In an emergency, staff, students, and visitors to campus may need to respond quickly and safely to reduce the risk of injury or damage.
Familiarize yourself with the procedures below for emergency situations on campus.
If you need help
In the event of an immediate life or death emergency, call 911.
For all on-campus emergencies, call Campus Security at 403.284.8000.
For less emergent assistance (for example, room access, report of thefts, break-ins, or vandalism) call 403.284.8530.
For other emergency management program inquiries, contact emergency.management@sait.ca.
What to do in an on-campus emergency
Fire
If you see fire or smell smoke, activate the fire alarm and follow the SAIT occupant evacuation procedure .
Follow the directions of security, fire wardens and first responders.
- Stop
- Get out
- Get safe
- Communicate
❗️In the event of an evacuation, use the stairs. Do not use the elevators.
If you need evacuation assistance, ask a buddy to stay with you and wait in the elevator lobby (if safe). If there is any sign of smoke or fire, wait in a stairwell and have someone notify security or a fire warden.
Fire life safety equipment
Fire life safety equipment around SAIT's campus is for the safety of everybody, and intentional tampering with equipment can result in mischief or criminal charges.
Report any of the following to Campus Security at 403.284.8000:
- The use of fire life safety equipment.
- Damage or the blockage of fire life safety equipment.
- Incorrect or accidental pull of an alarm.
Fire alarm pull stations are typically red boxes that say "FIRE," and are located in all buildings, on all floors, and are generally found near exits.
In case of smoke or fire, pull down as indicated to activate the building's fire alarm system.
❗️If you incorrectly or accidentally pull an alarm, please immediately report it to Campus Security.
Smoke detectors and sprinkler heads are standard in every building and may be found directly or indirectly installed into the ceiling or off pipes and extensions.
Take caution when extending or using equipment that could potentially impact the sprinklers.
Fire extinguishers inside in-wall cabinets are located throughout every building and are typically near labs, washrooms and other open areas.
Use the fire extinguisher only if appropriate, safe and if you are trained or comfortable with operating the extinguisher.
All exits and fire life safety equipment are to be free of obstruction and be visible at all times.
Fire alarms
All SAIT buildings have fire alarm systems to notify occupants of potential dangers that may lead to building evacuations.
Understanding the differences in alarm stages is important to know what to do when you hear an alarm.
Buildings:
- Temporary Campus Centre
- John Ware
- E.H. Crandell
- All satellite campuses, including:
- Art Smith Aero Centre
- Point Trotter Campus
- The Tastemarket.
For buildings with single-stage alarms, evacuate immediately and follow the SAIT occupant evacuation procedure .
Buildings:
- Heritage Hall
- Clayton Carroll Automotive Centre
- Aldred Centre
- East Hall Residence
- Cenovus Energy Centre
- Johnson-Cobbe Energy Centre
- Begin Tower Residence
- Stan Grad Centre
- Senator Burns Building
- Eugene Coste Building
- Thomas Riley Building
For buildings with two-stage alarms, the first stage will be a notification of an incident in the building, and all occupants should remain in place.
You should start shutting down equipment and packing up belongings. Should the alarm change to the second stage, follow the SAIT occupant evacuation procedure .
If a fire alarm is pulled or smoke or fire is detected, the alarm will go to the second stage immediately.
See the campus map for muster points.
Hazardous material
If hazardous materials are released, alert others in the immediate area and follow the appropriate steps below.
- Isolate: Secure the area, close windows and doors and turn off sources of heat or anything that could cause a spark.
- Decontaminate: If needed, remove clothing/accessories that may have been contaminated with a substance.
- Assist: Only trained individuals should rescue or attend to injured students and individuals if the appropriate personal protective equipment available.
- Evacuate: If needed, enact building evacuation procedures.
- Report: Call security at 403.284.8000 and follow the instructions. Also, complete an incident report.
Medical emergency
In case of severe or life-threatening injury or illness:
- Scan and assess the area for hazards.
- Call 911, listen to instructions and provide the information needed.
- Call security at 403.284.8000
Do not move the ill or injured person unless it is essential for their safety. Provide first aid if you are trained, have appropriate personal protective equipment, and are comfortable doing so.
Submit an incident report post-treatment.
AED's
Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are installed throughout SAIT. They may be used to help someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest in an emergency. All the AEDs are registered with Alberta Health Services and 911 dispatch as knowledge of their location in the event of an emergency.
Look for the heart symbol marking on the campus map or see our list of AED locations .
If you use an AED or any components within the AED, submit an incident report so the unit can be inspected and replaced as needed.
Active assailant
- Get out: Exit the building if you can and keep your hands visible to First Responders.
- Hide: If you can't run, hide. Turn off the lights, silence your phone, stay quiet, stay hidden.
- Fight: As a last resort, if you cannot escape, fight the assailant with an object and use as much force as necessary to reduce the threat.
The Campus Alberta Risk and Assurance Committee (CARA), which SAIT and several other Alberta post-secondary institutions are part of, launched an initiative to educate staff and students about how to respond in the case of an assailant.
This video is a dramatization of an active shooting scenario. A voiceover and on-screen instructions support the dramatization.
Police experts were consulted during the development of this video.
Watch: Surviving an active shooter incident*
*The content of this video may be disturbing to some viewers.
Shelter-in-place
You may be directed to shelter-in-place if there is an external environmental or hazardous material threat.
If instructed to shelter in place:
- Go indoors.
- Close all windows and doors.
- Stay away from exterior walls and windows.
- Close off and block air circulation/ventilation equipment or systems if required.
- Remain indoors and await further direction from security or first responders.