Administrative Procedure 170: School Emergency Procedures

FIRE

• If nearby, close window(s).
• Take attendance register or ensure attendance (or secretary).
• Visually check classroom for students.
• Instruct students to exit the building when safe (allow younger students out
  first).
• Close door on the way out.
• Check designated areas, as assigned.
• Assist volunteers and visitors as needed.
• Ensure fire doors are shut on the way out.
• Proceed to designated safe outdoor area (ensure that your students know
  where this area is [grass area] and keep away from the building).
• Take attendance – report any attendance discrepancies to principal.
• If halls are impassable, block classroom doors with coats to keep smoke out
  and wait for help. If it is possible consider having students exit by the
  windows.
• In the case of a fire while students are outside, teachers should exit the
  building and assemble their students in the designated areas and report any
  discrepancies in attendance to the principal.

WEATHER WATCH

• Bring students inside the school
• Take attendance and make sure all students are accounted for.
• Notify office if you are missing any students.
• Instruct/Remind students of further procedures for weather conditions.
• Wait for further instructions from the principal.

• Following Shelter-in-Place announcement from administration check
  designated areas as assigned.
• Proceed with students to predetermined safe area.
• Check to ensure classroom is empty; if time permits windows are closed
  and close classroom door.
• Ensure students are in crouch position in safe area away from windows.
• Take attendance in safe area and report any discrepancies to the
  principal or delegate.
• Assist volunteers and visitors as needed.
• Take crouch position with students in predetermined safe location.
• Remain quiet.

“CODE BLUE” will be used to alert the school that there is a serious medical emergency in the school. (AP 180)

• Notify office of injury or medical emergency and location
• State person’s name and need for medical information (i.e. EPI-PEN, inhaler, medication, etc.)
• Announcement “Code Blue Team to ________________”
• All non-teaching staff and off duty staff replace First Aid qualified staff (Code Blue team) who are working with students at the time of the alert.
• If the alert is sounded during class time, students will not be dismissed even if recess or dismissal bells are sounded.
• First Aid will be administered, Ambulance will be called if necessary.
• Notification of parents or emergency contact will be made by office.
• Medical emergency alert will remain in effect until the “All Clear” is announced from the office.
• Students and staff who may be traumatized by the incident will have access to an “after-care” program.
• Staff attending to medical emergency must file a report, see your principal.

BOMB THREAT CODE YELLOW (AP 176)

• Stay with class, stay calm.
• Do not inform students of bomb threat.
• Take attendance and report any discrepancies to the office.
• Conduct a non-invasive search of the classroom you are in and report any
  unusual objects to the office or all clear result.
• Check designated (Fire) areas for students or unusual objects.

• Report to office for instructions from principal.
• Search unoccupied classrooms, common areas, hallways and building perimeter.

• Look for something that does not belong, is out of the ordinary, is out of place.
• Do not touch, move, open or probe suspicious objects.
• Calmly ask if anyone knows about an object in question, taking care not to alarm students.
• If the object cannot be identified, report it to the principal or police officer present. Give the location, reason suspected, and description.
• Continue the search even if a suspicious object has been found, as it may be a decoy object.

EMERGENCY OFF-SITE RELOCATION PROCEDURES

• Ensure that all exit routes are safe and clear.
• Instruct students to get their coats and backpacks-if time permits depending on weather (not applicable during bomb evacuation).
• Line the students up quickly and quietly at the door.
• Ensure that windows and classroom door are closed–if time permits
• Check to ensure classroom and designated areas (same as fire) are clear.
• Check attendance.
• Take class list and this safety card with you, as well as your walkie talkie (if applicable).
• Evacuate the students from the building using the fire alarm routes, alternate routes may be used if an exit is threatened.
• Check attendance again immediately after leaving the building and proceed to evacuation site under the direction of administration
• Supervise students in transit and on site.
• Await further instructions at evacuation site from board administration/police regarding dismissal of students, etc.
• Record time of pick-up by parent/guardian on class list.

HOLD and SECURE PROCEDURES

• Instruct students hold and secure precautions are in place and no one is
  to leave the school until precaution is lifted.
• Close any window blinds or curtains.
• Ensure cell phones are off.
• Continue with regular class activities and class changes.

LOCK DOWN PROCEDURES: AP 179

• All staff working with students will immediately lock the door of the room they are in, either by key from the outside or by blocking the door with furniture.
• Turn off lights, close blinds, cover door window, power down student computers and ensure student cell phones are turned off.
• If in an open area, proceed to designated secure area (school specific)
• Move students to stand/sit close together in a safe area away from door and
  windows. Take cover behind or under something solid if possible (e.g. desks). Remain quiet.
• Remain in your classroom, take attendance and stay calm until police or principal opens the door

• Move students and yourself from the hall into the closest room.
• Predetermined staff quickly check washroom(s) and move to closest room.
• Close and lock/block door.
• Follow classroom procedures. Remain calm and quiet.

• Do not enter the building.
• Proceed immediately to the off-site evacuation site.
• Monitor students, take attendance, and do not release students until instructed by police and/or administration.

TRESPASSER ALERT

• In a courteous, calm and assured manner, introduce yourself to the trespasser and ask if you can be of assistance. Avoid a confrontation.
• If the trespasser is not immediately co-operative or is openly disrespectful or hostile, ask the individual to accompany you to the school office. Avoid any situation that allows the trespasser to play to an audience.
• If the individual refuses to accompany you to the office, ask for their name and ask them to “Please leave the school premises”.
• If the trespasser refuses to leave, contact the office from the nearest intercom and explain the situation (nature of incident, location, known injuries, number and description of intruders). Do not attempt to physically move/restrain the trespasser.
• Notify all staff in the area of Trespasser Alert.
• If the incident is a major violent act that poses an imminent threat to life and safety of students and staff, inform the office to make the LOCKDOWN announcement.

FIRE

• If instructed, close windows.
• Line up quickly, quietly and in single file at classroom exit (if in hall or washroom, exit by the nearest door and proceed to designated class area).
• Exit the building in an orderly fashion when the teacher instructs.
• First student to an exit holds door until last person exits.
• Assemble, as a homeroom class, in a designated safe outdoor area (grass).
  (SERT and volunteers should ensure students are returned to designated areas).

WEATHER WATCH

• Pay attention to and follow teacher’s instructions.
• All students should go to their classroom.
• No student should be outdoors or in the gym.

WEATHER WARNING

• If time permits and you are given instructions, close windows.
• Line up quickly, quietly and in an orderly fashion at the classroom door.
• Last person to exit classroom will close the classroom door.
• Proceed to designated safe area (hall) quickly and quietly and sit in the crouch position with hands over head.

BOMB THREAT CODE YELLOW (AP 176)

• Remain in your class or report to classroom.
• Follow teacher and principal instructions regarding evacuation.

EMERGENCY OFF-SITE RELOCATION PROCEDURES

• Follow the teacher’s instructions.
• Take your coat and backpack – if time permits and if instructed – depends on weather/situation.
• Line up quickly and quietly at your classroom door.
• Quickly and quietly evacuate the building using the fire alarm routes.
• Alternate routes may have to be used if an exit is threatened.
• Line up away from the building and wait for teacher’s instruction to proceed to the evacuation site.

HOLD and SECURE PROCEDURES

• Do not leave the school building until hold & secure precaution ends.
• Continue with routine school activities and class changes.

FIRE

• Call Fire Department 911
• Turn off bells, leave alarm on-check alarm location.
• Take emergency response bag and walkie-talkie.
• Check designated areas.
• Take absentee list.
• Check attendance with teachers.
• Ensure vehicular fire routes are clear.
• Direct firefighters to fire location. Hand over emergency response bag.
• Report discrepancies in attendance to Fire Chief.
• Assess whether relocation to alternate location is necessary. If so, follow procedures for emergency relocation.
• Notify Board (SO and Director).

WEATHER WATCH

• Listen to radio and announce to staff and students that a weather watch is in effect.
• Assist teachers to find all missing students.
• Delegate the listening of the radio to secretary or designate while checking school.
• When the students and staff are accounted for in their classrooms, the principal will continue to listen to the radio for a downgrade or upgrade.
• All students are to be brought inside.

WEATHER WARNING

• Make Shelter-in-Place announcement of severe weather warning or alert (tornado).
• Turn off bells.
• Check designated areas. If time permits checks to ensure all windows and classroom doors are closed.
• Check for discrepancies in attendance and locate missing students.
• Check to ensure students are safely in crouch position.
• Take crouch position with hands over head if needed.
• Listen to radio for all clear.
• Report to SO and police.
• Communication and Follow-up.

BOMB THREAT CODE YELLOW (AP 176)

• Obtain as much information as possible from caller if received call, fill out Bomb Sheet.
• Note the time of the call and, if possible, the phone line on which the call is received. At the end of the call, contact the local phone provider with this information and ask them to prepare a report of where the incoming call was from for police purposes. If the school has call display, note the number of the incoming call.
• Obtain as much information as possible from staff member who received the Bomb Call.
• Announce Code Yellow.
• Notify “other groups” within the building of Code Yellow process.
• Call 911 and the Board Office. Do not use cell phones.
• Ensure bells have been turned off.
• Check attendance with staff and report to police.
• Ensure exits are clear and safe.
• Direct search (office area, own office, work rooms, front hallway, etc.).
• Check with Secretary regarding classroom search results.
• Decide if there will be an evacuation (consults with police and Supervisory Officer).
• Provide emergency response bag to police, fire department, etc. Assist police.
• Prepare for possible evacuation. Call Evacuation Site.
• Due diligence with respect to the safety of all users must be exercised.

• • Look for something that does not belong, is out of the ordinary, is out of place.
  • Do not touch, move, open or probe suspicious objects.
  • Calmly ask if anyone knows about an object in question, taking care not to alarm students.
  • If the object cannot be identified, report it to the principal or police officer present. Give the location, reason suspected, and description.
  • Continue the search even if a suspicious object has been found. It could be a decoy object.

EMERGENCY OFF-SITE RELOCATION PROCEDURES

• Ensure Evacuation Site is ready to receive students.
• Bus Evacuation may be needed.
• Announce to staff and students the need to evacuate, the alternate location, the method of transportation, and the specific evacuation procedures (exits, what clothing can be taken, etc.) Remind staff and students to stay calm.
• Phone Superintendent, fire department, police and Public Utility company and Radio Station for notification to parents. “A message to all parents and guardians of children who attend ________ School. The school has been safely evacuated because of an emergency and the children are presently at the ______. They will be sent home as soon as possible if they are bus students or they can be picked up if they are town students.”
• Designate staff member (Vice Principal or Teacher In Charge) to lead classes to Evacuation Site. This person takes Safety procedures, First Aid Kits and Megaphone if possible. All communication (media, police, etc.) will be through this person.
• Assist with evacuation, checking classrooms, etc. and ensuring exit routes are clear and safe.
• Check attendance of all classes and ensure building is empty, dismiss staff and students to site.
• Check that doors and windows are closed - if time permits (tornado only).
• Follow classes to evacuation site if complete evacuation is ensured or remain at site until problem is solved.
• Determine dismissal of students from evacuation site following police OK.
• Ensure accurate records of leaving students.
• Complete appropriate communication and follow-up procedures.

HOLD and SECURE PROCEDURES

• Take the phone call from police advising precaution to hold and secure the school.
• Make announcement that hold and secure procedures will be into effect due to an incident outside of and not related to the school.
• Ensure classes outside and in portables have heard the announcement and proceed to previously allocated locations inside the school.
• Inform appropriate staff to lock all exterior doors.
• Complete appropriate communication and follow-up procedures.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSE TO TRESPASSER:

• Advise someone in the office where you are going (general area of school) and why.
• Take a second person with you (runner/witness) and trespass slip.
• Attempt to avoid a confrontational situation. In a courteous, calm and assured manner, introduce yourself to the trespasser and ask if you can be of assistance.
• If the person is not immediately cooperative or is openly disrespectful or hostile, ask them to accompany you to the office. Avoid any situation that allows them to play to an audience.
• If the individual declines to accompany you to the office, ask for their name and ask them to “Please leave the School”.
• If the trespasser refuses to accompany you to the office or to leave the school, cite the Education Act. Advise them that unless they leave immediately the police will be called and a charge of trespass will be laid.
• If this fails, send the runner/witness to the closest intercom or telephone with instructions to have office staff call the police, and to stand by to direct the police (when they arrive) to the area of the incident.
• Inform the runner/office of the incident “Intruder Alert” and to call the police.
• Remain with the intruder until the police arrive. If necessary, follow the trespasser wherever they go on school property. Leave the staff in the office to direct police accordingly.
• If the incident is a major violent act that poses an imminent threat to the life and safety of student and staff inform the runner/office to make the LOCKDOWN announcement (see LOCKDOWN) Procedures.
• At no time during the incident should you touch (physically interfere with) the trespasser or allow other staff members/students to physically remove the trespasser. However, should the trespasser become physical you should use only as much force as is necessary to subdue/restrain the individual.
• As soon as possible after the incident, complete a Safe Schools Incident report recording details; including name of trespasser and witnesses, as well as any verbal threats or forms of intimidation or aggressive behaviour. If you do not know the identity of the trespasser, attempt to obtain it from witnesses, or carefully record a description of the trespasser as well as vehicle used.
• Immediately following the incident, your area superintendent should be contacted to discuss what further action should be taken.