Get Involved

There are a few ways to get involved in emergency preparedness on campus. Become part of the team! If one of these teams interests you send a message to the Manager, Emergency Planning.

Building Emergency Teams

Each regularly occupied building on campus has a building emergency team. These teams spring to action when there is a need to evacuate the building due to alarms or emergency. Find out more about these teams here.

Emergency First Aid Unit

What is it?

Significant emergencies or disaster can strike any community. While rare, disasters often overwhelm local response organizations and stretch their ability to respond. In the fall of 2019 Emergency Planning at the University of Victoria created a new on-campus team, called the Emergency First Aid Unit, to help respond to the immediate needs of the university in any future disaster. Team members trained in first aid will provide coordinated assistance to those injured by disaster. This team will provide basic first aid in the time period when Campus Security and the BC Emergency Health Services (ambulance) are overwhelmed.

Day-to-Day First Aid and Emergency Medical Response

Of note, the Emergency First Aid Unit does not provide day-to-day first aid at UVic. Regular first aid service on campus is provided by Campus Security Services. To access this service call 250-721-7599. If the injured or sick person requires more than first aid always call 9-1-1 first and ask for an ambulance. Once this call has been made call Campus Security Services and notify them of the injured person.

First Aid Response during a Disaster

The Emergency First Aid Unit will respond to large emergency events (i.e. disasters) that overwhelm existing on and off campus emergency first aid or medical providers. They will provide basic first aid to those in need on campus in the initial hours following a disaster.

Join the Team

The Emergency First Aid Unit is recruiting. Potential team members must have a current valid first aid certificate. The team is open to students, faculty and staff at the University of Victoria.

Interested in joining this team? Fill out this EFAU application form (.pdf, 540KB) and send it to the Manager, Emergency Planning.

The team will meet approximately once a month. Most training sessions are two hours or less in length. However, at least once a year the team will meet for a complex exercise which will take a half day or longer.

Note: With the disruptions caused by COVID this team is not meeting as often.