Humber Polytechnic’s North campus Public Safety department conducted an active attacker drill on Sept. 24 to prepare students and staff to respond during a serious emergency.
The drill, which took place on campus, simulated an active attacker situation and gave the Humber community the opportunity to practice emergency procedures in a controlled environment.
For students, the exercise is relevant because an emergency can happen while attending class, studying in a library, eating in a cafeteria or moving between buildings.
Humber Polytechnic Department of Public Safety, Rob Kilfoyle, said the main objective is to bring awareness to the Humber community about what to do in the event of an active attacker situation.
“Making people aware of the different emergency notifications through the video playing on screens and messages with instructions gives an idea of how to react or respond during an active attacker scenario,” he said.
He said tackling this early on in every semester is an appropriate timeframe to do so before the academic year becomes stressful and heavy for students.
“This is an opportunity to keep it fresh in people's minds,” he said. “So we run the drill every semester and aim for times where it is not too busy for students.”
He said that over the years of operating the Humber Guardian app, they have received lots of positive feedback from students.
"The Humber Guardian App has been around for 13 years,” he said. “We continue to make enhancements to it and put news features to the app.”
The drill also highlights the importance of students paying attention to campus emergency communication, such as the Humber Guardian App, as well as displays on Humber devices.
This helps students know what to do, be prepared and take necessary precautions, as well as silently spread the word.
Knowing how to respond before an emergency occurs can help students make decisions more quickly during a real incident.
Active attacker drills are designed to familiarize people with emergency procedures, including how to recognize a threat, seek safety calmly, and follow instructions from a campus official and emergency responders.
The exercise also allows Humber to evaluate its emergency response plans and time frames.
By conducting a drill, the institution can identify areas that may need improvement and determine whether students and staff understand the procedures they are expected to follow.
For students who were on campus during the exercise, the drill may have been disruptive or unsettling. However, the purpose of the exercise was to create a realistic training environment without putting participants in danger.
