Emergency Preparedness: What is the Situation at Your School?
Schools are the hearts of our communities. School is the place where our children spend the majority of their formative years. In many towns and cities, schools also serve as emergency evacuation centers during natural disasters. The question you need to ask is whether or not your school has the resources needed by the staff, teachers and students need to deal with an emergency situation. You may not realize it, but emergency preparedness kits can help schools be ready for earthquakes, natural disasters and manmade emergencies of all kinds.
Starting with a Plan
Being prepared for an emergency begins with knowledge. According to emergency preparedness experts, the most important thing to do to increase the chances of survival in a disaster is to plan ahead. Every school should have a formal disaster response plan that lays out exactly what each person on the premises should do in the event of a variety of emergencies that might arise. A well-written and informative disaster response guide gives schools an edge in successfully responding to crises.
First Aid Kits
Every classroom in a school should be outfitted with a first aid kit that can handle most medical emergencies, from the minor to the life-endangering. In a situation where students are trapped in a classroom or other area of the school, a first aid kit in the school’s main office or medical office won’t be of any use.
If you’re responsible for selecting first aid kits, choose those that meet all current first aid protocols. If your classrooms already have emergency first aid kits, consider having them evaluated by your fire or police department’s emergency medical response team to make sure they don’t contain items – like butterfly bandages or hydrogen peroxide – that are no longer used by professionals in medical emergencies. In addition, classroom first aid kits should contain important items, such as CPR facemasks with instructions and pressure bandages to help stop bleeding.
Proper Training for Staff and Teachers
Even the best first aid kit is useless if no one knows how to use it properly. Every adult staff member should have training in basic first aid and many should have training in CPR. The more people who know how to respond to medical emergencies, the more likely it is that the injured will survive.
In addition to emergency medical training, the staff should also be trained in emergency evacuation procedures. Indeed, the entire school should participate in evacuation drills that are appropriate for the region. Teachers, staff and students should all know how to react if there is a tornado warning, an earthquake or other natural disaster. Being prepared can help teachers and students remain calm, which can often literally mean the difference between life and death.
Beyond the Basics
School emergency preparedness can extend beyond the basics. The right equipment and proper training can give your staff a head start on search and rescue in situations where emergency response teams are unable to reach you quickly. Those precious moments can make all the difference, saving lives and minimizing injuries.
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the world’s MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
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