Emergency Preparedness
Procedures

Guidelines:

• The school will at all times strive to maintain a safe school environment which will minimise the chances of injury to, or death of, students and staff in the event of an emergency.

• The Principal has the authority to close the school when he/she deems it necessary. Where possible closure of the school should be cleared in advance with the Board of Trustees Chairperson. The responsibility may be delegated to the Deputy Principal in the Principal’s absence. Parents are to be advised of the closure as soon as possible by telephone and /or through local radio stations. [See also attached Pupil Release Guideline.]

• All teaching staff and non-teaching staff are to be familiar with the school’s emergency procedures.

• All teaching staff must hold a copy of the attached ‘ Staff Training Opportunities’ and ‘Staff Training Guidelines’. [annexes A,B,C,D,E,F, G]

• The school will carry out a Threat Analysis plus an annual safety audit of the school, fittings and contents. [See attached Safety Audit Guidelines.]

• Fire drills will be practised once per term with responsibility for organising the drill being delegated to the Principal. The designated assembly area is to be known by all staff and students. Fire evacuation procedures, routes and assembly points are clearly marked on a school map and displayed in every classroom.

• All teaching staff will conduct Earthquake drills at least twice a year. [As per Emergency Response Plan - Earthquake.]

• Persons with disabilities within the school are to be assisted in an emergency by the classroom teacher or other staff member, should they require assistance. Staff should ascertain the needs of persons with disabilities when they first meet rather than waiting for an emergency.

• The school has designated the School Secretary to be responsible for school emergency kits. [For information on the placing and contents of these see attached guidelines.]

• Teaching staff will be responsible for taking with them, in the event of an emergency, the class register of attendance. Children’s names will be checked against this once evacuation has occurred.

• The Principal, Deputy Principal, School Secretary is responsible for knowing the location of survival/evacuation items including:

  1. A school register of attendance – in Secretary’s cabinet in office (keys needed)

  2. The schools’ emergency procedures file – on shelf in Photocopy room

  3. First Aid kit - in Medicine cupboard in Sick Bay

  4. Visitors book - on front desk in Admin Block

  5. Portable radio (Room 3 to be used) plus extra batteries (in a sealed pack) - batteries in stationery cupboard

  6. School cash books, building plan and other such administrative documents

  7. A torch plus extra batteries (in a sealed pack)

  8. Water supply – see water supply guideline in Annex E

• Valuable documentation must be stored so that it is as retrievable as possible in the event of an emergency.