Who Can Help a School Form an Emergency Plan?

Who Can Help a School Form an Emergency Plan

In order for a school system to remain safe for students and staff, an emergency plan MUST be in place. Additionally, this plan should be updated every year and conform to government standards. Many schools large and small may not have the necessary know-how or experience to form an emergency plan on their own. The best way to implement a plan is to follow the free guide available here. For teachers, it is also wise to take a look at this emergency plan so they can ensure that their school is taking adequate and lawful measures to keep their children safe.

Emergencies in schools can be anything from gang violence to fire or hurricane activity. Many school systems are unsure of who can help them form an emergency plan. The truth is that schools must be proactive in searching both federal and local levels for an emergency plan that works in every situation. Contacting local building inspectors, fire marshals, and police personnel is the first step for an emergency plan. Other resources are available at FEMA and apply to both the local and federal levels of what makes a successful emergency plan. Administrators should meet with local personnel yearly to make sure that their emergency plan is both complete and effective. Additionally, staff members should be trained in basic safety and first aid as part of an effective plan.

Beyond 'routine' emergencies, schools should also contact local health officials as well as the CDC so they can gain preparedness for situations like salmonella outbreak or disease outbreak within the school. Local schools are required to appoint crisis management teams which can help deliver a plan for everything from health problems like widespread MRSA outbreaks to cafeteria sanitation.

There are other contacts that can help schools form an emergency plan. The National School Safety and Security Services offers schools both templates and evaluators that can help assess whether or not the safety plan in place is sufficient. They are an organization who can help a school form an emergency plan and offer crisis training exercise, emergency training and safety seminars that both teachers and students can utilize. Additionally, there are many school terrorism training, school bus safety and training as well as post-crisis tactics schools can use to ensure the health and safety of the student body. The evaluations on this site are instrumental in helping schools identify areas where their school safety plan is weak or struggling.

Don't forget that as teachers and administrators you are at the top of the list when it comes to who can help form a school safety plan. If you visualize problems or see areas that may concern you it is much better to seek help now than during the face of an emergency. Teachers are the eyes of the school and can be an amazing resource to helping administrators identify problems with security and safety.

Emergency Preparedness Organizations

Organizations that deal with safety issues.