Emergency training from top to bottom

Posted: October 12, 2011 12:00 p.m.

The University of Regina regularly plays host to emergency training scenarios, and two exercises literally cover the highs and lows of mock rescues.

Last week, the University of Regina's first responders, Campus Security and Health, Safety and Environment personnel teamed up with members of the Regina Fire Department's high angle rescue team to conduct a mock rescue that involved rappelling from the top of the North Residence building.  The second emergency training exercise took the Regina Fire Department's confined space rescue unit to the basement of the Centre for Kinesiology, Health and Sport, near the pool.

The exercise involved performing a rescue in a confined space, with access only through a small hatch located in a main floor office.

"Conducting exercises with the Regina Fire Department strengthen the ability of all first responders to address possible emergency situations on campus or in the community," says Dave Button, vice-president (administration) and director of emergency operations at the University of Regina.

"They also facilitate closer personal and professional relationships among members of the different teams, and emphasize how important safety is to the University," he adds.

Emergency training exercises are held regularly to further develop working relationships between the University of Regina and external emergency response teams, familiarize emergency responders with the unique geographic and environmental challenges on campus and assist with the development of better emergency response procedures.