Safety on campus

Emergency management

Our safety procedures explain how to get help in the event of an emergency while you're on one of our campuses. If you notice an emergency situation, call 911. Depending on the emergency, there are other ways to get help including emergency alert pull stations (SARA), Run, Hide, Fight, fire safety and first aid and AED. Find out more about each of our procedures.

SARA (Situational Awareness and Response Assistant)

SARA (Situational awareness and response assistant) is an automated emergency alert system used at all NSCC campuses. This system provides emergency call tools (pull stations) for fire, medical and security or internal threat situations.These pull stations are located at various locations throughout NSCC campuses. 

• Red - fire safety - Pull the red lever in the event of a fire-related emergency.
• Yellow - active threat - Pull the yellow lever to alert people of an active threat and to initiate run, hide, fight.
• Blue - medical and/or security- Pull the blue lever to alert NSCC’s first responders of a medical or security issue.

Fire safety (Red)

Fire and emergency safety is everyone's responsibility and is an integral part of NSCC's ongoing safety and emergency preparedness strategy.

What to do

• If you notice a fire hazard or other emergency, call 911.
• If you're able and it's safe, pull the red lever at an emergency pull station.
• If you hear a fire alarm, exit the building and follow the direction of the fire wardens.

Run, Hide, Fight (Yellow)

During an active, serious, internal threat situation, circumstances can change quickly. Rather than relying on a single response, Run, Hide, Fight provides flexible options that align with how people naturally react to danger. This is not a sequence and it is not a mandate. The safest action depends on your specific situation.

Run - if it is safe to do so:

• Evacuate immediately.
• Leave belongings behind.
• Alert others as you leave.
• Activate a yellow pull station if safe and one has not already been activated.
• Call 911 when safe.

Hide - if you can't evacuate: 

• Move to the nearest secure location.
• Lock or barricade doors.
• Stay low, quiet, and out of sight.
• Silence cell phones.
• Call 911 if safe.
• Remain in place until directed by emergency personnel.

Fight - If you can't run or hide and your life is in immediate danger: 

• Commit to your actions.
• Work with others if possible.
• Use available objects to defend yourself.
• Do what is necessary to protect yourself and survive.

Communications and alerts

In a serious emergency, notifications may be sent through:

• Building intercom or PA systems
• Emergency computer pop-up alerts
• Public safety, security officers, or emergency services
• Email, text message, or verbal communication

Run, Hide, Fight video

• Watch a video about the Run, Hide, Fight approach (YouTube).

First aid and AED (Blue)

Emergency first aid kits and first aiders

First aid kits are available at every campus for immediate response/use by first aid attendants. In an emergency, the nearest blue pull station needs to be activated to alert security and a team of first aiders to respond. Important details about the response team and blue pull station:

• This is a silent internal alarm that indicates to security, which blue pull station to respond to at the Campus.
• Please ensure that there is someone near the blue pull that was activated so they can direct the first aid team to the incident scene.
• The team will bring a first aid kit and AED to a blue pull activation.
• All blue pull activations, accidents or incidents at NSCC must be reported even without an injury.

AED (Automated external defibrillator) program

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a device used when the heart’s electrical activity is disorganized and there's no effective pumping of blood.

All AED campus locations are registered with 911 dispatch centres; if a medical emergency is reported to 911 from a cellular or landline phone, EHS initiates an immediate call-back to the appropriate NSCC campus to ensure trained on-campus staff can assist with the emergency until 911 helps arrives.