College Emergency Procedures

1. Evacuation Procedure

Fire Evacuation

In the event that the evacuation of the building is necessary due to a fire evacuation, CODE RED will be activated which means that a loud alarm will be heard throughout the College and the warning red light will flash to inform you that you must:

• Stay calm and quickly evacuate the building using the nearest exit.
• Do not take the time to go back to your locker.
• Never use the elevator. In all cases when the alarm goes off, the elevator stops functioning. Therefore, if you have limited mobility and are located on the second floor at the time of the alarm, please go to the top of the stairs in the agora sector and wait for assistance. Someone from the Evacuation Team at the Control Center (Information Office) will go to you and will assist you.
• Once outside the College, everyone should go directly outside the belt way and wait for further instructions from the evacuation supervisors.
• We ask that you do not go to your cars, the belt way must be clear at all times.
• No one should try to re-enter the building unless you have received the o.k. from the evacuation supervisors and heard the CODE GREEN alert (all clear code) on the P.A. system.

Other types of evacuation

In the event that the evacuation of the building is necessary but that it is not related to a fire evacuation (ex.: gas leak, etc), a message will be announced on the P.A. system to ask you to evacuate the building. In this case no codes will be used and when you hear the message on the PA system, you must:

• Stay calm, gather your belongings and quickly evacuate the building using the nearest exit or the exit mentioned on the P.A. message.
• Do not take the time to go back to your locker.
• Once outside the College, everyone should go directly outside the belt way and wait for further instructions from the evacuation supervisors.
• We ask that you do not go to your cars, the belt way must be clear at all times.
• No one should try to re-enter the building unless you have received the o.k. from the evacuation supervisors.

2. First Aid Procedure (Green Cross Procedure)

IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY /EN CAS D'URGENCE (during the day up to 6:00 pm. 

1. STAY CALM! DEMEUREZ CALME!
2. CONTACT THE INFORMATION OFFICE located off the Agora: CONTACTEZ LE BUREAU D'INFORMATION situé dans l'Agora: Press the emergency button if you are in a classroom or dial "0" to reach the Information Office if you have access to a telephone  Utiliser le bouton d’urgence si vous êtes dans une classe ou composer le "0" si vous avez accès à un téléphone OR/OU Send someone to the Information Office Envoyer quelqu’un au bureau d’information (The Information Office will call 911) (Le bureau d'information contactera le 911)
3. HAVE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION concerning the emergency: ASSUREZ-VOUS D'AVOIR LES INFORMATIONS SUIVANTES concernant l’urgence:

• Nature of the emergency -Type d’urgence
• Location - Endroit où se trouve l’urgence
• Gender (if applicable) - Sexe (s’il y a lieu)

Approximate age (if applicable) - Âge approximatif (s’il y a lieu)The Information Office will send the appropriate help to the site. Le Bureau d'information s'occupera d’envoyer l’aide appropriée sur les lieux.

After 6:00 pm, please contact the Security guard directly at ext. 2214) 

3. Tornado Watch / Warning Procedure

If a Tornado Warning is announced, a message will be heard on the P.A. system to inform you to:

• Proceed to the hallways outside the classroom away from any windows and exterior walls as it is a designated tornado shelter area;
• Move quickly but in an orderly manner;
• Do not leave the building;
• Remain in place until the tornado warning is over;
• Avoid outside walls, elevators and windows;
• Do not use vehicles for shelter.

In the case, where an individual cannot go to the designated area (College hallways):

• Go to the center of an interior room;
• Shield yourself as well as possible by seeking shelter under sturdy objects, duck and cover your head with your arms or by other available means.
• Keep away from corners, windows, doors and outside walls;
• Get under a sturdy table.

Extra measures for people with special needs:

• Write down any specific needs, limitations, and capabilities that you have, and any medications you take. Make a copy of the list and put in your purse or wallet.
• Find someone to help you in case of a Tornado Warning situation to seek shelter in the designated area.

What to do after a tornado:

• Watch for secondary hazards such as electrical wires and other dangerous wreckage.
• If surrounded by debris, be aware that moving it may cause other debris of part of the building to collapse.
• If it is not safe or possible to leave the area, stay there until assisted out.

4. Earthquake Procedure

In the situation of an earthquake, whenever possible, a message will be heard on the P.A. system to inform you DROP, COVER and HOLD ON: DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees.

During the shaking, if you are indoors or in a classroom:

• If you are inside a building, move no more than a few steps, then DROP, COVER and HOLD ON: DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and also allows you to stay low and crawl to shelter if nearby.
• COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter;If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows);Stay on your knees; bend over to protect vital organs.
• HOLD ON until shaking stops. Under shelter: hold on to it with one hand; be ready to move with your shelter if it shifts.  No shelter: hold on to your head and neck with both arms and hands.

• If you can’t get under something strong, or if you are in a hallway, crouch against an interior wall and protect your head and neck with your arms. Stay indoors till the shaking stops and you are sure it is safe to exit.

You are safer if you stay where you are until the shaking stops.

What to do during an earthquake if you use a wheelchair.

• If you are able, follow DROP, COVER and HOLD ON procedure, seek shelter under a sturdy table or desk.
• Try to get into an inside corner of the room (or an open area if you are outside).
• Stay away from outer walls, windows and hanging objects.
• Lock the wheels of your chair and cover your head with your arms.
• If available use a blanket or pillow to shield your face from falling debris/glass.
• If you have other mobility concerns, arrange your usual seating areas away from windows so you can stay seated.
• Use seat cushions or pillows to shield yourself from falling debris and broken glass.
• When the shaking stops move to refuge areas, if available in your building or find a safe location to shelter-in-place until assistance arrives.

After the shaking stops:

• Count to 60 to allow debris to finish falling after the shaking stops.
• Assess your immediate surroundings for dangers.
• Proceed to evacuation route cautiously and in an orderly fashion.
• If you are in immediate danger, evacuate quickly.
• If you are able to remain inside, assess the evacuation route and muster area for potential risks (e.g. falling debris, exposed electrical wires, etc.) before proceeding out of the building.
• Upon exiting the building, proceed directly to the designated assembly area (cafeteria of College de l’Outaouais).
• If you are on the 2nd floor, proceed to the top of the stairway in the agora (designated Area for people with limited mobility) if you have difficulty negotiating the stairs or if you need assistance in evacuating.
• If an aftershock occurs during evacuation and you are still inside the building, repeat DROP, COVER and HOLD ON procedure before resuming evacuation.

What to do during an earthquake if you are outdoors.

During the shaking:

• Find a clear spot away from buildings, trees, streetlights and power lines, then DROP, COVER and HOLD ON.
• DROP to the ground;
• If possible, COVER your head from falling debris;
• HOLD ON until the shaking stops.

After the shaking stops:

• Count to 60 to allow debris to finish falling after the shaking stops.
• Assess your immediate surroundings for dangers (e.g. fallen wires).
• Proceed directly to a safe location.

Extra measures for people with special needs:

• Write down any specific needs, limitations, and capabilities that you have, and any medications you take. Make a copy of the list and put in your purse or wallet.
• Find someone to help you in case of an earthquake Warning situation to seek shelter.

What to do to assist after an earthquake:

Provide aid

• Give first aid to injured persons. Do not move victims unless absolutely necessary.
• Report hazards to emergency personnel.

Follow instructions

• Do not use elevators.
• Do not leave area or return home until authorities say it is safe to do so.

5. Severe Weather/Emergency Situation Procedure

Process to be Followed Concerning the Closure of the College Due to Severe Weather Conditions / Emergency Situations

During severe weather/emergency situation, when in doubt, call the College main number and listen to the voice mail greeting. If the decision is to close the College, the greeting will be changed to reflect that decision. A notice will also be posted on the College website. Notices advertising the closure will be posted on all doors.

An e-mail will be sent to all staff and a MIO message to all students to inform them that the College will be closed. A message will also be posted on the Omnivox main page under “Latest News”. The same note will also be posted on the College Facebook Page.

Teachers on “stage” at the Hospital will be notified by their Nursing Department Coordinator who will follow their own Nursing Departmental Procedure in this case. Students on work placements or “stage”, must abide by the procedures of organizations (employers) supporting the work placement, "stage", co-op, etc.

For up-to-date information about the status of any closures or emergency situations at the College visit our website.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping to make CÉGEP Heritage College a safe place to work and learn.