Emergency Preparedness

• Violent actions include: Physical assault, fights, verbal assault, and verbal threat
• Promptly walk, do not run, to the scene so you can analyze the situation and form a strategy 
• The moment you are in sight of the violent action, announce your presence in a commanding voice and let everyone know that the behavior is to stop immediately 
• If possible, obtain help from other teachers
• Call out to any students that you recognize and start giving out orders (go to the office, get another teacher, etc.) Attempt to get other students away from the commotion as quickly as possible
• If you know the involved students by name, call out each of their names and let them know that they have been identified

• Do not try to be a hero. If confronted with a serious fight especially one where weapons are observed, get additional help and and notify police immediately 

• If you are going to separate two fighters, first be sure that you can do it. If they are larger than you are, or if they are out of control, you will likely fail in separating them and may wind up injured in the process. 
• If you must, let the fight run its course
• After the students are separated, avoid using further confrontational behavior yourself (pointing at students, making accusations, cornering them with their back against the wall)
• Never restrain on student without restraining the other; this may open the restrained student up to an attack
• Never say “calm down”, “relax”, or “what’s your problem?”. Instead say things like “what’s up?”, “tell me everything”, or “I’m listening?”
• Remember that no one can “cool down” instantly. Try to change the tone of the crisis gradually. Send the participants to “cool down” corners until they calm down. Have students take slow, deep breaths. 
• When students are calmed down, escort them to an administrator; take your on student and have other adult(s) take the other student(s) to avoid a flare-up of the conflict
• File an incident report/document the incident with an administrator

• Intruders are unauthorized visitors who are trespassing or loitering on school property. Particular attention should be paid to cars noticed lingering in the parking lot or on the street near the school, or someone watching children on the playground as these situations might be  a prelude to a violent intruder situation. Notify police of this situation.
• All visitors to the building are to enter through the main office and check in with the receptionist. Teachers should be aware of and report anyone in the building without clearance
• If a threatening, suspicious or violent intruder is found in the building trying to enter the building, or if their imminent presence is suspected, the lock-down code for the building should be announced over the phone intercom system
• When the lock-down code is given, go to the classroom door and have all students in the hallway enter their classroom. Teachers near the bathrooms are to have those students using the facilities enter their classroom
• Lock classroom doors and windows; close blinds/shades; and turn off the lights (unless in an interior room)
• All classrooms should have a radio. Turn it on and listen for updates from administrators (be mindful of the volume if trying to be discreet)
• Take attendance; report missing and extra students to the main office 
• Explain that there is a dangerous intruder in the building and that everyone is to remain in the classroom until the situation is resolved. Keep students away from windows and doors. If there are TVs/computers/smartboards in the classroom, keep them off.
• Maintain calm
• Remember 911

• A weapon is any instrument that may produce bodily harm or death
• Notify police immediately 
• Upon learning of a weapon on school grounds, take immediate steps to reduce the risk of injury or possible death by directing all non-involved individuals out of the area
• Gather any and all information to determine the location of the weapon pr possible offender 
• Inform the head of school, front office or a nearby administrator ASAP
• Protect the identity or any informants 
• DO NOT attempt to confiscate the weapon
• Isolate the student/offender as much as possible until help arrives
• Remember 911

• Upon hearing shots, yell to students to “drop to the ground” or “drop to the floor”
• If outside, yell to students to “quietly run into the building” as soon as the car has left the area
• Notify police immediately/call 911
• Be alert for returning car and be prepared to have students drop to the ground again
• Notify the head of school or front office ASAP
• Report any injuries and remain with injured students 
• When inside building, organize students and try to restore calm
• Return to the classroom, take attendance and report any missing students
• Note: A similar procedure is to be used in the case of a sniper attack
• In the case of a shooting in the school building, implement lock-down and keep students away from doors and windows

A hostage situation occurs when an individual takes, holds, confines, or otherwise restricts the free movement or liberty of any person(s) by real or implied force (use of weapons, threats, or physical bodily harm). A hostage-taker acts for various reasons, including mental illness, duress, custody battle, craving for power, helplessness, or for money. Two key factors are that the person is thinking irrationally and will respond with desperate actions. Try to calm the situation and provide enough time for the police to achieve a safe conclusion

If you are the the to identify a hostage situation: 

• Secure the immediate area, if possible, by removing all non-participants 
• Close the door to the area, if appropriate, to isolate the incident
• Notify the principal’s office ASAP

If you and your class have been taken hostage:

• Do everything the captor says to do
• Be especially careful during the first 5 minutes as the captor is probably as desperate and jumpy as you are
• Speak only when spoken to, never make a wisecrack
• Try not to show emotions openly. Act relaxed
• Sit down, if possible, to avoid appearing aggressive
• Have faith in negotiators 
• If possible, hide or get rid of personal effects (photos of spouse/children, keys)
• Do not make any suggestions to the hostage-taker(s). If suggestions go wrong, captor may think you tried to create problems
• Do not turn away from the captor unless ordered to do so, and try to keep eye contact without staring. People are less likely to harm someone they are looking at.
• Be patient