In a world where emergencies and crises are unfortunately becoming more common, the safety and well-being of students and staff in schools have never been more crucial. Emergency drills play a vital role in preparing schools for various types of incidents, from natural disasters to potential security threats. This comprehensive guide aims to delve into the significance of emergency drills, drawing insights from two noteworthy articles: “Conducting Crisis Exercises and Drills” from the National Association of School Psychologists and “Emergency Planning” from SchoolSafety.gov.
The Rising Need for Emergency Preparedness
Emergencies can happen at any time, and planning for different emergencies can be challenging for schools. Families and communities expect schools to keep their children safe from a range of emergency events, like crime, natural disasters, and accidents. A key component of emergency planning is creating an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), a document that outlines how a school will prepare, respond, and recover from an emergency. Every district or school should develop and implement comprehensive school EOPs that describe the actions that students, teachers, and school staff should take before, during, and after emergency events, and everyone should have a common understanding of what will be expected of them. Any reduction of time between the beginning and end of an incident can save lives.
As an important part of emergency planning, training teaches staff and faculty about the policies, procedures, roles, and responsibilities in their school’s EOP. It also gives them the information they need to train their students on emergency procedures. Tabletop exercises allow schools to discuss their plans, policies, and procedures in an emergency scenario. Drills provide everyone with the chance to practice the actions they will take before, during, and after an emergency. Training and exercises are an essential component of school safety plans.
Types of Emergency Drills
Emergency drills in schools can vary depending on the nature of the potential threat. The most common types include:
- Fire Drills
- Earthquake Drills
- Lockdown Drills
- Active Shooter Drills
- Evacuation Drills
Each type of drill aims to educate and prepare students and staff on how to respond effectively and safely during an emergency.
The Psychological Aspect
While high-profile crisis events and instances of violent crimes at school are extremely rare, it is essential that all schools be prepared to respond to emergency situations as part of their school safety and crisis planning and preparation. Current state laws already require certain types of drills (e.g., fire drills), and many schools have begun to conduct a much broader range of crisis exercises and drills. Which type of drills are conducted and how is critical to both their effectiveness and minimizing the potential to cause trauma or harm unintentionally?
School crisis response training and exercises can be discussion-based (orientation seminars, workshops, or tabletop drills) or operations-based (a variety of specific emergency drills, functional exercise drills, or full-scale exercises), each of which can be useful in preparing school staff, crisis team members, students, and other agencies for a wide variety of crises. However, it is recommended that districts start with simple, low-cost discussion-based exercises (e.g., orientations) and work their way toward more complex and expensive, operations-based exercises (e.g., full-scale drills).
Although there is little empirical research about drills, existing research suggests that drills implemented according to best practice can increase students’ knowledge and skills of how to respond in an emergency, without elevating their anxiety or perceived safety.
Selecting an Appropriate Exercise Scenario
There is a difference between crises that are possible and those that are more probable, and exercises are most useful when based on a vulnerability assessment that identifies the types of risks or potential hazards that have a probability of occurring in a specific community. Vulnerability assessments that address both physical and psychological safety help schools identify areas wherein they are most vulnerable (e.g., responding to wild animals, trespassers, food contamination, chemical spills, angry students or parents).
Building administration and crisis response teams should consider training on how to respond to different emergency protocols within their crisis plans (e.g., fire drills, lockdowns, shelter-in-place drills, and evacuation procedures). Districts that are vulnerable to certain types of natural disasters (e.g., tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and earthquakes) should consider drills related to hazards associated with specific events. Exercises should be planned to address multiple hazards and consider unexpected occurrences (e.g., crisis occurring during a passing period or recess).
When conducting crisis exercises and drills, schools also need to consider how they will respond to individuals with special needs. This includes students and staff members with physical handicaps (including temporary ones), medical needs, and emotional concerns.
Discussion-Based Exercises
Discussion-based exercises are used to familiarize students and school staff members with crisis plans, policies, agency agreements, and emergency procedures. Orientation seminars and workshops can be an efficient way to introduce school staff members, first responders, and volunteers to the school’s crisis plans and procedures, and tabletop drills can be an effective first step in testing crisis response protocols.
Orientations
These relatively brief seminars (which can be a part of regularly scheduled staff meetings) are discussions facilitated by a school crisis team leader (e.g., school principal). This is often the first step in ensuring that all school staff members understand a recently developed (or revised) school safety or crisis preparedness plan. These meetings review the school’s emergency response procedures; and they provide the opportunity to discuss crisis response coordination, roles, responsibilities, procedures, and the equipment that might be needed to respond to a school emergency. Orientations can be facilitated by the use of a PowerPoint presentation, handouts, or videos illustrating the correct response to an emergency situation.
Workshops
Relative to an orientation, crisis response workshops typically last longer (up to 3 hours), involve more participant interaction, and may focus on a specific issue. They include sharing information; obtaining different perspectives; testing new ideas, policies, or procedures; training groups to perform specific coordinated crisis response activities; practicing crisis response activities; and evaluating the effectiveness of crisis response activities.
Types of Emergency Drills in Schools
Fire Drills
Fire drills are the most common type of emergency drill conducted in schools. They aim to prepare students and staff for a quick and orderly evacuation in case of a fire. The drill usually involves sounding a fire alarm, followed by the evacuation of the building through designated routes.
Earthquake Drills
These drills are essential for schools located in earthquake-prone areas. The drill involves practicing the “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” technique, where students and staff drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy object, and hold on until the shaking stops.
Lockdown Drills
Lockdown drills prepare students and staff for situations where there is a threat inside the school building, such as an intruder. During the drill, doors are locked, lights are turned off, and everyone stays quiet and hidden until the all-clear signal is given.
Active Shooter Drills
These drills are designed to prepare for the unlikely but possible event of an active shooter on campus. They often involve law enforcement and aim to teach students and staff how to hide, fight, or flee, depending on the situation.
Evacuation Drills
Evacuation drills prepare schools for situations where the entire school needs to be evacuated, such as in the case of a bomb threat or chemical spill. These drills often involve moving students to a designated safe location away from the school building.
Case Studies of Emergencies in Schools and Lessons Learned
Case Study 1: Fire in a High School
In this case, a fire broke out in a high school chemistry lab. Thanks to regular fire drills, students and staff were able to evacuate the building quickly and safely. The incident highlighted the importance of having clearly marked evacuation routes and ensuring that fire extinguishers are readily available and functional.
Case Study 2: Earthquake Hits a Primary School
A primary school in California experienced a moderate earthquake during school hours. The school had conducted regular earthquake drills, which helped students and staff to react appropriately. The incident emphasized the need for secure fixtures in classrooms to prevent objects from falling during an earthquake.
Tips for Communicating with Parents and the Community About Emergency Preparedness
Communication is key when it comes to emergency preparedness. Schools should regularly update parents and the community about their safety protocols. Newsletters, parent-teacher meetings, and social media are effective platforms for this communication. Transparency builds trust and ensures that everyone is on the same page in case of an emergency.
Strategies for Addressing the Special Needs of Students and Staff During Emergencies
Special attention should be given to students and staff with physical or mental disabilities. Schools should have a detailed plan in place for assisting these individuals during emergencies. This could include assigning a specific staff member to help them or having specialized equipment like evacuation chairs for those who cannot use stairs.
A Checklist for Schools to Assess Their Emergency Preparedness
- Emergency Operations Plan (EOP): Ensure that the EOP is up-to-date and covers all types of emergencies.
- Training: Regularly train staff and students on emergency procedures.
- Equipment: Check that all emergency equipment, like fire extinguishers and first aid kits, are in working condition.
- Communication: Have a reliable system for communicating with parents and emergency services.
- Special Needs: Make sure there are plans in place for students and staff with special needs.
- Regular Drills: Conduct regular drills for various types of emergencies and assess their effectiveness.
Conclusion
Emergency drills are an essential component of school safety, offering a practical approach to preparing for various types of incidents. As concerns about school safety continue to rise, the importance of these drills cannot be overstated. By incorporating mental health support and continually refining emergency response plans, schools can create a safer and more secure environment for everyone.
By understanding the significance and benefits of emergency drills, schools can take proactive steps to ensure the safety and well-being of their students and staff. After all, preparation today can prevent potential disasters tomorrow.
Citations
- National Association of School Psychologists. “Conducting Crisis Exercises and Drills.” Retrieved from National Association of School Psychologists Website.
- SchoolSafety.gov. “Emergency Planning.” Retrieved from SchoolSafety.gov Website.