With a hot summer behind us, it’s time to sharpen those number twos, break out those rulers, and head back to school! Let’s make sure we keep the kids (and you!) as safe as possible with some school safety tips.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind that will have your students ready to act in case of an emergency.
The Terms
Let’s kick things off with a glossary of terms you likely already know, but your students and their parents/guardians might not. Schools are responsible for providing timely information in an emergency situation, so it’s important that everyone is on the same page, and that your school has a plan for each.
Evacuation
The most common term in which students and staff are moved out of the building. An evacuation usually means they will be returning after the situation has been resolved.
Relocation
Similar to the above term, however, after being evacuated, if the area is deemed unsafe or can’t be returned to in a reasonable amount of time students and staff may move to a pre-designated alternate location.
Lockdown
This is the term used when there is a perceived threat within the building. Individual rooms are locked and local law enforcement arrives to secure the building.
Lockout
While there still may be limited movement within the building, a lockout occurs when there is a potential threat outside the building and access must be restricted.
Shelter-In-Place
During severe weather or if nearby air is being contaminated, Shelter-In-Place means moving students to a predetermined room within the school that has access to a bathroom, phone, and emergency supplies.
The Plan
When it comes to your school’s safety plan, we have a few recommendations.
Have A Team
Emergency preparedness and the response to those emergencies is a big responsibility. The added stress can be eased by organizing a safety team, with each member in charge of different things.
This will also help ensure every part of the plan is followed.
Regularly Update The Plan
Things change and sometimes your emergency plan will need to be updated. One thing that can help identify potential problems is by running regular safety drills to make sure your students and staff are as safe as possible during an emergency.
Keep Everyone Informed
The best plan in the world is useless if you haven’t practised or known. Ensure you keep students, other staff, and parents aware of all emergency plans and changes made to that plan.
Think Big And Small
An emergency plan for the entire school is definitely a must, however, offering individual teachers and classrooms their own safety training sessions can go a long way.
From Start To Finish
An emergency plan doesn’t just mean what you’ll do when the moment of crisis arises. It’s the entire process including prevention, preparedness, responding, and recovering. What you do before and after an emergency can be just as important as what you do during.
Number Your Window
Write your classroom number on the outside facing windows!
When emergency responders arrive at your school, seeing classroom numbers can be a huge help in an emergency situation.
