Emergency Preparedness

The purpose of this document is to provide instruction on the necessary steps to safely handle an emergency in which one or multiple students (or faculty) are at risk or injured while either on IMS Campus i.e. the mountain, off campus on a day trip, or off campus on an overnight.  

There are two parts to this document, the first one involves risk management strategies and then moves on to discuss emergency response procedures. When an emergency occurs these guidelines are meant to structure and streamline the response of faculty and instructors on how to handle a situation when reacting swiftly is imperative.

Structures in place to keep our Mountain Safe: 

1. Known  Perimeter of IMS Mountain Land

Signage around the perimeter of the mountain that clearly labels when one is leaving and entering IMS property.This would ensure that students do not wander off the property and we could instruct students that, once they see such a sign, if they aren't on a marked trail, they should turn around.Signs can be labeled with more specific information (numbers or words) that help someone identify where they are on the mountain and communicate to search and rescue if possible.

2. Trail labeling 

• A more explicit trail labeling system as well as map is in the process of being designed. This will be more clear for members of our community that spend time on the mountain and help with search and rescue if need be.

As with any emergency situation, there are variables that cannot be predicted or controlled and instructors must use their best judgment to handle the situation in a way that is safest for the group and individual at large.

All instructors on OAE trips/ IMS Mountain must have the following on them at all times:

• Radio- connected with Health Center (if on campus) and other instructors (on and off campus)
•  Instructors should have basic first aid certification or WFA Certification
• Basic Medical Kit and any epipens or inhalers for students on trip

The first step in any situation is always to stop, ensure the scene is clear and follow a proper plan of action in order to not create a second victim.

As with all situations, it is the hope that these guidelines rarely need to be followed if proper risk mitigation occurs.

 The following steps should be taken on all trips (including the IMS Mountain) to mitigate risk of injury and emergency situation:

• Never allow students on their own in remote terrain/ use the buddy system at all times
• Ensure students familiarity with the mountain before allowing them to stray from instructors' vision.
• Set boundaries for a group during group games and exploration
• More than 1 instructor on the mountain at a time during programming with a 10-1 Student to Faculty ratio at most. 
• Always check the weather and conditions prior to departing, if your instinct tells you this is a bad time then connect with another instructor and determine whether or not to reschedule.
• Prior to Departing for a trip, always know where the closest hospital and medical services are and designate an ER driver. 
• Students should never use dangerous tools or equipment without the supervision and permission of an adult.

In the case of an emergency on IMS Campus: 

Situation #1- Missing Student

1. Determine an incident commander - notify faculty on campus/ search team and Get? description ?of? "what,?where,?who,?and ?when”? by? witnesses? as ?soon? as? possible.The last known point or LKP will be important to identify so search parties can carry out from that location.
2. Air horn blast: at this time a loud air horn blast will take place of 3 consecutive horn blasts. This notifies all members of the search party on campus that someone is missing on our mountain. In addition, as noted in the following document with training for faculty and students on our mountain (Link Here), if you are the missing person on the mountain you may make your way to this sound where a member of the rescue team will be stationed at all times. This should preferably be at the LKP.
3. Once alerted, other members of the search party should grab Medical Kits and Radios (turn to channel 2) and make their way to the last known point to discuss who will be taking which route (see below).
4. Search and Rescue Routes: 

Route #1: Ponds to hotchkiss cabin via ski slope, then following the upper trail south to the big chimney.

Route #2: Ponds west to ropes course, middle trail to falcon's ledge, north to the big chimney via the upper trail.

Route #3- Ponds to ropes course, to middle trail south, to switchback (turn right) and head towards reservoir and big chimney. 

Route’s 1 and 2, 3 End at the Big Chimney

Route #4: Ponds → lower trail south to switch back north to middle trail, ending at the ropes course.

Routes #4 ends at the ropes course

(See map attached)

Search Parties should consist of at least 2-3 people in case of an emergency situation when the missing person is found and to avoid creating any further victims during the search and rescue.

1. Every 10 minutes the incident commander connects via radio regarding progress and any leads. Checking in to ensure safety of the search party. Only share if something meaningful, otherwise leave the line clear of chatter.
2. If the missing person is not found after conducting the trail sweep system, meet at designated locations, travel to the LKP and begin a spiral search method for LKP in case the victim is unresponsive or off the trail in the deeper woods.  At this time authorities should be contacted and a designated member of the search and rescue team should meet authorities at the base of the moment, communicate LKP and information on the missing person. 

Day Hike:

1. Determine an incident commander and connect with other instructors on trip to ensure safety of other students on the trip. Connect with AOD on campus or on call to notify of events and plan for other students.
2. Safely transport the larger group of students to buses with assigned faculty. 
3. Assess severity of student(s) injuries and determine if the student can be evacuated safely by IMS faculty or if authorities should be contacted.

***It is the best practice to have an emergency vehicle (mini-van) on site in case of an ER trip or evacuation***

Overnight Trip:

1. Determine an incident commander and connect with other instructors on trip to ensure safety of other students on the trip
2. Assess severity of student(s) injuries and determine if a student should be evacuated and how urgent this need is based on WFA and First Aid training.
3. Contact IMS AOD and Head of School on Campus

Communication with the family of the missing person will vary depending on the situation and prior to any communication should be discussed with the Head of School. In addition, communication with the larger IMS community will be properly determined after the event and communicated by administration.