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Policies, Regulations Forms and Bylaws

1340 | Response to Unexpected Health Emergencies Policy

Date Approved: December 16 2025
Date Reviewed/Amended:

POLICY STATEMENT

A timely and effective response to unexpected health emergencies is essential to ensuring a safe school environment.  Unexpected health emergency incidents can occur without warning and require immediate action to improve survival outcomes by providing critical intervention before emergency responders arrive.  The Board of School District 52 (Prince Rupert) is committed to ensuring that all schools are equipped with lifesaving first aid tools, including Automated External Defibrillators and naloxone kits, that are readily accessible and maintained in every school and every District site.

  1. Staff will document each instance of response to unexpected emergencies to the administration staff.    The administration staff or designate will communicate with the student’s family and debrief with the staff involved.
  2. Privacy, confidentiality, and information sharing will follow the policies set out in FOIPPA.

GUIDING LEGISLATION

  • Support Services for Schools Order, M198/25, Section 8
  • School Act, Section 88(1)
  • Good Samaritan Act 

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)

AEDs serve as a critical tool in saving lives in emergency situations involving cardiac arrest.  The District has authorized the placement and use of AEDs in all schools and District sites.

  1. The Director of Operations or designate, will be responsible for the selection, placement and regular maintenance of AEDs. 
  2. AEDs will meet Health Canada’s Medical Device Regulations and will be approved by the Canadian Standards Association.
  3. Placement of AEDs will be installed in readily accessible, barrier-free locations and will be clearly marked with standardized signage to support easy identification and use.
  4. The Director of Operations will conduct routine inspections as per the specific AED manual’s maintenance and testing schedule.  Batteries, pads, and other necessary accessories will be stored in a safe, accessible place.
  5. Recommended specific training for use/application of AEDs will be made available to all staff through site-based administration.

Naloxone Kits

Naloxone is a fast-acting antidote administered to reverse an opioid overdose.  It is effective specifically for overdoses caused by heroin, fentanyl, and prescription pain medications.  Naloxone kits are designed to provide enough medication to temporarily reverse the effects of an overdose, allowing time for emergency services to arrive.  Under the Good Samaritan Act anyone may administer naloxone in an emergency situation outside of a hospital setting.  This includes staff, students, parents and volunteers.  Naloxone has no effect on a person if they have not taken opioids.

  1. All schools will maintain on-site naloxone kits in a designated, accessible, and secure location.  A minimum of two kits will be stored at each facility.
  2. To treat a suspected opioid overdose in a school setting, a staff member trained in opioid overdose response may administer naloxone to any person (student, employee, or member of the public) suspected of having an opioid-related drug overdose.
  3. Staff trained in opioid identification and naloxone administration will call 911 (or designate the calling responsibility) and then may choose to give naloxone and/or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) depending on circumstances and training.
  4. Responding to overdoses involves proper use of personal protective equipment, handling syringes, and potential contact with drugs or blood and body fluids.  If drugs are on the person or the scene, they also must be handled carefully (gloves are required and located in the naloxone kit).
  5. For staff safety, staff will not be required to leave their school/site to respond to overdoses occurring off site.
  6. Procurement of Naloxone shall be done centrally on purchasing schedule based on the purchase dates of the naloxone and the expiry date. This is the responsibility of the District’s appointed Safe School Coordinator or designate.

Opioid overdose response training for staff, including the administration of naloxone will be provided in-person at each site annually or optionally through online training via the Toward the Heart website (1-hour).