Part 4 of 4
To wrap up Back-to-School Month, this week we discuss school emergency planning. Schools, expected to provide a safe learning environment within our community, must be able to respond to fires, medical emergencies, criminal activity, and natural disasters. Having a plan in place empowers school leaders to act appropriately when an alarm is triggered.
Plan Ahead
Emergency plans should be made in advance—whether situations are extreme or can be reasonably expected. The more detailed the better, plans should be as specific, include a multitude of contingencies, and have a back-up—because nothing goes perfectly to plan.
School districts should prepare for continuity of education after emergency strikes to best support students. Recognize that some events may temporarily displace students from their normal facilities or impact students emotionally.
Practice Makes Perfect
It’s not only important to have emergency plans in place, but to actively practice executing the plan. Practicing emergency drills allows everyone an opportunity to see where to go and how to proceed. This equates to greater efficiency in the event of an emergency and ultimately save lives and prevent injuries or illnesses.
Learn More
For more information on Emergency Planning in Schools, visit the School Safety website. Made possible through multiple federal agencies, this safety resource hub covers additional topics such as bullying, cybersecurity, mental health, infectious diseases/public health, targeted violence, school climate, and threat assessment and reporting.
Reach out to Dawood’s planning experts at healthandsafety@dawood.cc to find out how we can help to ensure emergency preparedness in your community.