Knowing what to do in case of an emergency can make all the difference when the time comes to respond.

Emergency Preparedness Week – May 7-13 – is a week designed to raise awareness about the importance of emergency planning and response.

At Queen’s there is a wide range of resources being employed to ensure a safe, healthy environment for students, staff and faculty, such as the Emergency Notification System.

Knowledge is a key and David Patterson, Director of Campus Security and Emergency Services, suggests members of the Queen’s community review the Queen’s University Emergency Response Procedures.

“Emergencies can be sudden or unexpected, and when they happen, you can minimize the effects by taking a few steps ahead of time and review the university procedures as they can assist in responding to a situation safely and effectively,” Mr. Patterson says.

He adds that it’s a good idea to print a copy of the procedures for your desk or workplace. Queen’s also has to ensure that the university is prepared in the event of a broad range of emergencies.

For access to emergency information while on the go, download the SeQure app for your mobiles phone or follow Campus Security and Emergency Services on Twitter and on Facebook.  

Individualized workplace emergency response plans for employees who have a disability that requires accommodation can be found on the university’s Environmental Health and Safety website, as well as a template to create lab-specific emergency response procedures.

“We all play a part in effective emergency response on campus by knowing how to respond to emergencies,” says Dan Langham, Director, Environmental Health and Safety. “Emergency Preparedness Week is a great opportunity to review the comprehensive set of emergency response procures that are in place at the university and to think about how we might respond to emergencies when we are at home.”

Information on how to prepare you and your family for an emergency is available at the following links:

• Emergency Management Ontario

• Get Prepared

• City of Kingston

• Canadian Red Cross

• St. John Ambulance