Plan for the worst at UCalgary Emergency Preparedness Week May 6-9

Preparing for the worst is not the same as expecting the worst — with Emergency Preparedness Week coming up from May 6 to 9, it’s an important distinction.

Rae Ann Aldridge, associate vice-president of risk, says sessions for faculty and staff are aimed at making campus community members feel safer, not more vulnerable.

“Our campus is incredibly safe, and we want to keep it that way,” says Aldridge. “We rely on our community members to be aware and tuned in to signs of potential danger, so that we can prevent incidents from happening. Knowing that you and the people around you have basic emergency prevention and response skills can make you feel safer.”

Responding to threats in the moment

Hone your ability to keep yourself and others safe during an emergency situation with Emergency Management’s and Campus Security’s Personal Safety Awareness Training. This two-hour session teaches how to improve your ability to respond to serious threats including active assailant situations.

“This is one of the broadest training programs we offer and it provides great tools to improve emergency preparedness on campus,” says Aldridge.

Personal Safety Awareness Training is offered 9 to 11 a.m. on May 6 at main campus, and May 7 at Foothills campus. It is a prerequisite for those wanting to register for Stop the Bleed Training.

Saving lives when moments matter  

Emergency Preparedness week also includes experiential learning sessions offered on naloxone and Stop the Bleed kits.

“Both training sessions use hands-on learning tools that make the training as true to life as possible,” says Aldridge. “During Naloxone Training, you actually fill a syringe and inject it into a material that is specially designed to simulate the sensation of administering a naloxone injection."  

Likewise, theatrical blood actually flows from the simulated wounds in Stop the Bleed Training — you must learn to stop it by applying pressure to the correct location.

Only a few spots are left for Stop the Bleed Training sessions on May 9 at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. You must have taken or be registered for Personal Safety Awareness training to register for Stop the Bleed Training.

UC Emergency communication system test

Limited channels on the UC Emergency communication system will be tested on May 7, 2019. A test emergency message will be transmitted from UC Emergency Desktop. The message will appear as a pop-up on UCalgary computers.  

Learn more about UC Emergency desktop alert system.