Q: We’re in the middle of updating our school’s risk plans. While we’ve polished most of it, our teams are struggling somewhat with lockdown procedures. Does ISM have any lockdown guidelines we can consider as we continue revising?
A: Here is our general lockdown guideline document that discusses how to plan and train for drills, and where your plans should be published.
1. Sample Protocol
The key to a lockdown procedure is make sure that your school community stays still and safe inside the school buildings.
- Do not seek shelter in open areas such as hallways or corridors. Go to the nearest classroom, office, conference or storage room that can be locked.
- If no other options are possible and you know where the threat is located, attempt to escape and evade.
- Once in a secure place, lock doors AND barricade doors if possible.
- Use the red card/green card system if part of your protocol.
- Turn off lights and cover windows.
- Remain quiet and silence cellphones; use only to contact emergency personnel.
- Do not allow anyone to exit the classroom until an all-clear notification has been communicated.
Note: As these situations can occur when students and staff are outside, practicing “reverse-evacuation"—getting back in the building quickly—is critical as is training to seek shelter behind a building, shed, wall, or dense vegetation like a hedge or tree.
2. Distribution
Have your comprehensive Crisis Communication and Emergency Response Plan in your employee handbooks and published on your website. It should include your lockdown procedure to help make staff, students and parents/families aware of the process.
3. Train, Test and Remind
Do active training and testing at least once each semester. The earlier you can hold drills in the semester, the better. Drills help to physically and mentally prepare you staff for a lockdown.
4. Initiation
Use a flip-chart to identify who has what role in a lockdown. You’ll need to identify who is responsible for initiating the lockdown, initial and ongoing communication throughout the event, calling EMS, sending out the all-clear notice, etc.
5. Develop Effective Communication and Messaging Skills—Safety Notification Alert Process (SNAP)
Have pre-determined message template, allowing for insertion of situation specific details–and practice this as well.
6. Remember the Parents (communication and reunification)
?They will be most likely receiving texts from their kids in a lockdown. Having communicated how this will work PRIOR to an actual event will help. A pre-determined protocol and gathering/pickup location on or off campus should be provided the parents for them to congregate.
7. Dealing with the Media.
Establish a relationship with the media prior to an event. Having a strong PR spokesperson not only benefits your emergencies, but also your school’s exposure in the community.
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