the accident if the product represents a danger.

If necessary, pull on the alarm system and ask the endangered person(s) to move away from the accident area as soon as possible.

Any important accident involving a dangerous chemical product must be reported to the person responsible for the concerned laboratory and to the Security Department ext. 711 or 819-822-9711.

Give your name and the location of the accident.

If you can, identify the product and indicate if the product constitutes an immediate danger for the person(s) located in the area of the accident.

Call Security, ext. 711 or 819-822-9711 and they will call for an ambulance. Give your name, the location, and a brief description of the situation. Stay on the site.

NOTE: The entire Security Staff are certified first-responders.

IF THE PERSON IS UNCONSCIOUS:

• Check breathing and pulse. If breathing is abnormal or absent, or if there is no pulse, begin the appropriate procedures for respiratory or cardiac arrest. If the victim is found unconscious as a result of a fall, blow or similar cause, always consider the possibility of a fractured spine.
• If the victim is breathing and has a pulse, and there is no danger of a spinal fracture, place the victim on his/her left side. Placing the victim on his/her side may prevent suffocation if he/she vomits.
• Health Services may be called for additional assistance. See hours and contact information on their website. Otherwise, wait for assistance from Security and ambulance.
• When Security or ambulance arrives, describe the first-aid administered and assist them in taking over the emergency.
• Complete a Personal Injury Form (appendix A) as provided to each department by Health Services.
• All media calls should be referred to the Communications Officer 819-822-9600 ext. 2840.
• In the event of the death of a student, please contact the Dean of Student Affairs Office for the policy and procedure to follow.

IN NON-LIFE-THREATENING SITUATIONS OR EMERGENCIES NOT REQUIRING AN AMBULANCE:

• Call Security, ext. 711 or 819-822-9711. Give your name, the location and a brief description of the situation.
• Provide first-aid assistance or enlist assistance of first-aider in area.
• Recommend that the injured party seek medical advice and, if possible, accompany the injured party to a hospital emergency room.
• Complete a Personal Injury Form (appendix A) as provided to each department by Health Services.

Health Services is available for over-the-phone assistance. See hours and contact information on their website.

HOSPITALS AND CLINICS CLOSEST TO THE CAMPUS:

See the Health Services web page Medical Services After Hours.

Situations that would constitute a psychiatric emergency include:

• an attempted suicide
• potential suicide
• acutely psychotic behavior
• Yellow ribbon card

That is, those situations where observation of a person’s behavior may lead one to believe that the person may be in immediate danger of harming him/herself or someone else directly or indirectly through that person’s lack of ability to appreciate his/her own current state.

Attempted Suicide

This would constitute a medical as well as psychiatric emergency, depending on the method of attempt and extensiveness of physical injury.

Emergency medical procedures for life threatening or less than life threatening injury should be followed.

Professional assessment of current emotional state and potential for further suicide attempts should be sought.

If any individual is brought to a hospital emergency service this will automatically happen. However, if the self-inflicted injury itself is not life threatening, other options are available.

• Student Health Services 819-822-9600 ext. 2257 *
• Counselling Office 819-822-9600 ext. 2695 *
• Family Doctor

(*) After hours these services may be accessed through the Security Department.

N.B. In all instances it is important that an individual stay with the suicidal person and provide non-judgmental empathic support. An incident report form should be completed, maintaining confidentiality.

Potential Suicide and Acutely Psychotic Behaviour

The main goal in these situations is to bring the individual in contact with a helping professional who can assess and deal with his/her current state. It is most important that the individual not be left alone while the contacts are being made and that non-judgmental empathic support is provided. Options include :

• Health Services
• Counselling Office
• Family Doctor
• C.L.S.C. and/or Hospital Emergency Rooms

If one is unsure about the behavior, the Student Health Services or Counselling Office may be consulted, as well as the Info-Santé telephone service – 811.

Advise the Security Department, ext. 711 or 819-822-9711 and report the name of the victim, the location and the nature of the incident.

A Security Officer will go on site to help and if necessary, give first-aid. The Officer will try to obtain some information on the alleged attacker and the victim, and complete an incident form.

The Security Officer will call for an ambulance, if necessary, and may report the incident to the police, or ask the victim to contact the police personally depending on the circumstances.

If a student is involved, the matter will be referred to the Dean of Student Affairs. The following support services are available to students who have been assaulted:

• Health Services
• Counselling Office
• Residence R.A.’s

Assaults come under the Criminal Code and require a police investigation. The decision to lay charges is the responsibility of the victim.

See: Sexual Violence Support Centre

See the Harassment web page.

(by letter, phone, or email)

Advise the Security Department, ext. 711 or 819-822-9711. Give your name, the location and the nature of the incident.

Note all information related to the incident: name of the person who made the threat, nature, location and time of the threat. Communicate this information to the Security Officer who will come on location and complete an incident report form.

The Security Officer will report the incident to the police upon request of the victim, or will ask the victim to contact the police personally depending on the circumstances. Otherwise, the incident will be handled internally using the Student Conduct Committee, Human Resources or Ombudsperson’s office.

If a staff member is involved, advise the supervisor. If a student is involved, contact the Dean of Student Affairs or in residences, the Director of Housing or the Residence Life Coordinator. The following support services are available to students who have been threatened:

• Health Services
• Counselling Office
• R.A.’s

In all cases:

During business hours, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., call the Buildings & Grounds Department, 819-822-9600 ext. 2650.

General Electrical Power Failure in all Buildings

During Hydro-Quebec failures, emergency lighting systems will continue to function in all the buildings.

During night-time Hydro failures, persons in all non-residential buildings are advised to leave.

Problem with an Electrical Breaker or Circuit

Call the Buildings & Ground Department, 819-822-9600 ext. 2650. Give your name, the location and the nature of the problem. After business hours, call the Security Department, ext. 711 or 819-822-9711.

During business hours, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., call the Buildings and Grounds Department, 819-822-9600 ext. 2650.

Outside of business hours, call the Security Department, ext. 711 or 819-822-9711. Give your name, the location and the nature of the problem (water or gas leak, obstruction of a sink, toilet, drain, etc.).

In Case of Chemical Leak

Advise the Security Department, ext. 711 or 819-822-9711. Give your name, the location and the nature of the emergency.

The person receiving the call or threat should try to obtain as much information as possible. Remain calm. Keep the caller talking. Ask questions re: PLACE, TIME, REASON, GROUP TAKING RESPONSIBILITY.

Contact Security at ext. 711 or 819-822-9711.

Security will contact the following:

• The Dean of Student Affairs, or if unavailable;
• The Principal, or if unavailable;
• The Vice-Principal – Administration.

Upon the arrival of Security and the Police, the individual will relay all pertinent information received during the call. An initial decision will be made as to whether to evacuate the campus or conduct a search.

When a precise location has been identified, there may be an evacuation.

Please follow all instructions of Security and the Police.

Search Procedure

The search must be executed in cooperation with the Police (i.e. search of garbage cans, washrooms, etc.).

The Police and Security Staff  WILL NOT request other individuals to take part in the search. They will coordinate their activities by order of importance.

Never touch a suspicious package or object found during a search. INFORM THE POLICE WHO ARE AT THE SCENE.

When residences are involved, ensure that the Residence Assistants remain with the students.

If evacuation is necessary, the following procedures will be followed:

• NON-RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS – Beginning with the top floor, Security personnel will inform each person in charge of the class or department that an evacuation is necessary. Each person in charge must direct his/her group to a specific location as indicated by Security, or simply announce that the class has been cancelled and that everyone must leave the campus.
• RESIDENCES – The Residence Assistants/or Summer Conference Assistants will be informed of the situation and the procedures to follow, i.e. same scenario as for non-residential buildings (see above).
• Another verification will be conducted by Security, in order to ensure that there is no one left in the building and that all exterior doors have been locked.

See the Emergency Preparedness Guidelines sub-page.

If any dangerous condition or situation is observed, report the problem immediately to the Buildings & Grounds Department.

Suspicious Letter or Parcel

Everyone needs to mobilize common sense in dealing with this unfamiliar situation.

The information below describes how to identify suspicious mail and the procedures to follow:

What constitutes a suspicious letter or parcel?

Some typical characteristics which ought to trigger suspicion include letters or parcels that:

• Have any powdery substance on the outside.
• Are unexpected or from someone unfamiliar to you.
• Have excessive postage, handwritten or poorly typed address, incorrect titles or titles with no name, or misspellings of common words.
• Are addressed to someone no longer with your organization or are otherwise outdated.
• Have no return address, or have one that can’t be verified as legitimate.
• Are of unusual weight, given their size, or are lopsided or oddly shaped.
• Have an unusual amount of tape.
• Are marked with restrictive endorsements, such as “Personal” or “Confidential”.
• Have strange odours or stains.

What should I do if I receive an Anthrax threat by mail?

Do not handle the mail piece or package suspected of contamination. Make sure that damaged or suspicious packages are isolated and the immediate area cordoned off. If possible try to shut off any fans or air ventilation units. Call Security, ext. 711 or 819-822-9711. Give your name, the location and a brief description of the situation. Security will notify local law enforcement authorities. Ensure that all persons who have touched the mail piece wash their hands with soap and water. Have those who came into contact with the mail piece stay nearby to receive additional instructions from Security. List all persons who have touched the letter and/or envelope. Include contact information and have this information available for the authorities. Place all items worn when in contact with the suspected mail piece in plastic bags and have them available for law enforcement agents. As soon as practical, shower with soap and water.