SVHS SUBSITUTE TEACHER INFORMATION-EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
USD 400 CHECKLIST
Responding to an Emergency / Crisis
Immediate Actions
___ 1. Confirm information with the district office. Principal or designated individual will report / verify information regarding an emergency / crisis.
___ 2. Central office will notify all other buildings, transportation staff, clergy and appropriate city/ county officials.
___ 3. Principal or designated individual will communicate with the building crisis team to determine the severity of the crisis. The determination will then guide whether local staff will handle the crisis or whether an outside crisis intervention team will be called.. Having local clergy available to visit with students will be an option.
___ 4. All staff of a building affected by the crisis will be contacted through the calling tree. Information will be provided by the principal. Faculty meeting time to be shared.
___ 5. A brief faculty meeting will be held at all buildings to share information. A written statement that is age appropriate may be shared with students in all classrooms by the teacher, if possible.
___ 6. Contact Central office staff or staff from other buildings for on-site assistance if needed during the early stages of the crisis.
__ 7. In the event of death of a student, remove name from immediate, sensitive correspondence / communication. Secure personal items at the earliest appropriate time. Determine if physical rearrangement of the classroom might avoid awkwardness for students.
___ 8. Determine if any events need to be canceled or postponed.
___ 9. Review if additional staff or individuals need a briefing at a later time.
During the Crisis
___ 10. Refer any media to the central office for official statements. Limit access to school. Consider having an early contact person at the door. Consider locking secondary doors. Do not release pictures.
___ 11. Keep a list of any students dismissed to parents.
___ 12. Identify a headquarters for crisis team members.
___ 13. Utilize team members with purpose of returning school to normal functioning as soon as possible. Principal and building crisis team members direct activities.
End of the Day
___ 14. Meet with building crisis team to debrief.
___ 15. Hold brief faculty meeting or share by written announcement any updated details and plans for the following day.
___ 16. Send home with students a written account of the crisis status. Include options for parents concerning assistance. Notes in other buildings are optional.
Contacting the Family
___ A. Communicate with family involved to express condolences.
___ B. Explain school policy to family with regard to meeting with staff in order to insure that the family’s situation is handled with the utmost respect and to discuss the family’s wishes in handling the situation.
___ C. Ask what facts family would allow to be discussed. This information should be recorded. Repeat information back to family in order to check for accuracy.
___ D. Determine the name of the family member who will serve as the contact person for the family.
Initial Faculty Meeting
___ A. Share a printed statement approved by the family (if possible) to be read verbatim by classroom teachers (if they are able). Emphasize the need for hard facts to reduce rumors. If the family has not been reached, reassure staff that further information will be forthcoming.
___ B. Review the recommendations for dealing with a loss in the classroom (crisis intervention plan books).
___ C. Announce plans for disseminating further information during the day.
___ D. Share the names and locations of the crisis intervention team members in the building. Specify areas to be used for small group and individual counseling sessions.
___ E. Assess the faculty members’ comfort levels in reading the prepared statement and discussing the situation with students.
___ F. Evaluate the need for any possible substitute personnel.
___ G. Announce time and location for faculty to meet again to regroup, share experiences and suggestions.
___ H. Remind staff members to refer any media contacts to the central office.
SPECIFIC CRISIS INFORMATION/GUIDELINES
Utility Failure
Gas Line
An employee aware of a gas leak in the building should notify the building principal or designee immediately. If it has been determined that the facility is unsafe, the Principal or designee will:
A. Evacuate the building - direct students to the designated area for long term evacuation. ( minimum of 300 ft.)
B. Notify the superintendent’s office (227-2981).
Electric power failure
A . Notify the superintendent’s office (227-2981).
B. Utilize the phone by-pass for communication.
Water line break
Report broken water lines to the building principal who shall:
A. Notify the building custodian to shut off the main water valve.
B. Notify the superintendent’s office indicating an emergency (227-2981).
Fire Procedures
Upon discovery of a fire or smoke, if the automatic alarm system has not sounded, the person who observed the fire will proceed to the nearest pull station and activate the alarm system. The building administrator will take charge and direct the following (immediate and simultaneous) actions:
A. Assure that the building evacuation procedures are being followed.
B. Upon evacuation, report the incident by calling 911.
C. Upon evacuation, notify the Superintendent’s office (227-2981).
Building Evacuation:
A. Facility staff shall be assigned specific responsibilities for notification and evacuation of the building prior to an emergency.
B. Select an area far enough from the building (300 feet minimum) to avoid the danger of fire o fire department operations and equipment and any danger from falling debris or explosion. If necessary to cross a road, appointed staff should be provided to stop vehicle traffic.
C. After the alarm has sounded, students should be organized and shall proceed to nearest exit in an orderly way as quickly as possible using one of the two evacuation routes designated for their location. Staff shall account for students after reaching the safe area.
D. Appointed staff shall verify that occupants have evacuated. Restrooms and other closed areas must be checked by sight and voice. (All occupants must evacuate the building). NOTE: Evacuation policy shall provide consideration for all occupants including those needing special assistance. Mobility impaired students may be evacuated or in multi-story buildings, be moved to a designated area of refuge with staff in attendance for evacuation after a real emergency has been determined.
E. Once all staff/students have assembled at the reunion site, and once all have been accounted for only the fire department, possibly the police, will determine when and if the building is safe for re-occupancy.
Serious Injury / Illness
In case of serious injury or illness, the immediate concern is to aid the injured / sick child, employee or patron. Follow these procedures:
A. If the injury / illness requires immediate medical attention, dial 911.
B. Activate the CODE BLUE signal or request the assistance of the school nurse if available or building employees trained in first aid, CPR.
C. Notify the building principal.
D. The principal and office will contact the parent / legal guardian.
E. Notify the Superintendent’s office (227-2981).
If the injury / illness does not appear to be life threatening, the building principal and parent may decided to select one of the following:
A. The parent / guardian will take responsibility of the child’s injury / illness.
B. After confirmation with the parent/guardian, the administrator may request the parent / guardian to designate a hospital of choice.
C. An injury / illness of a serious nature shall be reported to the Superintendent’s office (227-2981).
D. The injury report forms must be completed and sent to the Central Office.
Bomb Threats
Experience shows that a majority of bomb threats in schools are hoaxes and result in nothing more than a disruption of school routine. However, there is always a chance that a threat may be authentic and appropriate action must be taken in each case.
All personnel, especially those, who answer the telephone, must be instructed in the sequence of actions to be followed in the event a bomb threat is received:
I. Keep the caller on the line as long as possible and try to determine from the conversation as many facts as possible, such as age, sex, mental state and any other clues which might help in identification.
II. When is the bomb set to go off?
III. What is the explosive?
IV. What does the bomb look like?
V. Where in the building is it?
VI. Why was it set?
VII. Inform an administrator immediately, The administrator should initiate a 911 call, The administrator will determine whether or not the building will be evacuated.
VIII. Notify the superintendent’s office (227-2981).
IX. The signal for evacuating the building in the event of a bomb threat must be the same as that used for evacuation in the event of a fire. The use of a different signal for a bomb threat may tend to create unnecessary excitement and confusion during the process of evacuation.
X. All evacuated buildings will be under the jurisdiction of fire and police departments until they declare the building safe.
Physical Threats to Staff and Students
If a person enters the building for the purpose of threatening or causing physical violence either to other persons or to property, several steps should be taken.
I. Inform your building administrator immediately.
II. The building administrator should do the following:
A. Call 911.
B. Initiate the coded system for use on the public address system or with two-way radios. This message will communicate news of an emergency without sending everyone into a panic. Teachers would know to remain with the students and not let anyone leave the classroom. Evacuate students from adjoining rooms to another part of the building, if required. Do not let them go outside. Teachers through a pre-planned code could warn students of a danger and ask that they move to the floor, under their desktops. Do not allow anyone except law enforcement officers, firemen and district personnel into the building.
C. Notify the superintendent’s office (227-2981).
D. Make sure the entire building staff, including para’s, volunteers, itinerant staff, cafeteria workers and substitutes receive the appropriate training.
E. Wait for an all-clear communication.
F. Complete a written report of the incident that occurred.
School Bus Accidents
A. After a school bus accident has occurred, the transportation director or \designee will notify the school. The transportation director will proceed to the scene in order to accurately assess the accident. The accident will be reported to the Police Department.
B. Where no student injury is indicated, a written information sheet that is provided to students at the accident scene will notify parents. If injury has occurred, the school will be notified and the transportation department will contact parents.
C. A police report will be made on all school bus accidents resulting in property damage or injury regardless of estimated damage. If students are on a bus that is involved in an accident, a police report shall be written. The report will also contain an accurate listing of all persons on the bus.
Tornado / Severe Thunderstorm
Tornado Procedures
I. A TORNADO WATCH is a forecast of the possibility of one or more tornadoes within a large area. Normal activities should continue, but watch for tornadoes. Monitor your emergency planning radio for details of the status of the tornado watch.
II. A TORNADO WARNING means that a tornado has been detected and may be approaching the area.
A. Students will be held at school during a tornado warning. The staff shall proceed with all students to the pre-designated shelter area and a staff person shall be designated responsible for each shelter location. Teachers should take the class roster / grade book with them. if no underground shelter is available, they should proceed to the predetermined space. At all times, they must avoid window, auditoriums, gymnasiums or other structures with wide, free-span overheads.
B. Custodians will be responsible for turning off utilities.
C. All persons outside the building should be warned in order that they may proceed to the shelter area.
D. All school personnel should be made aware of the established tornado procedures early in the school year and the subject should be reviewed periodically through drills and safety meetings conducted by the building administrator.
E. Provisions must be made for special needs students with personnel being aware in advance of specific responsibilities.
Severe Thunderstorm Procedures
I. Warn students before the spring storm season of the danger of loose or downed electrical wires and the danger of lightning.
II. If a storm occurs at or near dismissal time, it is advisable to hold students until the danger has passed.
Release of Toxic Chemicals
Once information about an outside toxic chemical release has been received:
1. Stay indoors, call all students and staff who are outdoors in immediately.
2. Once inside, close and lock all doors and windows to try and keep any contaminated air out.
3. Turn off all heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems so outside air is not pulled in.
4. Go into and seal the predetermined room tightly.
5. The building principal will call the Superintendent’s office (227-2981) to report there has been a toxic chemical release and a shelter in place has been issued.
6. Tune to regular media and monitor the radio for further instructions.
7. In the even of loss of power, wait for written instructions and updates.
Close all curtains, shades or any other type of window covering to protect against a possible explosion from the outside. Stay away from all external windows. If vapors should begin to be a bother, hold a wet cloth or handkerchief over mouth and nose. Continue to listen to a radio for any emergency actions steps until the crisis is over. Keep any calls short so that phone lines are not tied up. Minimize the use of elevators. Elevators tend to pump outside air in as it is going up and down.
During the disaster it is imperative that the principal keep an accurate record of all students and staff so that they are all accounted for. Parents will continue to be updated on any changes. The principal and kitchen staff need to determine the amount of food available for students and staff, should they be held at school for a long period of time.
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