A. ACCIDENTS AT SCHOOL
1. (Minor) Accidents at School - On the playground.
. . In the building or classroom. . . In physical education. . .
For minor accidents/injuries have students
taken to clinic for assistance by a responsible
person.
2. Related information:
� All staff has been provided with a one-page list of �emergency
procedures� of what to do in case of an accident or injury on the playground,
or in the building or
classroom.
� Classroom emergency procedures are posted on the back
of every classroom door.
� Posted in the main office, the gym office, and the clinic
are the names of building staff who have completed paramedic training,
Red Cross First Aid Training or
other special lifesaving or life sustaining training
or expertise (i.e., CPR).
� Posted in the main office, the gym office, and the clinic
are a list of emergency telephone numbers.
� Post general procedures in the clinic explaining when
parents are to be notified of minor mishaps.
� As part of routine medical protocols established by School
Health Services, each teacher has been provided information about any student
in his/her classroom
having special medical or physical needs and the
procedures that the teacher may follow in the event of a medical episode.
These conditions might include
allergies, fainting, seizures, diabetes, etc.
B. ACCIDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL
In the event of accidents involving an employee or student who is on the way to or from school, first determine whether or not help is on the way.
1. If help is not on the way:
� Call police, fire, or rescue as indicated by nature of
accident
� Notify Principal
� Notify superintendent
� Notify parents, spouse, or individual on emergency card.
2. If help is on the way:
� If not reached earlier, continue to try to notify parents,
spouse, or named individual.
� If parents, spouse, or closest relatives are not available,
discuss situation with an associate at the place of employment of the parents,
guardian, spouse, or closest
relative.
� Send a �calm� staff member to observe situation.
C. AIRCRAFT DISASTER
1. Aircraft crash into or near building:
� Call police, fire or rescue as indicated by the accident
� Call Managing Director of Facilities Services
� Notify superintendent
� Utilize emergency exit plan modified to maximize safety
of students.
� Students and staff should be assembled in an area as
far from the crash scene as possible and should be up-hill and up-wind
from the crash.
� Provide for treatment and removal of injured building
occupants.
� Account for all building occupants and determine extent
of injuries.
2. Aircraft on or near school site but no damage to building:
� Call police, fire or rescue as indicated by the accident
� Call Managing Director of Facilities Services
� Notify superintendent
� All students and staff should remain in the buildings.
Any students or staff outside should report immediately to their classroom
or designated area until further
instructions are received.
� No evacuations should occur unless subsequent explosions
or fire endanger the building.
D. ALLERGIC REACTION
1. Possible Symptoms: General feeling of impending doom
or fright, weakness, sweating, sneezing, short of breath, nasal itching,
hives, vomiting, cough,
restlessness, shock, hoarseness, swollen tongue,
severe localized swelling.
2. First Actions:
� Assess situation, remain calm, make student/employee
comfortable.
� Only move for safety reason.
� Send for immediate help and medication kit (in cases
of known allergies).
� Follow medical protocol for student, if on file.
� Observe for respiratory difficulty and, if needed, call
rescue squad
� Notify parent or guardian.
� Administer medication, by order of a doctor, if appropriate.
Apply ice pack, keep warm.
� Record on an attached label time and site of insect sting
and name of medicine, dosage and time, if appropriate.
3. Preventative/Supportive Actions:
� Encourage parents and guardians to list health situations
on emergency card for their child.
� Encourage employees having health situations affecting
them to alert director of maintenance of any difficulties and possible
remedial actions.
E. ANGRY PARENT
(Strategies may be adapted to use with angry employees and patrons)
� Be courteous and confident
� Remain calm
� Do not touch
� Keep at a reasonable distance
� Listen
� Allow the opportunity to vent
� Meet in a neutral, protected location
� Leave door open or have another staff member join you
� Avoid blame � focus on what can be done
� Ask:
� �How can I help you get the services you/your child needs?�
� �How can we work together?�
� �What kinds of support can we put in place to help your
child succeed?�
F. ASBESTOS RELEASE
1. PRINCIPAL
� Evacuate the immediate area.
� Instruct the building engineer to shut down the HVAC
system.
� Ensure the affected area is sealed off and doors are
closed.
� Notify:
� Superintendent
� Risk Management and Security
� Maintenance
2. TEACHER AND STAFF
� Evacuate the immediate area.
� Seal off the area by closing doors when exiting.
� Notify the Principal.
� Note all persons who were in the area of the asbestos
release.
G. ASSAULT BY INTRUDER
1. Checklist � Use the appropriate checklist form to document
completion of the following:
- Assessment of the situation.
- If continued danger, institute lockdown.
- Provide first aid if necessary.
- Question victim - make reasonable notes
for potential court case:
A. Description
of assailant
B. Report
of events
- Contact police (School Resource Officer
and/or 911)
- Notify superintendent.
- Instruct person answering the telephone
to direct all requests to School Board Office
- Complete police information for charges.
- Prepare a written memo for staff and parents.
- Schedule follow-up programs for staff and
students.
- Call emergency staff meeting.
2. Specifics
A. Assess the Situation:
� Request
police assistance when assailant(s) are outsiders.
� Determine
the number of victims.
� Determine
the amount of threat still pending - was this an isolated incident which
is now over?
� Is there
continued danger to the individuals already involved or to any other potential
victims?
� Determine
the need for first aid.
B. Move Others to Safety: If the assailant has not been contained and continues to be a threat to others, institute lockdown.
C. Provide First Aid: Provide first aid for
victim(s) via nurse, nurse�s aide, trained staff member, or 911. Have someone
at the entrance to meet and direct the
ambulance staff to the victim
and designate a staff member to accompany victim(s) in ambulance.
D. Question the Victim: Make notes, which can be shared with the police upon their arrival. These notes may be helpful in a court case.
E. Contact the Police: Contact 911, your School Resource Officer, or sheriff�s office.
F. Notifications:
� The
superintendent�s office should be contacted as soon as possible, who will
handle all media and community inquiries into the event(s).
� The
parents (or spouse) of the victim should be notified as soon as possible.
� Inform
staff of situation as soon as possible. A Crisis Team, identified for the
school, can effectively deliver information to the other staff members
so your
time can be used for other decisions/actions.
� The
Transportation Department can, in extreme emergencies, provide buses for
early dismissal. The Transportation Department will notify the
Superintendent of the need for this dismissal.
� The
students will be able to deal with the situation by being informed of the
facts as soon as possible, rather than receiving their �facts� through
rumors.
� The
other schools should be given the basic information as soon as possible
by the superintendent�s office, since siblings/neighbors will quickly learn
of the
disturbance.
� The
Pupil Personnel Services may be needed to provide counseling support for
students and staff in dealing with the trauma. This office may seek
additional help from the County�s Department of Human Resources.
� The
parents of other students in the community will need to learn the real
facts, just as their children have learned them, to reduce the rumor factor.
� After
the crisis is over, the principal may wish to arrange a special press conference
to give the media the same information that has been shared
with the
parents.
G. Telephone Answerer: Prepare a statement
for the individuals who answer the telephones to read. Instruct them that
any further inquiries should be made to
the Superintendent�s office. Give them the telephone number for the caller
to use as a reference.
H. Police Information for Charges: The police will need to be sure of details from you as well as from the victim. Assault/Battery are chargeable offenses.
I. Written Memo for Staff and Parents: As soon
as the immediate crisis/danger is over, the staff and parents will need
to know, not only what occurred, but also
why you took the action
that you did. Individuals with the correct facts can help to stop rumors
and misperceptions.
J. Follow-Up Programs: School guidance counselors will arrange special counseling for students and staff through Pupil Personnel Services.
K. Call emergency staff meeting.
H. BOMB THREAT
1. Bomb Threat/Telephone Threats - The building director must evaluate the seriousness of bomb threats or other disruptive types of demonstrations using input from all sources; then, the director acts in such a manner that reflects the best safety interests of those under his/her charge. Bomb and other threats may be originated in writing, in person, over the telephone or related through a second source.
2. Basic Documentation - The individual taking the call should:
� Keep the caller on the line as long as possible.
� Notify principal/building director.
� Write down all the information obtained in the exact
words. Use the record sheet immediately following these instruction pages;
place copies of the bomb threat
sheet at switchboard and
other appropriate phone locations.
� Find out what time the bomb is due to go off.
� Document in writing, as soon as possible, other types
of threat contacts including:
- Specific
time message is received.
- Date
and day of week.
- Exact
wording of message.
- Estimation
of sex, age, cultural background of person making call.
- Make note of background noises,
tone of voice.
3. Authorities to be involved:
� Police
� Superintendent.
� Director of Maintenance
4. The building administrator or designee shall:
� Notify the authorities.
� Consider the safety of students and
staff as the prime factor. If advised, direct students and staff to safe
areas of the campus. Nothing is to be touched or
altered; do not open desks
or lockers.
5. Do not re-enter building until authorized:
� Alert staff of situation and implement
building search procedures.
� School activities should be continued
as normally as possible in designated safe areas.
� The recommendation to close school
will be made only after consultation between the Central Office, security
and building administrator.
� Submit written reports as appropriate
to Director of Maintenance following the incident.
6. Confidential building search procedures for use by staff only:
The principal and/or assistant principal will:
� Call police
� Call superintendent
� Call Maintenance Department.
� Notify school staff
7. A fire drill will be called about 15 minutes before threatened
time, if known.
� Following the notice, the staff will
conduct a thorough search of assigned areas as outlined below. If anything
is found, it should not be touched in any way. Get
an adult to �watch it,�
while you report it personally to the principal. Following the search,
each staff member responsible for searching areas (all teachers and
others) must send a note
to the office reading, for example, �Clear � Mr/Mrs Teacher�s name.�
� Responsibilities for search effort:
All search efforts should be conducted quietly and quickly without alarming
or informing pupils. Each teacher will search his
own area, in addition to
the following search responsibilities:
A. Custodian - Custodial closets, mechanical room, and outdoor storage
B. Principal or designee - Bathrooms
C. Librarian � Librarian
D. Cafeteria Manager � Food service area, dinning room
E. Office Personnel � Principal�s office and other areas.
8. Checklist � Use the appropriate checklist form to document
completion of the following:
� Document through careful listening as much information as possible
about the caller. Notify the building School Resource Officer if the caller
is in the building.
� If the call appears to be a crank call, ask teachers to survey
their instruction area and nearby restrooms.
� If the call could be real and the School Resource Officer
is not in the building, call 911 or sheriff�s office immediately.
� Evacuate the building. DO NOT USE PA SYSTEM OR TURN LIGHTS
ON/OFF.
� Notify superintendent
� Follow established policy regarding return to the building.
� If necessary, give contact transportation to arrange
for early dismissal.
� Follow-up activities.
9. Complete the Bomb Threat Report Form - Use the appropriate
checklist form to document completion of the following:
� Asking probing specific questions about the bomb
� Documenting
- The exact wording of the
threat including language descriptors
- Characteristics of the
caller�s voice including age, gender, & culture
- Background sounds
- Time and date of the call
including length of call
I. BUS ACCIDENT
1. Goals:
� Safety
� Mobilization
� Containment
� Assessment and follow-up
� Effective communication
2. Prevention: Have a clear operation plan and be familiar with that plan. Maintain a bus accident folder including a list of each bus number, names and emergency telephone numbers of all occupants.
3. Intervention: In the event that a bus accident occurs
and the school has been contacted for assistance, the principal or designee
determines and coordinates the appropriate responses. Interventions may
include:
A. At the Scene
� Provide
emotional support
� Be available
and attend to the injured, as directed by emergency medical personnel.
� Be available
and attend to the uninjured and account for all.
B. At the School
� Provide
emotional support and coordination
� Provide
emotional support and attend to the affected students
� Provide
information to faculty.
� Call
Mental Health for assistance, as needed
� Contact parents
of students involved.
C. At the Hospital -
� Provide
emotional support for the injured and their families.
D. Follow-up:
� Send
letter to parents.
� Assess
the response and arrange follow-up. (Crisis Team)
J. BUS/AUTO ACCIDENT ON TRIPS AWAY FROM DIVISION
1. Precautionary Measures Before Leaving District
� School buses, by law, are required to carry first aid kits.
Check to see if it is in place.
� Take along in all automobiles a first aid kit on all
field trips.
� Take along a list of students in attendance. Include
for each a home telephone number, names of parents, parents� work telephone,
home address, and any health
or medical information.
� Take along a list of emergency phone numbers (listed
below).
� Take along a list of chaperones and teachers who are
in attendance on the trip, their home addresses and home phone numbers,
name and work telephone of
spouse or nearest relative
and medical and health information on each.
� Follow School Board policy and administrative regulation
on field trips.
2. In the Event of an Accident
� Remain calm
� If threat of fire exists, move children to safe place.
� Call emergency vehicles/services: police, fire, ambulance,
highway patrol for locality and begin administration of first aid:
� Notify Director of Transportation
� Notify superintendent
� Phone Principal and/or Assistant Principal
� Do not issue statements to the press. Refer press to
the civil authorities in charge or to the superintendent.
K. CHEMICAL SPILL
1. Inside the building
� Evacuate the area immediately.
� Check the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)* to determine
the urgency of the situation.
� Notify the building principal/supervisor/director as
soon as possible.
� The building principal/supervisor/director will call
the fire department if deemed necessary for consultation.
� Notify the Director of Maintenance
*Lab file, principal�s office, or custodian office
2. Outside the building
� Insure that all students are in the building and that
they remain there.
� Shut off all outside air ventilators.
� If you are not alerted to the situation by division personnel,
phone Environmental Health & Safety and Director of Maintenance.
� Keep telephone lines clear for emergency calls only.
� Release students to parents or designee only.
L. CHILDNAPPING/LOST CHILD
1. Checklist - Use the appropriate checklist form to document
completion of the following:
� Telephone police
� Call superintendent
� Notify parents of child
� Identify team to work on the crisis while rest of school maintains
routine
� Obtain full description and pull out school picture
� Search school building and grounds
� If childnapping, try to obtain description of suspect
� When child is found, contact Superintendent, notify teacher,
and fill out Crisis Team Report
� Prepare memo to inform staff and parents of incident and actions
taken
� Arrange for counseling for staff and students, if necessary
� Call emergency staff meeting
2. Specifics
� Immediately after it has been determined that a child has been
lost/taken, contact the Police.
� Call the superintendent to report the incident.
� Contact the parents of the child involved. Establish a communication
plan with them, if necessary.
� Identify a team to work on the crisis. Designate personnel
to deal with phone communications, etc., and other administrative staff
to assist as appropriate. If the
incident occurs during the school day, classroom
routine should be maintained.
� Pull the school picture of the child and obtain a full description
of the child (including clothing) to assist the police. Conduct immediate
search of school building
and grounds.
� In cases of childnapping, obtain from witnesses a description
of the suspect.
� When a child is found, contact the superintendent, notify teacher
and fill out the Crisis Team Report.
� Prepare a memo to staff outlining the situation. Give factual
information, as appropriate, to allow them to respond to students� questions
knowledgeably.
� Prepare an appropriate memo to parents.
� If appropriate, arrange for counseling assistance for students
and staff.
� Call emergency staff meeting.
3. Preventative activities, which may help avoid childnapping
situations, are as follows:
� School secretary should have at her desk a list of students
who are not to be released to anyone except a particular parent or guardian.
� Emergency cards of such students should be tagged.
� Before releasing a child to anyone except a parent of
guardian on the list, the school secretary should check with the custodial
parent and/or guardian for
approval; a record of the time and date of phone
approval should be made and kept.
� When parent telephones a request that a child be released
from school, the identity of the caller should be confirmed (by a separate
call to the parent or guardian,
if needed) before the child is permitted to leave.
In the event of any doubt, the message and phone number should be written
down; a return call should be made
after crosschecking the phone number with those
on file in the child�s folder or on the emergency card.
M. DEATH
Death of a Student or Staff Member
� Contact Crisis Team members and have a team meeting as
soon as possible.
� Notify Superintendent�s office
� Notify Community Relations Department
� Prepare a fact sheet giving accurate, up-to-date information.
� Hold a faculty meeting as soon as possible. Review the
procedures for the day, availability of support services, referral process
for at-risk students.
� Contact family of the deceased. Preferably an administrator
and Crisis Team member should visit the family at their home and offer
assistance.
� Hold a faculty meeting at the end of the day to review the
day�s events.
� Notify all bus drivers by written memo to be alert for
students who show signs of emotional distress, along with a telephone number
for drivers to use to reach a
guidance counselor.
� Personal contact should be made with the driver of the
bus, which goes into the neighborhood of the student who has died. Supply
a school staff member to ride
the bus if that seems necessary.
N. DISASTER
1. Destruction of Part/Whole of Building (e.g., tornado, plane
crash, bomb)
� Checklist - Use the appropriate
checklist form to document completion of the following:
A. Call 911 or Sheriff�s Office (346 7777)
B. Obtain information on extent of damage.
C. Evacuate using fire alarm or move students to safe areas in building.
D. Assign one adult to supervise others in attending to the injured.
E. Assign staff member to assist rescue personnel.
F. Call superintendent and School Resource Officer.
G. Arrange for dismissal of students.
H. Handle all distribution of information to public through School Board
Office.
I. Call emergency staff meeting.
� Specifics
A. Call 911 or Sheriff�s office for immediate help.
B. Damage: Inspect extent of damage and injuries.
C. Evacuation: If there is no danger outside the building, use fire
alarm to evacuate building. Safe Areas: Identify areas away from
problem area and
route to be taken by classes in going to safe areas. Designate which classes/groups
of students should go to which area.
D. Attend to Injured: Assign free adults to attend to the injured,
with one adult designated as �in charge.�
E. Meet Rescue Personnel:
� Have staff members direct rescue personnel to problem area and
assist in providing access as needed by rescue personnel.
� Make Head Custodian available to assist rescue personnel.
F. Superintendent: Notify of plan being implemented.
G. Dismissal: Arrange for dismissal with superintendent�s office
and transportation department. Radio and TV stations should be contacted
of
emergency closing.
H. Information:
� Consider briefly summarizing the situation for all students and
adults prior to dismissal, by P.A. or preferably by informing teachers
and aving
them explain to students.
� If time permits, prepare a written memo to parents detailing the
situation and how it was handled, including plan for follow-up, to be sent
home
with students or distributed the following day.
� Call an emergency staff meeting after students leave to explain
the situation and any plans for follow-up.
� Involve School Board Office and superintendent in all information
being prepared and distributed and refer media and other calls from the
general
public to that office.
I. Call an emergency staff meeting.
2. Danger from Outside Preventing Dismissal/Evacuation
(e.g., hurricane, tornado, sniper, plane crash)
� Checklist - Use the appropriate
checklist form to document completion of the following:
A. Gather information.
B. Identify safe areas in building.
C. Direct staff to escort students to identified areas.
D. Call superintendent�s office and School Resource Officer.
E. When situation is �clear,� return students to class.
F. Prepare memo/letters to inform staff and parents.
G. Distribute information to public via Superintendent�s office.
H. Call emergency staff meeting.
� Specifics
A. Information may be received from a variety of sources:
� Telephone call
� Superintendent�s office
� Radio or television
� Visual observation
B. Ascertain specifics such as extent of immediate danger, possible
length of time danger may exist.
� Safe areas: Consider large areas at
the interior of the building away from numerous windows and outside walls,
which have a reliable source of lighting.
Designate where students
should go. Evacuate trailers to main building or safe area.
� Move students: Use the P.A., if working,
or a system of notes sent by messengers, to inform teachers and other adults
of the situation and where to bring
students.
� Superintendent: Notify of plan being implemented; call police and maintain contact as necessary.
� All �clear� Monitor situation to ascertain when danger is removed; direct teachers and other adults to escort students back to class when situation is clear.
� If crisis interferes with normal dismissal, arrange with transportation and superintendent�s office to dismiss students following normal procedures.
� Information:
A. Consider briefly summarizing the danger and its resolution for all students
prior to dismissal by P.A. or preferably by informing teachers and having
them
explain to students.
B. Consider preparing a written memo to parents detailing the situation
and how it was handled to be sent home with students or distributing it
the following
day. Prepare written memo to staff summarizing the situation and
how it was handled.
C. Handle all distribution of information through the superintendent�s
office.
� Call emergency staff meeting.
O. FIGHTING
1. Definition - Violence between two or more students; physical fighting
2. Goals:
� Safety
� Effective communication
� Mobilization
� Containment
� Assessment and follow-up
3. Prevention: Have a clear operation plan and be familiar with that plan. Be alert to patterns of stress and agitation in students. Be familiar with information provided regarding managing a potentially dangerous person.
4. Intervention: Intervening and managing physical altercations
and/or fights require making a judgment call. There may be several goals
at one time and individual circumstances will determine the priorities
of your interventions. Interventions may include:
� Disperse the crowd and ensure the safety of the students.
� Call for help and assistance in managing the incident.
� Focus on diffusing the fight.
� Attend to medical needs.
� Be knowledgeable about intervening with individuals who
are dangerous. Refer to additional materials in Resource section.
5. Postvention:
� Assess the response and provide follow-up of situation.
(Crisis Team)
P. FIRE/ARSON/EXPLOSIVE
1. Checklist - Use the appropriate checklist form to document
completion of the following:
� Sound alarm; evacuate building.
� Call 911 or Sheriff�s Office (346 7777)
� Determine if there are any serious injuries.
� Call superintendent
� Arrange transportation for dismissal.
� Determine building status for return to classes.
� Follow-up activities.
� Call emergency staff meeting.
2. Specifics
� Sound alarm. Evacuate building if serious threat of danger.
Prior arrangements should be made for the evacuation of any students or
staff members requiring
assistance.
� Call 911 or sheriff�s office and ask for required emergency
services.
� If there are injuries, notify necessary rescue personnel.
Provide first aid through school personnel, such as school nurse, nurse�s
aide, and athletic trainer.
� Call superintendent�s office and notify of incident and
actions taken.
� In all probability, school will have to be dismissed
and arrangements for transportation will have to be made. Students and
staff will have to be informed. A
portable bullhorn should
be available to make announcements to students and staff who have evacuated
the building.
� If the building is damaged, several different steps may
have to be taken. Severe damage may necessitate another location for classes,
which will have to be
scheduled through the superintendent�s
office.
� Prepare written memo for staff to advise of follow-up
procedures. Send letter for parents home with students.
� Call emergency staff meeting.
Q. GAS LEAK
1. Leak Detection: Natural gas leaks, with odor in the building, may occur and bring danger of explosion. Natural gas rises and will often be outside because most gas lines are outside the building. Natural gas is mixed with Mercaptan to give it odor. The gas goes up and the odor goes down.
2. Location: If a leak is in or near the building:
Evacuate the building immediately, following your local building evacuation
plan. Get students a safe distance from the building and perform the following:
� Turn off the main gas valve.
� Phone Fire Department
� Phone Director of Maintenance
� Phone gas company
� Phone the superintendent�s office if time permits to
alert that office of the current situation.
� Keep students at a safe distance until the problem has
been corrected.
R. HOSTAGE*
(Armed/Dangerous Intruder)
1. Checklist - Use the appropriate checklist form to document
completion of the following:
� Contact 911 or police
� Instigate lockdown procedures; after police arrive, if
the danger is confined, orderly evacuation away from the danger may occur.
� Notify superintendent.
� When police arrive, in accordance with pre-planning,
they assume control of incident and negotiations.
� No school personnel should circulate through building;
after evacuation, no individuals should enter or re-enter the building.
� Instruct person answering the phone to direct all requests
superintendent�s office.
� Keep telephone lines open for police use (pay telephones
as well).
� Provide information to police about the building layout
and what is known about the background of the hostage taking.
2. Specifics
� Contact the Police: Hostage-taking or endangering
the safety of others are criminal offenses.
� Secure All Classrooms (Lockdown): The more closely
contained the intruder can be kept, the less the danger there is to others
and the easier it is for the police
to apprehend the individual.
3. Notification:
� The superintendent�s office should be contacted as soon
as possible.
� The School Board Office will handle all media and community
inquiries.
� After the crisis is over, the superintendent�s office
may wish to arrange a special press conference to give the media the same
information that has been shared
with the parents.
4. Staff to Keep Students in Present Areas: Students should
not be released for any reason until told to do so by the police.
5. No Personnel Circulating: For the same reason as #4,
all staff should be protected from involvement in the crisis where possible.
6. Telephone Answerer: Prepare a statement to be read by
the individuals who answer the telephones. Instruct them that any further
inquiries should be made to
the School Board Office.
Give them the telephone number for the caller to call.
7. Keep Phone Lines Open: The police and other public safety
personnel will need access to the phones with highest priority. Even the
pay phones need to be
available to the police.
8. Provide Police with Maps of Buildings and Grounds: Involve
those with greatest knowledge of the facilities such as head custodian.
Also provide any anecdotal
information about reasons
for the hostage taking, precipitating events, etc.
9. I. D. Persons Familiar with the Facility: Persons familiar with
the entire building should be available to discuss the interior room arrangements,
etc. These
individuals should be available
at the chosen school map location away from the scene.
* See procedures in Section IV
S. INTRUDER OR TRESPASSER
1. Checklist - Use the appropriate checklist form to document completion
of the following:
� Determine the whereabouts of the intruder/trespasser.
� Isolate the individual.
� Determine the extent of the crisis.
� Make reasonable notes for potential court case.
� Contact police - 911.
� Move other students and staff from area.
� Notify superintendent.
� Instruct person answering the telephone to direct all
requests to superintendent�s office
� Complete and submit police information for charges.
� Prepare a written memo for staff and parents.
� Complete Crisis Team Report.
� Call emergency staff meeting.
� Schedule follow-up activities for staff and students,
including security plan review.
2. Specifics
� Determine whereabouts of the intruder: Use school maps
to assist police and staff members in locating intruder.
� Isolate intruder from rest of building and students.
� Determine extent of the crisis:
A. Trespass with no
safety hazard may be dealt with through informing the intruder of the offense
being committed. If trespasser refuses to leave, wait for
police to arrest. If the trespasser has previously been warned (placed
on notice) trespass charges may be filed without the arrest of the offender.
B. Trespass with threat
to others� safety will require assistance from the police. Trespass charges
should be filed.
� Make notes. Recording what has occurred can provide information
important to the police and in subsequent court cases.
� Move other Students/Staff: Staff may be asked to
keep their students in certain areas, or to keep them out of certain areas.
Staff should move students as
quietly and quickly as possible
when directed to do so.
� Contact the Police: Trespassing is a misdemeanor
or felony, depending upon the location of the intrusion.
� Notification:
A. The superintendent�s
office should be contacted as soon as possible.
B. The superintendent�s
office will handle media and community inquiries.
C. Keep staff
informed of actions. A Crisis Team, identified for the school, can effectively
deliver information to other staff members so that the
administrator�s time can be used for other decisions/action.
D. The Transportation
Department can, in extreme emergencies, provide buses for early dismissal.
The Transportation Department will notify the
superintendent of the need for this dismissal.
E. The students
will be able to deal with the situation by being informed of the facts,
as soon as possible, rather than receiving their �facts� through rumor.
F. Other schools
should be given the basic information as soon as possible by the superintendent�s
office since siblings/neighbors will quickly learn of the
situation.
G. The parents
of the students in the community will need to learn the real facts, just
as their children have learned them, to reduce the rumor factor.
H. After the
crisis is over, the superintendent�s office may wish to arrange a special
press conference to give the media the same information that has been
shared with the parents.
� Telephone Answerer: Prepare a statement for the
individuals who answer the telephones to read. Instruct them that any further
inquiries should be made to the
superintendent�s office.
Give them the phone number for the caller to call.
� Police Information for Charges: The police will
need to be sure of details from you as well as from others interviewed.
Trespassing is a misdemeanor or felony,
depending upon the location
of the intrusion.
� Written Memo for Staff and Parents: As soon as
the immediate crisis/danger is over, the staff and parents will need to
know, not only what occurred, but why
you took the action that
you did.
� Crisis Team Report - Submit it within twenty-four
(24) hours.
� Follow-Up Activities: Pupil Personnel Services
will provide counseling for students and staff. The building security plan
should also be reviewed.
� Call emergency staff meeting.
T. LIFE-THREATENING CRISIS
(Major) Life-threatening Injury to Individual - When a
life-threatening situation is perceived to exist, a building administrator
or person in charge of a building or office should:
� Call 911 or sheriff�s office (346 777)
� Apply first aid and life-sustaining techniques using
trained persons on staff.
� Call parent/guardian immediately.
U. PERCEIVED CRISIS
1. Definition - Perceived crises are conditions or situations, often community-based, that are perceived as potentially affecting a large number of people. Examples of perceived crisis include racial events, school rivalry situations, events in which a group feels left out or not represented, introduction of new school procedures without adequate warning, real or perceived unsafe conditions such as toxic fumes or food poisoning, gang-related activities, or rumors about people with HIV/AIDS or other contagious conditions. It is the task of those in charge to defuse any irrational response.
2. Prevention:
� Identify situations in advance that may be perceived
crises.
� Establish open lines of communication with students and
staff.
� Develop a procedure for dealing with the public and the
media.
3. Intervention:
� For any health condition, immediately contact the appropriate
health authorities.
� Don�t panic. Project a sense of calm and control.
� Gather detailed and accurate information about the perceived
crisis.
� If necessary, call a team meeting to assess the situation
and make decisions on what actions to take.
� Provide appropriate faculty, staff and those individuals
or groups affected by the situation with specific information.
� Designate someone who would act as a single point of
contact for controlling rumors. Keep lines of communication open; a feeling
that secrets are being kept can
increase the sense of crisis.
� Have trained individuals available to speak with small
groups of students/staff.
� Take all actions that you have determined necessary to
prevent a more serious situation from developing.
4. Postvention:
� Conduct stabilizing activities as soon as possible to
project an atmosphere of normal conditions.
� Conduct follow-up and assessment activities with team
members and other staff.
V. POISONING
1. Immediate Actions:
� Call the rescue squad
� Call the Poison Control Center
� Administer first aid suggested by poison information
center.
2. Preventative Measures:
� Post in the clinic information from Poison Control Center
regarding emergency numbers.
� List in the clinic the names of building personnel who
have special paramedic, first aid training, or other special life-saving
or life-sustaining training.
� Provide staff information on possible poisonous materials
in the building.
W. POWER FAILURE /LINES DOWN
1. Power Failure - If there has been a power failure at a school, or
if lines are reported down in the area of the school:
� Notify power/telephone company
� Notify Director of Maintenance
2. Lines Down*
� Have an adult in the area of the downed lines to prevent
children and other people from going near them.
� Notify power company
� Notify Director of Maintenance
* Note that telephone notification may require use
of cellular phone, depending on whether telephone is set up to rely on
electricity.
X. RAPE
1. Notification - When a school is notified that a rape has occurred to a student or staff member, the Crisis Response Team and the school must protect the identify and right to privacy of the rape survivor and the alleged perpetrator. News of the incident should be contained as much as possible. Appropriate response by school staff will be directed at minimizing the fear of fellow students and quelling the spread of rumors. As opposed to convening a Crisis Response Team meeting and alerting the student body, services provided to the victim and her/his family should be kept confidential and should be coordinated with outside providers, such as a rape crisis team or hospital emergency room.
2. Crisis Determination: RAPE ONLY BECOMES A CRISIS
TO BE MANAGED BY SCHOOL STAFF WHEN ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS
EXIST:
� A rape occurs on campus.
� A member of the rape survivor�s family requests school
intervention.
� The rape survivor�s friends requests intervention.
� Rumors and myths are widespread and damaging.
� Students witness police action or emergency services
response.
3. Intervention: When one or more of the above conditions
exists, the following should be implemented:
� Direct the person providing the information not to repeat
it elsewhere in the school.
� If the rape occurred on campus, notify the appropriate
law enforcement office and/or local rape crisis team.
� If office staff members heard the report, tell then not
to repeat or give out any information within or outside school unless they
are specifically told to do so.
� Designate the Crisis Response Team member closest to
the victim to talk to her/him about the types of support he or she and
the closest friends need, and the
person(s) the rape survivor
would like to provide that support.
� Provide space in the school for the rape survivor and
identified peers to receive support services. Provide necessary passes
to release these students from class
to receive services.
4. Specifics - Rape is a crime of violence. For the rape survivor, it often is an experience of fear, loss of control, humiliation, and violence. Rape survivors may experience a full range of emotional reactions. It is extremely beneficial for rape survivors to seek emotional support regarding the assault.
5. Checklist - - Use the appropriate checklist form to document
completion of the following:
� School involvement in incident due
to:
A. Rape occurrence on campus
B. Survivor�s family requests school intervention
C. Survivor�s friends request intervention
D. Rumors and myths are widespread and damaging
� Students witness police/emergency
services
� Information provider/recipients enjoined
not to repeat information elsewhere.
� Steps taken to protect survivor�s
identity and right to privacy.
� Law enforcement and rape crisis agency
notified if appropriate.
� Crisis Response Team member closest
to victim designated to talk with student and determine type of support
and support provider desired.
� Rape survivor encouraged to seek additional
support from community rape crisis agency.
� Space provided on site for rape survivor
and identified peers to receive support services.
� School services coordinated as appropriate
and legal with outside service providers.
� Action taken to quell rumors.
� All records related to rape incident
and services provided stored in confidential file.
Y. SHOOTING/WOUNDS/ATTACKS
1. Checklist - Use the appropriate checklist form to document
completion of the following:
� Assessment of the situation
� Call:
A. 911 or sheriff�s office (346 777)
B. School Resource Officer
C. Ambulance
� Use emergency signal - all students
and staff are to stay in classrooms, secure the door, and stay on the floor.
� Establish a command post with several
telephones available.
� Implement first aid procedures until
rescue service arrives.
� Notify superintendent�s office.
� Keep a written log of events.
� Prepare a written memo for staff and
parents.
� Implement necessary follow-up activities.
� Call emergency staff meeting.
2. Specifics
� Notify the police, and other necessary
emergency staff.
� Determine if the perpetrator is still
on premises - determine number of victims and identify witnesses.
� The emergency signal to staff and
students should convey the seriousness of the situation. Follow-up announcements
will be necessary to keep everyone
informed. Prepare a general statement of the facts.
� Establish a command post to handle
the load of the Crisis Team and to direct the press and concerned members
of the community to the superintendent�s
office.
� Implement necessary first aid procedures
through trained staff, school nurse, nurse�s aide, physical education department,
and/or athletic trainer. Direct rescue
personnel to injured and give any required assistance. Designate staff
member to accompany victim(s) in ambulance.
� Contact superintendent�s office.
� Identify a place where a log of events
is to be kept. Record all significant events, actions, and individuals
that are involved.
� Keep staff informed through a memo
or emergency staff meeting. Parents may be informed through a letter sent
home with students.
� Follow-up management should be well-delegated.
Crisis counseling for students and staff may be needed, and security concerns
should be considered. All
staff will assist in restoring building to normal state. Reopen school
as soon as possible.
� Call emergency staff meeting.
Z. SUICIDE
1. General Notes �
� The school�s general response to a suicide does not differ
markedly from a response to any sudden death crisis. However, some issues
exclusive to suicide
require specific attention.
� School administrators must allow students to grieve the
loss of a peer without glorifying the method of death. Overemphasis of
a suicide may be interpreted by
vulnerable students as a
glamorization of the suicidal act, which can assign legendary or idolized
status to taking one�s own life. The following �DOs� and
�DON�Ts� will help school
staff limit glamorization of suicide:
A. DOs
- Do acknowledge the suicide as a tragic loss of life.
- Do allow students to attend funeral services.
- Do provide support for students profoundly affected by the death.
B. DON�Ts
- Do not organize school assemblies to honor the deceased student.
- Do not dedicate the yearbook or yearbook pages, newspaper articles, proms,
athletic events, or advertisements to the deceased individual.
- Do not pay tribute to a suicidal act by planting trees, hanging engraved
plaques, or holding other memorial activities.
2. Warning: A suicide in the school community can heighten
the likelihood, in the subsequent weeks, of �copycat� suicide attempts
and threats among those especially vulnerable to the effects of a suicide.
To prevent further tragedies, students considered to be especially susceptible
to depression/suicide must be carefully monitored and appropriate action
taken if they are identified as high risk. These efforts require a limited,
rather than school wide, response.
AA. SUICIDE THREATS
1. Crisis Intervention Procedures for Potentially Suicidal Students
� Referral - Students at risk can self-refer or be
referred to the crisis team by school staff, parent, friend, neighbor,
or other person from the community. Students
at risk range from those
talking of hopelessness, to those writing poems with suicidal intent, to
students telling someone of planning to harm themselves. Team
members might include principals,
psychologists, counselors, teachers, social workers, and nurses. The team
member receiving the referral should gather
pertinent information from
the referral source before contacting other team members.
� Team Consultation - When possible, the available
team members gather to designate a case manager, considering the following
factors:
A. Existing relationship with the student,
B. Time and coverage constraints,
C. Seriousness of the problem,
D. Experience of the members.
The team or case manager reviews the student�s
records and gathers information from staff who knows the student.
� Conduct Interview - The case manager interviews the student
on the day of the referral. The case manager determines the extent of suicidal
thinking, the potential
plan of suicide, the lethality
of the plan, and the history of the student�s suicidal thinking and attempts.
For severe cases, insure the safety of the student
through adult superviSion.
� Team Review - Team members should decide upon a plan.
The case manager returns as soon as possible to the available team members
to discuss the case and
formulate a plan of action.
Depending on the seriousness of the case, the team may wish to consult
with other members not initially involved or discus case with
Frontier Health and/or Bristol
Crisis Center. Plans formulated by the team might range from no further
involvement, to monitoring by a specific staff member, to
referral for counseling
within the school setting, to asking the parents to take immediate action
with their child.
� Contacts - Parents of all interviewed students will be
contacted by the case manager on the same day of referral and interview.
Parents will be told of the reason
for referral, the outcome
of the interview, and the plans formulated by the team. When the suicide
potential is significant, the case manager needs to ascertain
that the parents accept
responsibility to follow through with the team�s recommendations. If the
student is dangerous to self and the parents cannot be located,
then the case manager contacts
the Crisis Intervention Unit Frontier Health and/or Bristol Crisis Center.
In extremely dangerous situations, the police may be
called first to ensure the
safety of the student. Follow-up remains the responsibility of the case
manager unless explicitly agreed to by other staff members. The
case manager documents the
case and shares information with other team members.
AB. VANDALISM
1. Report all acts of vandalism to police.
2. Photograph any willful and malicious destruction of school property
(e.g., graffiti, broken windows, etc.).
3. For minor damage, simply note the time, date, and type of damage
for your records.
4. Serious acts of vandalism may be hate crimes or gang-related.
5. Clean up and repair the damage as soon as possible to avoid encouraging
future acts of vandalism.
6. Aggressively prosecute all vandals to convey that you will not tolerate
this type of offense.
7. Collect restitution by having the offender pay money or provide
labor to clean and/or repair the damage he or she has caused.
AC. WEAPONS SITUATION
1. Checklist - - Use the appropriate checklist form to document
completion of the following:
� Assessment of the situation.
� Notify police.
� Gather information.
� Isolate individual or suspect.
� Do not use force or touch the person or weapon.
� Remain calm.
� Tell another administrator what the situation is.
� Use emergency signal to notify teachers of the threatening
situation and have teachers keep students in classroom until all is clear.
� Notify superintendent.
� Refer media questions to the superintendent�s office.
� After immediate situation is resolved, hold emergency
staff meeting before staff members leave for the day.
2. Specifics
� Assess the situation.
� Notify police. Provide as much information as possible.
Be prepared to act as a resource and liaison between school and police.
If necessary, have a map of the
school available for police.
� Gather as much detailed information as possible. Try
to determine:
A. Location, identity and detailed description of individual.
B. Location and description of weapon.
C. Any pertinent background information on individual, including possible
reason for carrying a weapon.
� Isolate individual or suspect. (If weapon is in a locker
or elsewhere, prevent access to it.)
� Confer with police when they arrive. They will advise
you how they intend to proceed.
� If interaction with the individual is imminent, do not
use force or touch the person or weapon. Avoid sudden moves or gestures.
� Remain calm. Try not to raise your voice -- but, if this
becomes necessary, do so decisively and with clarity. Your tone and demeanor
will strongly influence the
outcome of the crisis.
� Be certain that at least one other administrator (or
designee) is aware of the situation, but limit information to staff and
students on a need to know basis.
� Notify superintendent.
� Use emergency signal to notify teachers of the threatening
situation and have teachers keep students in classroom until all is clear.
� Refer media questions to the Director of Community Relations.
� Call emergency staff meeting. It is important that staff
members leave with accurate information about the incident and subsequent
actions to be taken.
3. Handling a Weapon-Wielding Student
� Evacuate the area
� Evaluate the perpetrator
� Isolate
� Negotiate
� Remain calm
� Get help
� Avoid heroics
� Don�t threaten
� Keep a safe, non-intimidating distance
� Avoid abrupt sporadic movements
� Look for a place to dive or jump
� Report incident to law enforcement
AD. WEATHER
1. Incidents: Tornado, Inclement Weather, Earthquake
2. Goals:
� Safety
� Effective communications
� Mobilization
� Containment
� Assessment and follow-up
3. Prevention:
� Post and practice mobilization plan.
4. Definitions:
� Severe Weather Watch: Forecast of severe weather in area;
normal activities continue; no school-wide announcement; principal or designee
monitor the situation.
� Severe Weather Warning: Severe and dangerous weather
situation approaching. Be prepared.
5. Intervention:
� Principal alerts staff of impending situation. Call emergency
numbers as needed; call superintendent. (principal or designee)
� Evacuate classrooms according to plan; provide for handicapped.
� Move students quickly and quietly to designated area,
underground shelter if available or interior hallways on first floor. Avoid
windows, auditoriums, gyms, and
any wide span or overhead
structure. North and east walls are preferable to south and west walls.
Sit in fetal position with face and head protected. Review
�drop and tuck� command.
� Get word to all students and staff who are outside or
who are in out-lying buildings.
� Check for and provide care for injured.
� Secure tool box. (designated duty)
� Account for all students/staff/others.
� Determine status for safe return to classes or dismissal.
(principal or designee)
6. Postvention:
� Assess the response and prepare follow-up of situation.
(Crisis Team)