Emergency Procedures
All campus emergency protocols in one place - for students, staff, faculty, and visitors. In any life-threatening situation, call 911 first, then notify Campus Security at 922.
922
On duty 24 hours/day, year-round
(807) 623-0465
"Call 922" means any of these methods
Call 911 first
Then call 922 — Security meets & guides responders
Across campus
Corridors, classrooms, Lot E, barrier-free washrooms
Fire & Smoke
When the fire alarm sounds or you detect fire or smoke, evacuate immediately. Evacuation is not always the only response - in some emergencies you will be directed to shelter in place instead. Always follow the specific instructions announced.
If you discover fire or smoke
- If the fire alarm is not sounding, activate the nearest pull station.
- From a safe location, call 922 (College phone) or (807) 623-0465 (cell), or direct someone else to do so.
- If you have received fire extinguisher training and can safely do so, extinguish the fire. If you cannot control it, leave the area immediately.
- Calmly proceed to the nearest exit. Close doors -do not lock them. Use stairs only - never the elevator.
- Follow instructions from Fire Wardens, Security Guards, and emergency personnel. Move away from the building; do not run or crowd. If weather is inclement, move to the nearest safe building.
- Do not re-enter the building until notified by emergency personnel, Security Guards, or Fire Wardens that it is safe to do so.
Fire Wardens are located in all campus buildings. They are identified by their high-visibility yellow-green vests. Follow their direction when leaving, waiting outside, and re-entering.
What faculty are expected to do
At the start of each semester, advise students that fire drills will be held and that all college community members are expected to participate.
- Check the "We Share the Space" posters in classrooms for the two nearest exits and know your primary and alternate evacuation routes.
- Identify your emergency meeting location — a safe outdoor spot well away from the building, as identified in the Fire Safety Instructions — and share it with students.
- When the alarm sounds, calmly lead students to the nearest exit. Close but do not lock doors. Use stairs only.
- Follow instructions from Fire Wardens, Security Guards, and emergency personnel.
- Do not re-enter until notified in person by emergency personnel that it is safe.
Security Protocols
Confederation College uses three distinct security protocols. The correct one will be announced over the Emergency Communication System. Know the difference, do not call Security, the Hub, or any department for information during any of these protocols. Await the public announcement that it has been lifted.
Shelter in Place
Hazardous material, gas, or chemical threat outside the building, in the vicinity of the college.
- Remain inside the building
- Close all windows and doors
- Continue normal indoor routines
- Keep learners in class until all-clear
- Await public announcement to lift
Note: If the threat is already inside the building (e.g. gas has entered), you may be directed to evacuate instead.
Hold & Secure
A situation near, but not inside the building that poses no threat to those inside unless they leave.
- Lock all exterior doors
- Continue regular indoor routines
- No one enters or exits the building
- Keep learners in class until all-clear
- Await public announcement to lift
Lockdown
Danger is present on college grounds, the safety of students, staff, and the public is directly threatened.
- Remain where you are if location is secure; if not, move to the nearest shelter
- Close and lock doors; barricade if no lock
- Cover all windows and door glass
- Get out of sight, away from windows
- Silence all phones and devices
- Call 911/922 only if you have helpful info (e.g. suspect location) — not for updates
- Disregard fire alarms unless you see or smell actual smoke or fire
- Be ready to evacuate if your security is compromised
- Await the official all-clear announcement
Remember "Out of Sight. Out of Mind. Out of Harm's Way."
Medical Emergencies
For life-threatening or unknown medical emergencies, call 911 first. For all other urgent medical situations, call 922 — Campus Response (trained in first aid and CPR) will be dispatched. If further medical attention is needed, Security contacts the ambulance service and directs them to your exact location.
What to doMedical Emergency
Responding to a medical emergency
- Life-threatening or unknown severity: Call 911 immediately. If calling from a College phone, Security is notified automatically. If using a cell phone, also call Security at (807) 623-0465.
- All other urgent medical situations: Call 922 (College phone) or (807) 623-0465 (cell). Campus Response will be dispatched to your location.
- Stay with the person. Keep them calm and still. Apply first aid only if you are trained to do so.
- Send someone to meet and direct emergency personnel to your exact location.
Why call 922 instead of 911 directly? When you call 911 from campus, your specific building and location are not automatically identified. When you call 922, Campus Security relays your exact location to 911, dispatches first aid to you, and meets and guides external emergency personnel directly to you.
Bomb Threats & Suspicious Items
Treat every threat and every suspicious item as genuine until emergency personnel determine otherwise. Do not touch, move, or search.
Bomb Threats
- By phone: Stay calm, keep the caller talking. Signal a colleague to call 911 on another line. Write down everything, exact words, time, detonation time stated, location described, caller's voice/accent/gender, background noise, phone number on call display.
- After the call: call 922. Do not operate any electronic devices, light switches, or radios.
- By note or email: Do not handle the document beyond necessity, do not delete or forward. Call 922 or 911 immediately.
- Only evacuate or search your workspace if directed by public announcement, do not self-initiate.
Suspicious Package or Item
- Do not touch, move, shake, or open the item.
- Move away from the item and clear the immediate area.
- Call 922 or 911. Give the exact location and a description of the item.
- Do not use cell phones, radios, or electronic devices near the item.
- Remain in a safe area nearby until Security or police arrive.
Spills
Do not attempt to clean up a hazardous spill unless you are specifically trained and equipped to do so.
Responding to a hazardous spill
- Leave the area immediately. Alert others nearby to move away.
- Do not attempt to clean up unless you are trained and equipped and the substance is known to be minor.
- Call 922 or 911. From a safe distance, note the substance name/label if possible.
- Keep others away from the spill area until trained personnel clear it.
If you are exposed Flush affected skin or eyes with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes. Remove contaminated clothing. Call 922 and seek medical attention immediately.
Break-Ins, Crime & Threatening Behaviour
Do not confront suspects or attempt to intervene physically. Your safety comes first. Preserve the scene. Report all incidents.
Break-Ins, Vandalism & Theft
- Do not touch or rearrange anything — preserve the scene exactly as found.
- From a safe area outside the space, call 922.
- Do not re-enter the space or vehicle.
- Wait for Security and/or police from a safe location nearby.
Crime - Victim or Witness
- Move to safety immediately if you are in danger.
- Call 911 for crimes in progress, then call 922.
- Do not disturb or touch evidence.
- Note suspect details: appearance, direction of travel, vehicle, licence plate.
- Provide a full account to Security and/or police.
Threatening / Violent Behaviour
- Disruptive behaviour: Interrupt firmly but calmly. If it persists, end the interaction and ask the person to leave. If they refuse, you leave. Call 922.
- Threatening or violent behaviour: Remain calm — do not argue or issue counter-threats. Call 922 immediately for urgent assistance. Call 911 if there is immediate danger. Do not block the person's exit.
- Document the incident and report it to your supervisor or manager.
- Staff & Faculty: Report incidents to your supervisor or manager and follow your department's reporting process.
- Students: Report through the Student Success Centre.
- Residence Students: For incidents at Sibley Hall Residence, report through the Residence Manager
Weather-Related Emergencies & Campus Closures
Severe weather may require you to take shelter or respond to a campus closure. Monitor official college channels for all closure notices.
What do I do during a weather-related emergency on campus?
Follow the specific instructions announced over the Emergency Communication System. Depending on the nature of the weather event, you may be directed to:
- Shelter in Place - if there is a hazardous external threat such as a severe storm or nearby chemical release. Remain indoors, close windows and doors, continue normal routines until the all-clear.
- Evacuate - if directed by emergency personnel or Security. Follow standard evacuation steps: use exits and stairs, move well away from the building, await the all-clear.
How will I know if campus is closed due to weather?
Campus closure notices are issued only through official Confederation College channels:
- The college website (confederationcollege.ca)
- College email notifications to students and staff
- Official college social media accounts
Do not travel to campus during a closure. If you are already on campus when a closure is announced, contact your supervisor or instructor for direction.
What should I do if my car gets stuck in a blizzard or snowstorm?
- Remain calm. Stay in your car. For fresh air, open a window slightly on the sheltered side, away from the wind.
- If your exhaust system is working well, run your engine for about 10 minutes every half hour. Check the exhaust pipe periodically to make sure it is not blocked with snow.
- Exercise your hands and feet to keep them warm. Keep moving in general to avoid falling asleep.
- If you need to shovel snow from around the vehicle, avoid over-exerting yourself.