For minor accidents and injuries, have individual taken to clinic for assistance by a responsible person.

• Emergency procedures should be posted. All staff should have been provided with a one-page list of "emergency procedures" of what to do in case of an accident or injury on the premises.

• Posted in the main office and other areas are the names of building staff who have completed paramedic training, Red Cross First Aid Training or other special lifesaving or life sustaining training or expertise (i.e., CPR). Also, a list of emergency telephone numbers should have been posted.

• Post general procedures explaining notification of minor mishaps.

• As part of routine medical protocols established by Health Services, each team leader has been provided information about anyone having special medical or physical needs and the procedures that must be followed in the event of a medical episode. These conditions might include allergies, fainting, seizures, diabetes, etc.

In the event of accidents involving a person who is on the way to or from work, first determine whether or not help is on the way.

If help is not on the way: Telephone numbers

• Call police, fire, or rescue as indicated by nature of accident

• Notify proper authority and/or main office

• Notify Director of Community Relations

• Notify parents, spouse, or individual on emergency card.

• If not reached earlier, continue to try to notify the appropriate people.

• If appropriate people are not available, discuss situation with an associate at the place of employment.

• Send a "calm" person to observe situation.

Call police, fire or rescue as indicated by the accident

Call Managing Director of Facilities Services

Notify Superintendent’s Office

Notify Director of Community Relations

• Utilize emergency exit plan modified to maximize safety of individuals.

• Individuals should be assembled in an area as far from the crash scene as possible and should be up-hill and up-wind from the crash.

• Provide for treatment and removal of injured building occupants.

• Account for all building occupants and determine extent of injuries.

 

 

Call police, fire or rescue as indicated by the accident

Call Managing Director of Facilities Services

Notify Superintendent’s Office

Notify Director of Community Relations

• All individuals should remain in the buildings. Any person outside should report immediately designated area until further instructions are received.

• No evacuations should occur unless subsequent explosions or fire endanger the building.

 

General feeling of impending doom or fright, weakness, sweating, sneezing, short of breath, nasal itching, hives, vomiting, cough, restlessness, shock, hoarseness, swollen tongue, severe localized swelling.

• Assess situation, remain calm, make the person comfortable.

• Only move for safety reason.

• Send for immediate help and medication kit (in cases of known allergies).

• Follow medical protocol for student, if on file.

• Observe for respiratory difficulty and, if needed,

- Call rescue squad Telephone number: _______________

• Notify parent or guardian.

• Administer medication, by order of a doctor, if appropriate. Apply ice pack, keep warm.

• Record on an attached label time and site of insect sting and name of medicine, dosage and time, if appropriate.

• Encourage individuals to list health situations on emergency card.

• Encourage employees having health situations affecting them to alert building director and work associates of any difficulties and possible remedial actions.

 

(Source: Chesterfield County Public Schools)

* strategies may be adapted to use with angry employees and patrons

• Be courteous and confident

• Remain calm

• Do not touch

• Keep at a reasonable distance

• Listen

• Allow the opportunity to vent

• Meet in a neutral, protected location

• Leave door open or have another staff member join you

• Avoid blame — focus on what can be done

• Ask:

— "How can I help you get the services you/your child needs?"

— "How can we work together?"

— "What kinds of support can we put in place to help your child succeed?"

 

(Source: National School Safety Center)

Team Leader

• Evacuate the immediate area.

• Instruct the building engineer to shut down the HVAC system.

• Ensure the affected area is sealed off and doors are closed.

• Notify: — Superintendent

— Risk Management and Security

— Maintenance

• Evacuate the immediate area.

• Seal off the area by closing doors when exiting.

• Notify the Principal.

• Note all persons who were in the area of the asbestos release.

 

(Source: Department of Risk Management and Security, Prince William County Public Schools, Manassas, VA)

Assess the situation.

If continued danger, institute lockdown.

Provide first aid.

Question victim - make reasonable notes for potential court case:

- description of assailant

- report of events

Contact police (Resource Officer and/or 911

Notify Superintendent.

Instruct person answering the telephone to direct all requests to Public Information Office

Complete police information for charges.

Prepare a written memo for involved individuals.

Schedule follow-up programs for staff and students.

Call emergency staff meeting.

If the assailant has not been contained and continues to be a threat to others, institute lockdown.

Provide first aid for victim(s) via nurse, nurse’s aide, trained staff member, or 911. Have someone at the entrance to meet and direct the ambulance staff to the victim and designate a staff member to accompany victim(s) in ambulance.

Make notes which can be shared with the police upon their arrival. These notes may be helpful in a court case.

Contact 911 and your School Resource Officer.

• The Main Office should be contacted as soon as possible.

• The Public Information Office will handle all media and community inquiries into the event(s).

• The parents (or spouse) of the victim should be notified as soon as possible.

• Inform staff of situation as soon as possible. A Crisis Team, identified for the school, can effectively deliver information to the other staff members so your time can be used for other decisions/actions.

• The Transportation Department can, in extreme emergencies, provide buses for early dismissal. The Transportation Department will notify the Superintendent of the need for this dismissal.

• The individuals will be able to deal with the situation by being informed of the facts as soon as possible, rather than receiving their "facts" through rumors.

• The other communitiess should be given the basic information as soon as possible by the Public Information Office, since siblings/neighbors will quickly learn of the disturbance.

• The Pupil Personnel Services may be needed to provide counseling support for students and staff in dealing with the trauma. This office may seek additional help from the County’s Department of Human Resources.

• Individuals in the community will need to learn the real facts.

• After the crisis is over, the authority figure may wish to arrange a special press conference to give the media the same information that has been shared with the parents.

Prepare a statement for the individuals who answer the telephones to read. Instruct them that any further inquiries should be made to the Public Information Office. Give them the telephone number for the caller to use as a reference.

The police will need to be sure of details from you as well as from the victim. Assault/Battery are chargeable offenses.

As soon as the immediate crisis/danger is over, the staff and parents will need to know, not only what occurred, but why you took the action that you did. Individuals with the correct facts can help to stop rumors and misperceptions.

Guidance counselors will arrange special counseling for individuals.

(Adapted from procedures developed by Henrico County Public Schools)

The building director must evaluate the seriousness of bomb threats or other disruptive types of demonstrations using input from all sources; then, the director acts in such a manner that reflects the best safety interests of those under his/her charge.

Bomb and other threats may be originated in writing, in person, over the telephone or related through a second source.

• Keep the caller on the line as long as possible.

• Notify principal/building director.

• Write down all the information obtained in the exact words. Use the record sheet immediately following these instruction pages; place copies of the bomb threat sheet at switchboard and other appropriate phone locations.

• Find out what time the bomb is due to go off.

• Document in writing, as soon as possible, other types of threat contacts including:

- Specific time message is received.

- Date and day of week.

- Exact wording of message.

- Estimation of sex, age, cultural background of person making call.

- Make note of background noises, tone of voice.

Authorities to be involved: Telephone numbers

Police

Directors below will immediately notify Deputy and the Superintendent.

It is only necessary to call one of the following:

Managing Director, Facilities of Services

Director of Community Relations

Environmental Health and Safety Office

• Notify the authorities.

• Consider the safety of students and staff as the prime factor. If advised, direct students and staff to safe areas of the campus. Nothing is to be touched or altered; do not open desks or lockers.

• Alert staff of situation and implement building search procedure (see below).

• Activities should be continued as normally as possible in designated safe areas.

• The recommendation to close school will be made only after consultation between the Central Office, security and building administrator.

• Submit written reports as appropriate to Director, Department of Facilities following the incident.

The Senior Management will:

A. Call Police Department.

B. Call Superintendent’s Office.

C. Call Maintenance Department.

D. Notify school staff by pre-arranged signal.

PLEASE BE CERTAIN TO SEND TRANSCRIPTS TO THE OFFICE TODAY.

• Following the signal, the staff will conduct a thorough search of assigned areas as outlined below. If anything is found, it should not be touched in any way. Get an adult to "watch it," while you report it personally to the principal. Following the search, each staff member responsible for searching areas (all teachers and others) must send a note to the office reading, for example, "Brown - Clear."

• Responsibilities for search effort:

All search efforts should be conducted quietly and quickly without alarming or informing pupils

Listen carefully to the caller to gain as much information as possible. Notify the building School Resource Officer if the caller is in the building.

If the call appears to be a crank call, ask teachers to survey their instruction area and nearby restrooms.

If the call could be real and the School Resource Officer is not in the building, call 911 immediately.

Evacuate the building. DO NOT USE PA SYSTEM OR TURN LIGHTS ON OR OFF.

Notify Superintendent’s Office

Follow established Policy regarding return to the building.

If necessary, give contact transportation to arrange for early dismissal.

Follow-up activities.

(Source: Henrico County Public Schools)

Make numerous copies for the operator/secretary for immediate use and keep them at switchboard or main telephone.

1. When is bomb going to explode?     Calm Nasal

 Angry Stutter

2. Where is it right now?                        Excited Lisp

Slow Raspy

3. What does it look like?                      Rapid Deep

Soft Ragged

4. What kind of bomb is it?                   Loud Clearing Throat

Laughter Deep Breathing

5. What will cause it to explode?          Crying Cracking Voice

                                                                  Normal Disguised

6. Did you place the bomb?                   Distinct Accent

Slurred Familiar

7. Why? Whispered

8. What is your address?

9. What is your name? If voice is familiar, who did it sound like?

Street Animal Noises

PA System Static

Voices Music

Motor House Noises

Local Office Machinery

Booth Long Distance

Threat Language

Time: Date: / / Well spoken (educated)

Sex of caller: Culture:                           Foul Irrational

Age: Length of call: Taped Incoherent

Number at which call was received: Message read by threat maker

Remarks:

(Source: Chesterfield County Public Schools, Chesterfield, VA)

Have a clear operation plan and be familiar with that plan. Maintain a traffic accident folder including a list of each license plate, names and emergency telephone numbers of all occupants.

In the event that a traffic accident occurs and the command center has been contacted for assistance, the designee determines and coordinates the appropriate responses. Interventions may include:

• Send letter to the concern individuals.

• Assess the response and arrange follow-up. (Crisis Team)

 

(Source: Hanover County Public Schools, Ashland, VA)

• School buses, by law, are required to carry first aid kits. Check to see if it is in place.

• Take along in all automobiles a first aid kit on all field trips.

• Take along a list of students in attendance. Include for each a home telephone number, names of parents, parents’ work telephone, home address, and any health or medical information.

• Take along a list of emergency phone numbers (listed below).

• Take along a list of chaperones and teachers who are in attendance on the trip, their home addresses and home phone numbers, name and work telephone of spouse or nearest relative and medical and health information on each.

• Follow Board policy and administrative regulation on field trips.

• Remain calm

• If threat of fire exists, move children to safe place.

• Call emergency vehicles/services: police, fire, ambulance, highway patrol for locality and begin administration of first aid:

• Notify Director of Administration and Support

• Notify Director, Director of Transportation

• Notify Director of Public Relations (who will notify the management)

• Phone Chairman

• Assistant Chairman

Do not issue statements to the press. Refer press to the civil authorities in charge or to the Community Relations Director.

(Source: Chesterfield County Public Schools)

Inside the building

• Evacuate the area immediately.

• Check the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)* to determine the urgency of the situation.

• Notify the building principal/supervisor/director as soon as possible.

• The building principal/supervisor/director will call the fire department if deemed necessary for consultation.

• Notify the Managing Director, Department of Facilities

*Lab file, principal’s office, or custodian office

Outside the building

• Insure that all students are in the building and that they remain there.

• Shut off all outside air ventilators.

• If you are not alerted to the situation by division personnel, phone:

Environmental Health & Safety

Director of Facilities of Services

• Keep telephone lines clear for emergency calls only.

• Release students to parents or designee only.

 

(Source: Chesterfield County Public Schools)

Telephone police

Call Management’s Office

Notify parents of child

Identify team to work on the crisis while rest of the site maintains routine

Obtain full description and pull out school picture

Search building and grounds

If child kidnapping, try to obtain description of suspect

When child is found, contact Manager, notify teacher, fill out Crisis Team Report

Prepare memo to inform staff and parents of incident and actions taken

Arrange for counseling for staff and others, if necessary

Call emergency meeting

1. Immediately after it has been determined that a child has been lost/taken, contact the Police.

2. Call the Manager's Office to report the incident.

3. Contact the parents of the child involved. Establish a communication plan with them, if necessary.

4. Identify a team to work on the crisis. Designate personnel to deal with phone communications, etc., and other administrative staff to assist as appropriate.

5. Get a picture and obtain a full description of the child (including clothing) to assist the police.

6. Conduct immediate search of building and grounds.

7. In cases of child kidnapping, obtain from witnesses a description of the suspect.

8. When a child is found, contact the Manager, notify proper team member and fill out the Crisis Team Report.

9. Prepare a memo to staff outlining the situation. Give factual information, as appropriate, to allow them to respond to questions knowledgeably. Prepare an appropriate memo to concern member.

10. If appropriate, arrange for counseling assistance for individuals.

11. Call emergency meeting.

• A team member should have a list of children who will only be released to a particular guardian.

• Children Emergency cards should be tagged.

• Before releasing a child to anyone except a parent of guardian on the list, the team member should check with the custodial parent and/or guardian for approval; a record of the time and date of phone approval should be made and kept.

• When parent telephones a request that a child be released from site, the identity of the caller should be confirmed (by a separate call to the parent or guardian, if needed) before the child is permitted to leave. In the event of any doubt, the message and phone number should be written down; a return call should be made after cross-checking the phone number with those on file in the child’s folder or on the emergency card.

(Source: Chesterfield County Public Schools)

Death of an Individual

• Contact Crisis Team members and have a team meeting as soon as possible.

• Notify Superintendent’s Office

• Notify Community Relations Department

• Prepare a fact sheet giving accurate, up-to-date information.

• Hold a faculty meeting as soon as possible. Review the procedures for the day, availability of support services, referral process for at-risk students.

• Contact family of the deceased. Preferably an administrator and Crisis Team member should visit the family at their home and offer assistance.

• Hold a faculty meeting at the end of the day to review the day’s events.

• Notify all bus drivers by written memo to be alert for students who show signs of emotional distress, along with a telephone number for drivers to use to reach a guidance counselor.

• Personal contact should be made with the driver of the bus which goes into the neighborhood of the student who has died. Supply a school staff member to ride the bus if that seems necessary.

 

(Source: Chesterfield County Public Schools)

(e.g., tornado, plane crash, bomb)

Call 911.

Obtain information on extent of damage.

Evacuate using fire alarm or move individual to safe areas in building.

Assign one adult to supervise others in attending to injured.

Assign staff member to assist rescue personnel.

Call Superintendent’s Office and School Resource Officer.

Arrange for dismissal of individuals.

Handle all distribution of information to public through Public Information Office.

Call emergency staff meeting.

1. Call 911 for immediate help.

2. Damage: Inspect extent of damage and injuries.

3. Evacuation: If there is no danger outside the building, use fire alarm to evacuate building.

Safe Areas: Identify areas away from problem area and route to be taken to safe areas.

4. Attend to Injured: Assign free adults to attend to injured, with one adult designated as "in charge."

5. Meet Rescue Personnel:

— Have team members direct rescue personnel to problem area and assist in providing access as needed by rescue personnel. Make Team leader available to assist rescue personnel.

6. Manager: Notify of plan being implemented.

7 . Dismissal: Arrange for dismissal with Manager's Office and Transportation. Public Information Office should be notified of emergency closing so that radio and TV stations can be contacted.

8. Information:

• Consider briefly summarizing the situation for everyone prior to dismissal, by P.A. or preferably by informing key people and having them explain to others.

• If time permits, prepare a written memo detailing the situation and how it was handled, including plan for follow-up, to be mailed or distributed the following day.

• Call an emergency team meeting to explain the situation and any plans for follow-up.

• Involve Public Information in all information being prepared and distributed and refer media and other calls from the general public to that office.

9. Call an emergency team meeting.

(Source: Henrico County Public Schools)

(e.g., hurricane, tornado, sniper, plane crash)

Gather information.

Identify safe areas in building.

Direct staff to escort students to identified areas.

Call Office and Resource Officer.

When situation is "clear," return to the building.

Prepare memo/letters to inform staff and parents.

Distribute information to public via Public Information Office.

Call emergency staff meeting.

(Source: Henrico County Public Schools)

Violence Between Two or More Students (Physical Fighting)

• Safety

• Effective communication

• Mobilization

• Containment

• Assessment and follow-up

Have a clear operation plan and be familiar with that plan. Be alert to patterns of stress and agitation in students. Be familiar with information provided regarding managing a potentially dangerous person.

Intervening and managing physical altercations and/or fights require making a judgement call. There may be several goals at one time and individual circumstances will determine the priorities of your interventions.

Interventions may include:

• Disperse the crowd and ensure the safety of the students.

• Call for help and assistance in managing the incident.

• Focus on diffusing the fight.

• Attend to medical needs.

• Be knowledgeable about intervening with individuals who are dangerous. Refer to additional materials in Resource section.

• Assess the response and provide follow-up of situation. (Crisis Team)

(Source: Hanover County Public Schools)

Sound alarm; evacuate building.

Call 911.

Determine if there are any serious injuries.

Call: Superintendent

Public Information Office

Arrange transportation for dismissal.

Determine building status for return to area.

Follow-up activities.

Call emergency meeting.

1. Sound alarm. Evacuate building if serious threat of danger. Prior arrangements should be made for the evacuation of any students or staff members requiring assistance.

2. Call 911 and ask for required emergency services.

3. If there are injuries, notify necessary rescue personnel. Provide first aid through medical personnel.

4. Call Superintendent’s Office and notify of incident and actions taken.

6. If the building is damaged, several different steps may have to be taken. Severe damage may necessitate another location for gathering.

7. Prepare written memo for staff to advise of follow-up procedures. Send letter to individuals.

8. Call emergency meeting.

(Source: Henrico County Public Schools)

Natural gas leaks, with odor in the building, may occur and bring danger of explosion. Natural gas rises and will often be outside because most gas lines are outside the building. Natural gas is mixed with Mercaptan to give it odor. The gas goes up and the odor goes down.

Evacuate the building immediately, following your local building evacuation plan. Get students a safe distance from the building.

Turn off the main gas valve. Location:

Phone Fire Department Telephone Number:

Phone Facility Services Telephone Number:

Phone Commonwealth Gas Telephone Number:

If time permits, phone the Manager's Office to alert that office of the current situation. That office will notify the Public Relations Office.

Keep students at a safe distance until the problem has been corrected.

(Adapted from Source: Chesterfield County Public Schools)

• Contact the police (911). Instigate lockdown Procedures.

• After police arrive, if the danger is confined, orderly evacuation away from the danger may occur.

• Notify Manager.

• When police arrive according to pre-planning, they assume control of incident and negotiations.

• No school personnel should circulate through building; after evacuation, no individuals should enter or re-enter the building.

• Instruct person answering the phone to direct all requests to Public Information Office.

• Keep telephone lines open for police use (pay telephones as well).

• Provide information to police about the building layout and what is known about the background of the hostage-taking.

1. Contact the Police: Hostage-taking or endangering the safety of others are criminal offenses.

2. Secure All Sites (Lockdown): The more closely contained the intruder can be kept, the less the danger there is to others and the easier it is for the police to apprehend the individual.

3. Notification:

• The Manager Office should be contacted as soon as possible.

• The Public Information Office will handle all media and community inquiries.

• After the crisis is over, the Public Information Office may wish to arrange a special press conference to give the media the same information that has been shared with the parents.

Determine the whereabouts of the intruder/trespasser.

Isolate the individual.

Determine the extent of the crisis.

Make reasonable notes for potential court case.

Contact police - 911.

Move other students and staff from area.

Notify superintendent.

Instruct person answering the telephone to direct all requests to Public Information Office.

Complete and submit police information for charges.

Prepare a written memo for staff and parents.

Complete Crisis Team Report.

Call emergency staff meeting.

Schedule follow-up activities for staff and students, including security plan review.

(Source: Henrico County Public Schools)

When a life-threatening situation is perceived to exist, person in charge of a building or office should:

Call 911

Apply first aid and life-sustaining techniques using trained persons on staff.

Names:

Call parent/guardian immediately.

(Source: Chesterfield County Public Schools)

Prevention:

• Identify situations in advance that may be perceived crises.

• Establish open lines of communication with team members and involved individuals.

• Develop a procedure for dealing with the public and the media.

In the event of the poisoning or suspected poisoning of a individual or an employee:

• Call the rescue squad Telephone Number:

• Call the Poison Control Center Telephone Number:

• Administer first aid suggested by poison information center.

• Post in the clinic information from Poison Control Center regarding emergency numbers.

• List in the clinic the names of building personnel who have special paramedic, first aid training, or other special life-saving or life-sustaining training.

• Provide staff information on possible poisonous materials in the building.

(Source: Chesterfield County Public Schools)

If there has been a power failure at a school, or if lines are reported down in the area of the school:

• Notify Power Telephone Number:

• Notify Maintenance Section Telephone Number:

• Notify Managing Director, Department of Facilities Telephone Number:

• Have an adult in the area of the downed lines to prevent children and other people from going near them.

• Notify Power Telephone Number:

• Notify Maintenance Section Telephone Number:

* Note that telephone notification may require use of cellular phone, depending on whether telephone is set up to rely on electricity.

 

(Source: Chesterfield County Public Schools)

When a facility is notified that a rape has occurred to a individual, the Crisis Response Team and the facility must protect the identify and right to privacy of the rape survivor and the alleged perpetrator. News of the incident should be contained as much as possible. Appropriate response by staff will be directed at minimizing the fear of others and quelling the spread of rumors. As opposed to convening a Crisis Response Team meeting and alerting the office body, services provided to the victim and her/his family should be kept confidential and should be coordinated with outside providers, such as a rape crisis team or hospital emergency room.

A rape occurs on campus.

• A member of the rape survivor’s family requests school intervention.

• The rape survivor’s friends requests intervention.

• Rumors and myths are widespread and damaging.

• Students witness police action or emergency services response.

When one or more of the above conditions exists, the following should be implemented:

• Direct the person providing the information not to repeat it elsewhere in the school.

• If the rape occurred , notify the appropriate law enforcement office and/or local rape crisis team.

• If office staff members heard the report, tell then not to repeat or give out any information unless they are specifically told to do so.

• Designate the Crisis Response Team member closest to the victim to talk to her/him about the types of support he or she and the closest friends need, and the person(s) the rape survivor would like to provide that support.

• Provide space in the school for the rape survivor and identified peers to receive support services. Provide necessary passes to release these students from class to receive services.

Rape is a crime of violence. For the rape survivor, it often is an experience of fear, loss of control, humiliation, and violence. Rape survivors may experience a full range of emotional reactions. It is extremely beneficial for rape survivors to seek emotional support regarding the assault.

Monitor any school intervention in a rape incident with the following checklist:

(Source: California Association of School Administrators)

School involvement in incident due to:

• Rape occurrence on campus

• Survivor’s family requests school intervention

• Survivor’s friends request intervention

• Rumors and myths are widespread and damaging

• Students witness police/emergency services

• Information provider/recipients enjoined not to repeat information elsewhere.

• Steps taken to protect survivor’s identity and right to privacy.

• Law enforcement and rape crisis agency notified if appropriate.

• Crisis Response Team member closest to victim designated to talk with student and determine type of support and support provider desired.

• Rape survivor encouraged to seek additional support from community rape crisis agency.

• Space provided on site for rape survivor and identified peers to receive support services.

• School services coordinated as appropriate and legal with outside service providers.

• Action taken to quell rumors.

• All records related to rape incident and services provided stored in confidential file.

Assess the situation

Call: 911

Police/School Resource Officer

Ambulance

Use emergency signal - all persons to stay in their area, secure the door, and stay on the floor.

Establish a command post with several telephones available.

Implement first aid procedures until rescue service arrives.

Notify Manager’s Office.

Keep a written log of events.

Prepare a written memo for staff and parents.

Implement necessary follow-up activities.

Call emergency meeting.

1. Notify the police, and other necessary emergency staff.

2. Determine if the perpetrator is still on premises - determine number of victims and identify witnesses.

3. The emergency signal to staff and students should convey the seriousness of the situation. Follow-up announcements will be necessary to keep everyone informed. Prepare a general statement of the facts.

4. Establish a command post to handle the load of the Crisis Team and to direct the press and concerned members of the community to the Public Information Office.

5. Implement necessary first aid procedures through trained staff, school nurse, nurse’s aide, physical education department, and/or athletic trainer. Direct rescue personnel to injured and give any required assistance. Designate staff member to accompany victim(s) in ambulance.

6. Contact Superintendent’s Office.

7. Identify a place where a log of events is to be kept. Record all significant events, actions, and individuals that are involved.

8. Keep staff informed through a memo or emergency staff meeting. Parents may be informed through a letter sent home with students.

9. Follow-up management should be well-delegated. Crisis counseling for students and staff may be needed, and security concerns should be considered. All staff will assist in restoring building to normal state. Reopen school as soon as possible.

10. Call emergency staff meeting.

(Source: Henrico County Public Schools)

The general response to a suicide does not differ markedly from a response to any sudden death crisis. However, some issues exclusive to suicide require specific attention.

Administrators must allow individuals to grieve the loss of a peer without glorifying the method of death. Overemphasis of a suicide may be interpreted by vulnerable students as a glamorization of the suicidal act, which can assign legendary or idolized status to taking one’s own life. The following "DOs" and "DON’Ts" will help school staff limit glamorization of suicide:

Do acknowledge the suicide as a tragic loss of life.

Do allow individuals to attend funeral services.

Do provide support for the individuals profoundly affected by the death.

Do not organize assemblies to honor the deceased person.

Do not dedicate the yearbook or yearbook pages, newspaper articles, proms, athletic events, or advertisements to the deceased individual.

Do not pay tribute to a suicidal act by planting trees, hanging engraved plaques, or holding other memorial activities.

A suicide in the school community can heightened the likelihood, in the subsequent weeks, of "copycat" suicide attempts and threats among those especially vulnerable to the effects of a suicide. To prevent further tragedies, students considered to be especially susceptible to depression/suicide must be carefully monitored and appropriate action taken if they are identified as high risk. These efforts require a limited, rather than school wide, response.

Go to Member of Crisis Team

Individuals at risk can self-refer or be referred to the crisis team by staff, parent, friend, neighbor, or other person from the community. Persons at risk range from those talking of hopelessness, to those writing poems with suicidal intent, to individualss telling someone of planning to harm themselves. Team members might include principals, psychologists, counselors, teachers, social workers, and nurses. The team member receiving the referral should gather pertinent information from the referral source before contacting other team members.

Designate Case Manager, Gather Information

When possible, the available team members gather to designate a case manager, considering the following factors: 1) existing relationship with the person, 2) time and coverage constraints, 3) seriousness of the problem, 4) experience of the members. The team or case manager reviews the student’s records and gathers information from staff who know the student.

Conduct Interview

The case manager interviews the person on the day of the referral. The case manager determines the extent of suicidal thinking, the potential plan of suicide, the lethality of the plan, and the history of the person’s suicidal thinking and attempts. For severe cases, insure the safety of the person through proper supervision.

Team Members Decide Plan

The case manager returns as soon as possible to the available team members to discuss the case and formulate a plan of action. Depending on the seriousness of the case, the team may wish to consult with other members not initially involved or discus case with Mental Health. Plans formulated by the team might range from no further involvement, to monitoring by a specific staff member, to referral for counseling within the school setting, to asking the proper persons to take immediate action.

Involved Individuals Notified

Involved Individuals of all interviewed persons will be contacted by the case manager on the same day of referral and interview. Individuals will be told of the reason for referral, the outcome of the interview, and the plans formulated by the team. When the suicide potential is significant, the case manager needs to ascertain that the individual accept responsibility to follow through with the team’s recommendations. If the Individual is dangerous to self and others cannot be located, then the case manager contacts the Crisis Intervention Unit of Mental Health. In extremely dangerous situations, the police may be called first to ensure the safety. Follow-up remains the responsibility of the case manager unless explicitly agreed to by other staff members. The case manager documents the case and shares information with other team members.

(Source: Chesterfield County Public Schools)

• Report all acts of vandalism to police.

• Photograph any willful and malicious destruction of property (e.g., graffiti, broken windows, etc.).

• For minor damage, simply note the time, date, and type of damage for your records.

• Serious acts of vandalism may be hate crimes or gang-related.

• Clean up and repair the damage as soon as possible to avoid encouraging future acts of vandalism.

• Aggressively prosecute all vandals to convey that you will not tolerate this type of offense.

• Collect restitution by having the offender pay money or provide labor to clean and/or repair the damage he or she has caused.

 

(Adapted from Safe Schools: A Handbook for Practitioners)

Assess the situation. Notify police. Gather information.

Isolate individual or suspect. Do not use force or touch the person or weapon.

Remain calm. Tell another administrator what the situation is.

Use emergency signal to notify people of the threatening situation and keep people safer.

Notify management.

Refer media questions to the Director of Public Relations

After immediate situation is resolved, hold emergency meeting before members leave.

1. Assess the situation. Notify police. Provide as much information as possible. Be prepared to act as a resource and liaison. If necessary, have a map available for police.

2. Gather as much detailed information about the individual and situation as possible. Try to determine:

- Location, identity and detailed description of individual and weapon.

- Any pertinent background information, including possible reason for carrying a weapon.

3. Isolate individual or suspect. (If weapon is in a locker or elsewhere, prevent access to it.)

4. Confer with police when they arrive. They will advise you how they intend to proceed.

5. If interaction with the individual is imminent, do not use force or touch the person or weapon. Avoid sudden moves or gestures. Remain calm. Try not to raise your voice -- but, if this becomes necessary, do so decisively and with clarity. Your tone and demeanor will strongly influence the outcome of the crisis.

6. Be certain that at least one other person (or designee) is aware of the situation, but limit information to others on a need to know basis.

7. Notify Manager

8. Use emergency signal to notify persons of the threatening situation and keep others safe.

9. Refer media questions to the Director Public Relations.

10. Call emergency meeting. It is important that staff members leave with accurate information about the incident and subsequent actions to be taken.

(Adapted from Henrico County Public Schools)

• Evacuate the area

• Evaluate the perpetrator

• Isolate

• Negotiate

• Remain calm

• Get help, Avoid heroics and Do not threaten

• Keep a safe, nonintimidating distance and Avoid abrupt sporadic movements

• Look for a place to dive or jump

• Report incident to law enforcement

(Adapted from National School Safety Center, 1995)

Goals:

• Safety

• Effective communications

• Mobilization

• Containment

• Assessment and follow-up

• Post and practice mobilization plan.

Severe Weather Watch: Forecast of severe weather in area; normal activities continue; no school-wide announcement; principal or designee monitor the situation.

Severe Weather Warning: Severe and dangerous weather situation approaching. Be prepared.