Survivor Sudbury: Students participate in mock emergency on May 1

Students from Lively District Secondary School will participate in a mock emergency the evening of Friday, May 1. They will spend the entire night in their school library and rely solely on the contents of their emergency survival kit. They will sleep on cots, eat army rations for breakfast provided by Meal Kit Supply Canada and have limited access to electricity for an 18-hour period.

Presented by Emergency Management Ontario (EMO), the City of Greater Sudbury and the Rainbow District School Board, the mock emergency will focus attention on the importance of being prepared in the event of a disaster.

Lively District Secondary School is the first school in Ontario to take part in this survivor event, which will simulate a blackout. The Sudbury event will begin at 4 pm on Friday, May 1 and end at noon on Saturday, May 2. A Toronto school will hold a similar emergency exercise on May 7 and 8 as part of Emergency Preparedness Week events taking place throughout the province.

“Emergencies can occur at any time and without warning,” says Greater Sudbury Mayor John Rodriguez. “The City of Greater Sudbury is prepared to effectively respond to municipal emergencies but citizens must also be prepared to do their part. A 72 hour emergency kit can help keep your family safe and comfortable, while first responders deal with the most urgent situations.”

“This event will teach students practical survival skills should an emergency happen, and better enable them to take care of themselves and their families during the crucial period immediately after a disaster strikes,” says Rick Bartolucci, Sudbury MPP and Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

“Rainbow District School Board welcomes the opportunity to partner with Emergency Management Ontario and the City of Greater Sudbury on this important initiative,” says Board Chair Judy Hunda. “Students will gain hands-on knowledge about emergency preparedness that will benefit their families and the community at large.”

EMO will provide all students with an emergency survival kit, including a crank radio, duffle bag and first aid kit. Prior to the event, students will be encouraged to customize their kits with items from home, such as medicine, eyeglasses, food and copies of personal documents. Community members from the Lively area have been invited to join the students.

Throughout the evening, guest speakers from EMO, the City’s Emergency Services, and non-government organizations, such as the Canadian Red Cross and St. John Ambulance, will deliver informative presentations about emergency preparedness. Participants will learn search and rescue techniques and wilderness survival skills. They will also take part in a team game in the dark, with flashlights and a generator providing the only sources of light and electricity.

A number of topics will be covered during the mock emergency:

•    students will learn what items to include in their personal emergency survival kit and the importance of emergency preparedness,
•    basic First-Aid skills,
•    how to protect their pet during an emergency
•    what local hazards and risks exist in our community
•    how to survive during a blackout, and how gas-powered generators work
•    the importance of developing an escape plan
•    the role of Amateur Radio Emergency Services in communicating key emergency information to the public
•    weather-related emergencies, their consequences and how to protect themselves
•    how to cook safely indoors (including carbon monoxide safety), and
•    how to secure and return home following an emergency.

EMO will set up a video unit at the school. Students will be invited to record their thoughts throughout the exercise.

Survivor Sudbury –Timeline of Activities


Lively District Secondary School


Fifth Avenue, Lively, Ontario






Thursday, April 30  1 pm – 2:15 pm (library)

EMO visits school to talk to participating students about emergency preparedness and what students need to bring for the day.  Focus is on the five key messages:  Have a plan, make a kit, consider special needs, don’t forget your pets and practice.

Friday, May 1

All presentations will be held in the Library.

4 pm        Students arrive at library. EMO welcomes students and provides introduction to the evening (student Q & A before event begins)

4:20 pm    Red Cross presentation on evacuee registration process/information.

4:30 pm    Red Cross conducts Registration and Inquiry process. 
                EMO hands out survival kits.

5 pm        EMO leads survival kit activity, including importance of remembering special needs/pets.

5:30 pm    Sudbury EMS Presentation (safety and first aid)

6 pm        Dinner/Students can visit Speakers Corner

6:30 pm    Sudbury Police Presentation – Search & Rescue, Wilderness Survival Skills

7 pm        Wilderness Skills Team Game

8 pm        St. John Ambulance Presentation – disaster first aid skills

8 pm        Sudbury Fire Services Presentation (power outages, etc.)

9 pm        Disaster Themed Movie

(Students can visit Speaker’s area to record their thoughts)

10:30 pm    Simulated Power Outage (Team Game – to be played in the dark)

11:30 pm    Quiet Time

12 midnight    LIGHTS OUT

Saturday, May 2

7 am    Breakfast (meal kit rations supplied by Meal Kit Canada)

8 am    EMO debrief of students – how did the evening go?  What did they learn? Record their comments.

9 am    Sudbury and District Health Unit Presentation

9 am    Environment Canada Presentation – Weather awareness, weather safety, preparing for severe weather

10 am    Career Planning Presentation (EMO, Police, Fire, others TBC)

11 am    Closing remarks (School/EMO/Sudbury)
 
11 am    Clean up/pack up (final comments at the Speakers Area)

12 noon    Event concludes

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Media Contacts:

Nicole Charette
Rainbow District School Board
(705) 674-3171, ext. 7217

Pat McCauley
City of Greater Sudbury
(705) 674-4455, ext. 2407