SECTION 3: INSTITUCIONAL POLICIES
3.22 Emergency Response Plan
The safety and security of all USP students and staff is a top priority. Our emergency response plan contains detailed guidance for emergency evacuations, drills, and necessary procedures to keep all community members safe.
USP has a detailed plan for the evacuation of students and staff from the school buildings in the event of an emergency. Students at USP regularly take part in emergency drills for fire and lockdown. If a building emergency requires evacuation, teachers and students will follow evacuation procedures posted in each classroom. If, following an evacuation of the building, it is necessary for students to leave the campus, teachers will remain with their classes, while school support staff notifies parents for pick-up.
If it is necessary for students to leave the campus without delay, they will be evacuated by school buses, USP parents will then be contacted to collect their children at a specified location. USP has developed an emergency contact system, which utilizes a broadcast list via WAB so that parents can be contacted immediately. It is essential that parents maintain school updated of any changes.
In the event of an emergency, the action and appropriate direction will be initiated by the school. Please take a moment to review the actions listed below. Students and staff will be trained, and the school will practice these actions through drills over the course of the school year.
EVACUATION
An Evacuation is initiated when there are conditions inside the school building that could be unsafe, such as fire, earthquake**. Students and staff evacuate the buildings and assemble at predetermined locations. An off-site evacuation may be necessary depending on the incident. School administrators will coordinate bussing of students to an off-campus location.
ALARM SOUNDS
Fire alarm buttons are located throughout the school. Signs are posted throughout the school indicating where the exits are located.
STUDENTS
Leave books, bags, and belongings behind
- Everyone walks (no running)
- Listen to directions from teacher or staff
- Maintain silence throughout the evacuation, communicating only when necessary.
- All students will line up according to Advisory on the designated area.
ACADEMIC COORDINATOR & PRE-SCHOOL COORDINATOR:
- Bring the list of absentees for the day.
- Check the Red/Green Indicators and troubleshoot. If students are missing, this is communicated on the radio to the academic and administrative director. Maintenance staff may be chosen to return to search the building (unless conditions prevent this). An update is reported to the Directors.
ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER
Reports attendance of staff/providers to the Administrative Director and maintains communication with the administrative director about further actions (Call Fire department, Police, etc.)
TEACHERS
Make sure all students exit their classroom.
- Be the last one to leave the classroom.
- Direct your students to the designated area following the emergency exit route posted in each classroom.
- Teachers bring the roster of his/her students and the Red and Green Indicator signs to the field and take over their group. (Note: If it is not possible to get the red/green signs, teachers may use a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” signal.)
- Advisory teachers should make sure that all students memorize their row location beforehand.
- Teachers and IAs stand with the class to which they are pre-assigned.
- Teachers take attendance and hold up an indicator sign. NOTE: GREEN = ALL Present / RED = Someone Missing or a Problem Exists.
- Teachers not with a class at time of the fire/emergency should sweep the bathrooms and common areas on their floor to check for students.
SECURITY PERSONNEL
Main entrance closed. No one enters or exits campus until further instructions are communicated.
LEADERSHIP TEAM
The LTeam (Academic Director, Academic Coordinator, Pre-School Coordinator, IT Coordinator, Administrative Director and Administrative Manager) confer. The all clear is given when ready by sounding one long bell or whistle.
- Students return to class in an orderly manner. In the event the students and staff need to be evacuated from school premises, the school will coordinate immediately with the bus company. Parents will be contacted with detailed information to pick up their children. Teachers will always remain with their students.
- Lead students to designated pick up area.
CAFETERIA&OFFICE STAFF – Assemble by the security gate (parking lot).
NURSE&MAINTENANCE STAFF – Assemble by the security gate (parking lot).
Maintenance Staff 1: Sweep ground floor (bathrooms, auditorium, teacher’s lounge, nurse’s office)
Maintenance Staff 2: Sweep 1st floor (bathrooms, classrooms, computer lab, library, offices).
Emergency Lockdown
Lock, no lights, Out of sight
An Emergency Lockdown is a low probability event, however, we need to be prepared just in case. An Emergency Lockdown will be called for in the event of an intruder on campus, nearby protests/demonstrations, or when there may be an immediate threat or hazard near or on the school campus. Anyone who notices an intruder on campus or any other reason for the school to go into lock-down should notify the Administrative Director or Academic Director immediately. Staff will be notified via internal communication. After the first communication through a PA system (LOCKDOWN, LOCKDOWN), staff should, at all possible, have devices and/or cell phones available for communication with the administration.
Students and staff are moved (or remain) in classrooms, sit away from sight line of the doors or windows, and doors and windows are locked. Classroom activities cease until the incident concludes. The office will be closed, and phones will not be answered.
STUDENTS
Move away from sight.
- Students should be hidden out of sight as much as possible and protected from flying glass.
- Maintain silence.
- Listen to directions from teacher or staff.
TEACHERS
Ensure all interior doors are locked.
- Maintain silence.
- Ensure no movement inside & outside of buildings.
- Move away from sight.
- Secure ALL persons in a room (includes office staff and security personnel).
- Maintain calm and quiet.
SECURITY PERSONNEL
- The school’s security guards will handle the threat if it is an intruder or other security matter. The local police will be contacted by security or the school administration if necessary. It is best to let these trained professionals handle such situations.
ALL
Teachers, staff and students not in a classroom at time of the emergency should seek immediate shelter in a safe place nearest to their location.
- If in the bathroom, lock the door and remain in the bathroom.
- If outdoors, find shelter wherever possible, seated away from windows with backs against the outside of the building is recommend. Do not try to re-enter the building unless it is the safest place at hand.
- Everyone should maintain silence and remain still throughout the emergency, communicating only when necessary. Teachers should have their laptops and/or cell phones available for receiving communication from the administration.
- If books are available for students to read, that may be an option to help keep them calm.
- Do not open the classroom door if anyone knocks or speaks to you from outside – wait for the all clear.
- The LTeam will confer when safe to do so. The all clear is given when ready by announcement through internal communication channels.
- Students resume classes.
Modified Lockdown
A Modified Lockdown will be called when students and staff need to be inside the building for safety, protection from dangers outside of the building, or for unsafe conditions in the immediate vicinity of the school, such as fire or police presence in the neighborhood, etc. It may also be initiated when there is an unsafe situation in an area of the campus and movement needs to be controlled until the situation has been resolved. During a modified lockdown students and staff are moved (or remain) in their classrooms and classroom instruction continues as normal. Necessary movement can occur within a building or within the campus, and the administrative office is open for assistance.
The authorities (Police, Fire Department, Sinaproc, etc.) will typically notify administration when the All Clear can be given.
STUDENTS
- If outside, return to classroom.
- Listen to directions from teacher or staff.
TEACHERS
- If outside, all students and staff return to classrooms
- Increased situational awareness
- Instruction as usual
- Take attendance and account for students
Earthquakes
Earthquakes are low-probability, high-consequence events. Though they may occur only once in the life of a school, they can have devastating, irreversible consequences. Since earthquakes occur without warning students and staff will need to be prepared with methods to protect themselves.
EARTHQUAKE WHILE INDOORS AT SCHOOL
When an earthquake occurs, the following actions shall be taken inside the school building and in individual classrooms:
- The teacher must implement the DUCK, COVER AND HOLD ON action.
Each student must:
- Get under equipment (desk, table, etc.) where available. Otherwise get next to an inside wall.
- Drop to knees with back to the windows and knees together.
- Hold on to the desk.
- Bury face in arms, protecting the head. Close the eyes tightly.
- Stay there until the procedure or emergency is over or until subsequent instructions are given. Such instructions will depend upon circumstances and the extent of damage to the buildings.
- As soon as possible, teachers shall move the students away from windows and out from under heavy suspended light fixtures.
- Teachers shall implement action to EVACUATE THE BUILDING when the earthquake is over and follow EVAUATION procedures.
EARTHQUAKE WHILE ON SCHOOL GROUNDS
When an earthquake occurs, the following actions shall be taken if teachers and students are on school playgrounds:
The teacher must direct the students to WALK away from buildings, trees, poles, or exposed wires.
- The teacher must implement the DUCK, COVER AND HOLD ON action. Teachers and students must cover as much skin surface as possible, close eyes, and cover ears.
- Teachers and students must stay in the open until the earthquake is over, or until further directions are given.
GENERAL PROCEDURES
- The safest place to be is in the open. Stay there.
- Move away from buildings, trees, and exposed wires. DO NOT RUN!
SUBSEQUENT EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
- Nurse/teachers render first aid if necessary.
- School Directors request assistance as needed, through appropriate channels: Sinaproc or fire and police departments.
- School Directors determine the advisability of closing the school, with the advice of fire Department, etc.
- If after a thoroughly inspection, it is determined that the building is safe for use, the school directors make sure conditions exist to resume educational activities as soon as possible.
- If it is not possible to determine if the buildings can be occupied, until such time as the buildings are safe for use, the academic team will provide educational resources so that the educational program may be continued with as little interruption as possible.
EARTHQUAKE WHILE ON THE BUS
When students are on the school bus and an earthquake occurs, the following actions shall be taken:
- The bus driver shall pull to the side of the road away from any buildings, poles, wires, overhead structures, or bridges, if possible, and issue the DROP, COVER AND HOLD ON action.
- The driver shall set the brakes and turn off the ignition.
- The bus driver shall wait until the earthquake is over before proceeding on the route.
- If the bus driver continues, he/she shall watch for hazards created by earthquakes, such as fallen electrical wires, cracked roads, or fallen poles.
- The bus driver shall contact the bus company for instructions.
AREAS AND EVACUATION ROUTES
