It is important to be cognizant of hazards that may affect our lives. Tornadoes, winter storms, earthquakes, fires, and floods may happen in any community. In addition, we are vulnerable to aircraft accidents, dangerous chemical spills, and threats of violence within our community. These are a reality that must be included in emergency/crisis/disaster planning. We must provide children with protection at school and teach survival techniques. A well thought out and practiced plan is an excellent beginning in raising the level of awareness of students and school personnel to the reality of life-threatening hazards.
Many schools have plans but they have not communicated them to police, fire, or EMT departments or worked out procedures like evacuation and parental communication. Schools and districts should coordinate with local, state and federal emergency departments to facilitate their emergency crisis response. Schools and districts should educate parents and staff on the procedures in an emergency situation and how to reunite with their families in these cases.
In the Utah Administrative code, (rules.utah.gov/publications/utah-adm-code/) Rule R227-400 requires that every school district have an emergency response plan. The plan should include prevention, intervention, and response measures for school violence and natural disasters. Each district should have its own plan, and each school may also have its own plan. The plan must be reviewed every three years.
The stipulations of R227-400 include:
- The plan should be filed in the superintendent’s office.
- At the beginning of every school year, the plan should be reviewed with the parents and staff in a written notice.
- Every school is required to have an Emergency Preparedness Week prior to April 30 every year.
- Evacuation should include reasonable care and supervision of children until a responsible party has taken responsibility for the child.
- Child below ninth grade may not be released during school hours unless the parent or their responsible person has been notified.
- Children shall be provided age-appropriate training in rescue techniques, first aid, and other emergency skills.
- Fire drills should be held every month in elementary schools. In secondary schools, the drills should be held every other month. In addition, schools are required to do drills for school violence emergencies.
- Annual in-service for the district and school staff is required.
- The plan should involve local emergency responders (police, medical, etc.). PTA Safety Commissioners should volunteer to participate on their district or school Emergency Preparedness Committee.