Health, Safety, and Environment

It is our commitment to ensure UPEI is a healthy and safe environment to work, study, and visit. The Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) team will demonstrate and promote an internal responsibility system that expects all workplace parties to collaborate to identify, assess, and control all workplace hazards/risks to demonstrate our due diligence. We will provide oversight and guidance to ensure compliance with the PEI Occupational Health and Safety Legislation. 

UPEI Take Home Naloxone Program

UPEI has teamed up with Chief Public Health Office (CPHO) of PEI to provide UPEI Students with naloxone kits.

What is naloxone?

Naloxone (also called Narcan) is a fast-acting medication used to temporarily reverse an opioid overdose until medical help arrives.

Naloxone can restore breathing within 2 to 5 minutes.  Naloxone is safe for all ages. It only works if you have opioids in your system. You cannot use naloxone improperly and does not create dependence. It is safe to keep a naloxone kit on hand.

Signs of Opioid Overdose

Signs of opioid-related overdose include:

  • Difficulty walking or staying awake
  • Not moving or can’t be woken
  • Slow or no breathing
  • Blue or grey lips or nails
  • Choking, gurgling or snoring sounds
  • Cold and clammy skin
  • Very small pupils

Overdose Response

The Canadian Good Samaritan law protects people from being charged for simple drug possession.  Call 911 even if naloxone is used. The effects of opioids last longer than the effect of naloxone.

If you suspect an overdose, take the following steps:

  • Stimulate - speak to the person, squeeze their fingertip or the muscle between their neck and shoulder.  Call 911
  • Airway – Check the airway. Tilt head and lift the chin to open airway
  • Ventilate – 1 breath every 5 seconds
  • Evaluate – Are they breathing?
  • Medicate – Give 1 dose of naloxone:
    • take cap off vial
    • hold vial upside down
    • insert needle into center of vial and pull back plunger until vial is empty
    • inject naloxone into arm or thigh muscle
    • push the plunger down until needle retracts into the syringe (“click” sound)
  • Evaluate and Support – evaluate if the person is breathing and responsive and keep giving breaths.  If not responsive after 2-3 minutes, give another dose of naloxone and continue rescue breaths (repeat as needed). Stay with the person until emergency responders arrive.

Naloxone training is available online at Training — Take Home Naloxone.

Where to get a Naloxone Kit

Free take home naloxone kits are available to anyone at risk of experiencing or witnessing a drug-related overdose.

Through the Provincial Take Home Naloxone Program, free naloxone kits are available at the following distribution sites:

At UPEI:

  • Security Services - call 902-566-0384 24/7
  • Dalton Hall, 5th Floor - Mon-Fri 8:30-12:00 & 12:50-4:00
  • W.A. Murphy Student Centre, Health and Wellness Centre - Mon-Fri 8-4
  • W.A. Murphy Student Centre, Room 201 - Mon-Fri 9-4
  • AVC, 428S - Mon-Fri 8-4
  • Bill and Denise Andrew Hall, Rm 121 - Mon-Fri 8-4 / 902-394-1386 8pm-11pm

Off Campus (please contact organizations to confirm hours of operation):

  • Health PEI Needle Exchange Program sites across PEI
  • PEERS Alliance
  • Native Council of PEI
  • Holland College (all campuses)
  • Queen Street Recovery Clinic 

Supports on Campus

Please refer to the Health, Safety, and Environment SharePoint site for more information.

Health, Safety, and Environment

Relevant Links