At Douglas College, the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff is our top priority. We are committed to ensuring that our community is prepared for any emergency or crisis situation through proactive planning, regular drills, and ongoing assessments. Our comprehensive emergency management strategy focuses on the four phases of Emergency Management:
The ÌÇÐÄvlog´«Ã½response structure intends to meet the following British Columbia Emergency Management System (BCEMS) goals:
- Ensure the health & safety of responders
- Save lives
- Reduce suffering
- Protect public health
- Protect infrastructure
- Protect property
- Protect the environment
- Reduce economic and social losses
Scope of the Emergency Management Program:
Fire and Safety Inspections
We conduct routine fire and safety inspections across all campus buildings to identify potential hazards and ensure compliance with fire codes and safety regulations. These inspections are designed to mitigate risks and maintain a safe environment for everyone on campus.
Drills
To ensure that our community knows how to respond in the event of an emergency, we hold regular drills throughout the year, such as fire, earthquake, lost child and more. These drills allow students, faculty, and staff to practice evacuation procedures and familiarize themselves with emergency exits and assembly areas, enhancing overall preparedness.
Tabletop Exercises
We organize management-level tabletop exercises to evaluate our emergency response plans in realistic, simulated scenarios. These exercises involve key personnel from various departments and help us identify areas for improvement in our response strategies. Through these exercises, we strengthen our ability to manage emergencies and ensure effective coordination during a crisis.
Business Continuity Plans
Our institution maintains comprehensive business continuity plans to ensure that critical operations can continue in the event of an emergency. These plans are annually reviewed and updated to address evolving risks and ensure that we can quickly recover and resume normal activities following a disruption.
Ongoing Preparedness and Compliance
At Douglas College, we are committed to maintaining compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations regarding emergency preparedness. Our ongoing efforts to improve and test our emergency management procedures ensure that we are always ready to respond to unexpected situations with confidence.
By maintaining these programs, ÌÇÐÄvlog´«Ã½creates a safer campus environment where everyone can feel secure knowing that we are prepared for any situation. We encourage all members of our community to stay informed, participate in drills, sign up for DC Alerts, and familiarize themselves with emergency procedures to help ensure everyone's safety.
For more information, please contact emergency@douglascollege.ca
Stay Informed, Stay Safe.