Emergency Info close at hand

As hundreds of the new campus phone directories took their place on desks across campus, few people have noticed the "Red Pages" section in the front, says Dave Colvin, Western's Emergency Response and Preparedness Coordinator.

"We want to ensure that people have information on what to do in an emergency, close at hand, and readily available in an emergency," says Colvin. "What better way to get it into the hands of the community than at the front of the Campus Phone Directory."

The main thing for people to remember is that they dial 9-1-1 on a campus phone in an emergency. That connects you with the communications centre at University Police. If necessary, the dispatcher can then relay your call to ambulance or fire services via special hotlines, while themselves staying on the line. Using the Campus 9-1-1 system also allows University Police to co-ordinate the response, making sure responders find the location quickly.

The Emergency Procedures section is easily identified by the red strip along the edge of the pages. Readers will find information on: Reporting Emergencies; Medical & First Aid Procedures; Fires, Fire Alarms, and Fire Drills; Building Emergency Wardens; Evacuation Procedures; Hazardous Materials Emergency Response; and other useful emergency information.

Colvin urges everyone to take the time to read the Emergency Procedures before they need them. "Knowing what to do when an emergency strikes can save a life, maybe even your own," he says.

For more information, including an online version of the emergency numbers and procedures, check the Emergency Response and Preparedness web site. Click here to view the Emergency Response and Preparedness web site