Safety

Emergency Response Information

Emergency Procedures

1. Call 9-911, and give the name and location of the facility from which you are calling.
   
2. Any time your school calls the police, the fire department, or Emergency Medical Services (EMS), notify the JCPS Security/Radio Room Operator (485-3121) immediately of the nature and scope of the situation.
   
3. Security will immediately notify the needed support services of the nature and scope of the situation. The Public Information officer (PIO) will notify the superintendent and the appropriate assistant superintendent's office. The PIO may contact you to monitor the situation or to assist with media/communications efforts. If you need communications assistance in an emergency, contact the Public Relations Officer at 817-6847 and the JCPS Security Radio Room at 485-3121. At the request of the superintendent or principal, the PIO will assume responsibility for emergency/crisis communication.
   
4. If necessary, direct the evacuation of the building to the outdoor assembly area that can be used as a student control area, medical treatment area, command post, and student release area if needed. Procedures should be in place to account for all students and staff. If weather conditions require, plans should be made to evacuate to an alternate site, where practical, which could temporarily house students and staff until transportation is provided.
   
5. Place staff at each entrance/exit to secure the building. Enforce the requirement that all visitors (including parents, media, community members, etc.) be required to sign in at the office so that there is a record of everyone physically present in the building.
   
6. If necessary, the PIO will designate and staff a briefing area for the media away from the incident area and will escort media to designated locations. The school also should designate and staff a waiting area away from the incident for visitors.
   
7. In the event of any major accident, natural or man-made, the establishment of a designated controlled area is required. A continuity of command must be maintained so that each department is adequately briefed on the situation as it arises and can assume control of its responsibilities.The command post (JCPS Security/Radio Room) contains the necessary communications and personnel to communicate with all agencies involved in the incident.
   
8. A Disaster Response Team can be activated in cases of natural or man-made disasters or other catastrophic incidences. The purpose of the Disaster Response Team shall be to ensure that first-response procedures are communicated to affected personnel to alleviate any danger for students and employees until internal and external agencies can mobilize. Depending on the nature of the incident, Central Office staff members can be dispatched to the school site to assist you.
   

Emergency Communications

1. Providing factual updates during the situation is crucial. Students and staff should be informed as appropriate under the circumstance. A decision as to whether an interim or a full story will be released will be made by the principal in conjunction with the PIO--with the advice of EMS, the fire department, police personnel, etc., when appropriate.
   
2. It is imperative that only accurate, verified information of a public nature be shared. For this purpose, it is best to limit the spokesperson for the situation to one individual.
   
3. All student information is confidential, including names, and cannot be shared with the media. All media inquiries regarding employees must be referred to the Public Information Office (485-3357).
   
4. Although schools are public institutions, you have the right to limit access within the building and on school grounds for the safety of students and staff and so as not to disrupt the instructional environment. Reporters should be aware that they cannot interrupt classes/school programs/school business and cannot interfere with school or police investigations. Should reporters forget, remind them politely.
   
5. At the beginning of each school year, alternate communication sources should be identified and included with the school's Safety Plan. Examples of alternate communications follow:
   
   • Does the school have two-way radio communication capability? If unknown, please call 485-3298 for assistance.
     
   • Identify school personnel with mobile cellular communication availability (car telephones/mobile telephones).
     
   • Identify school personnel with CB-radio communication.
     
6. Arrange for transfer of students, staff, and other individuals when their safety is threatened by disaster.
   
7. Take any other steps deemed necessary to ensure the safety of students, staff, and other individuals.
   
8. Assist as directed by the superintendent.