Click here to see a gallery of images from previous emergency simulation exercises

To complement Emergency Preparedness Week activities from May 6-12, 2012, Trent University is continuing the process to refine its emergency planning procedures.

Ongoing Emergency Planning
Trent University's Emergency Planning Committee meets regularly to develop and put in place University and departmental plans designed to prepare for, respond to and recover from any number of crises, including pandemics.

Most recently, Trent’s Emergency Operations Control Group (EOCG) comprised of senior staff and alternates received a day of basic emergency management training through the City of Peterborough at the Sherbrooke Street Fire Hall on April 25, 2012.

The session covered legislated emergency management responsibilities at the federal, provincial and municipal levels. Participants reviewed the concepts of emergency management, planning and preparedness and the concepts of incident command.

On May 4, 2012, the EOCG met in the Trent Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for a follow up training session to deal specifically with the EOCG set up and Emergency Management Plan at Trent. The session covered access, equipment and set up of the EOC; roles and responsibilities of each member of the EOCG as per the Emergency Management Plan; interface between the EOCG and the Trent Incident Commander/Joint Commander; and operations cycle and logistical issues for extended emergencies.

On May 10, 2012, Trent University representatives attended a community-wide pandemic planning update session, co-hosted by director of Risk Management Louise Fish, a member of the Peterborough Interagency Pandemic Planning Committee.

"Peterborough City and County are the gold standard when it comes to inter-agency cooperation,” said Ms. Fish, “especially in regards to emergency management. Trent routinely involves the City, Police, Fire and EMS in our emergency management planning and training initiatives and enjoys strong, reciprocal working relationships with our municipal partners."

In 2012, another tabletop simulation exercise will be held on campus.

Emergency Simulation Exercises Completed to Date:

First Responders Conference
The Trent University Emergency First Response Team (TUEFRT) turned the Great Hall in to a disaster zone one Sunday in February 2012. A mock explosion cast students as casualties of the disaster, complete with fake blood, chest wounds and punctured limbs.
The simulated emergency was part of the four-day First Responders Conference hosted by Trent University. During the final simulation, teams competed by employing their triage and treatment skills on the “victims” of the mock explosion. Each team was judged by their colleagues from schools in attendance from across the province. This year, McMaster University took first place, with Carleton University finishing second and third.
http://www.trentu.ca/newsevents/newsDetail.php?newsID=2162

Medical Scenario
The training exercise that took place in the Indigenous Pathogen Containment Level 3 (IPCL3) Lab on Thursday, December 9, 2010 at Trent University’s DNA Building was a tremendous success.

An emergency medical scenario was simulated and Trent University participated in the exercise along with community partners including the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR), the City of Peterborough Emergency Management Office (EMO), Peterborough Regional Health Care Centre (PRHC), Peterborough County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Peterborough Fire Services, Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Services and the student-led Trent University Emergency First Response Team (TUEFRT).
http://www.trentu.ca/newsevents/newsDetail.php?newsID=959

Active Shooter Scenario
In 2008, Trent University and emergency response services completed the largest planned simulation exercise in the history of the University, involving over 160 participants. Trent, together with four local emergency response organizations, successfully completed a simulated active shooter exercise at its Lady Eaton College.
http://www.trentu.ca/newsevents/newsreleases_080222simulation.php

Other table top exercises have included a significant release of hazardous airborne chemicals due to an explosion; a pandemic scenario; and an overturned tanker truck on East Bank drive that was spilling its hazardous contents into the river.

Trent responded to a real on campus emergency in the form of the 2004 flood and supported the City by providing residence rooms to the Kashechewan evacuees in 2005.

For more information about emergency preparedness at Trent University, visit: http://www.trentu.ca/healthandsafety/emergency.php