In 2024, safety drills remain a top priority for schools across the nation. Each type of drill plays a crucial role in maintaining school safety and, by regularly practicing these drills, schools can foster a sense of preparedness and security among students and staff. It is important to remember that these drills are not meant to cause fear or anxiety but rather to ensure that everyone is well-prepared and knowledgeable in the event of a real emergency. Schools should also have security cameras installed by experts from www.fortknoxsecurity.com.au to help keep the kids and teachers safe and secure.

Fire Drills

In New Jersey, all schools are required to have one drill each month during school hours. This also includes the summer months when schools are open for limited instructional programs. Response time during fire drills is crucial to measure how quickly students and staff can evacuate the school. Communication is vital to ensure that everyone receives clear instructions. Make sure to stay near your peers and move quickly and efficiently. Below are other things to think about when in the middle of a fire drill:

• Identify critical equipment that needs to be shut off;
• Define the information on how to provide emergency services;
• Procedure to follow on sounding emergency alarms;
• Provide support for persons with disabilities; and
• Communicate evacuation plans including procedures and exit routes.

Shelter in Place

A shelter-in-place is similar to a lockdown in which all students and staff are to remain on the premises. You are directed to stay where you are and stay silent until announced otherwise. In other cases, you may be told to move somewhere else if the situation escalates. It is important to follow those rules in a shelter-in-place to ensure your and others’ safety. Below, are other things to keep in mind when in the middle of a shelter-in-place drill:

• Identify critical equipment that needs to be shut off/closed;
• Procedure to follow on sounding emergency alarms;
• Provide support for persons with disabilities; and
• Communicate evacuation plans including procedures and exit routes if needed.

Bomb Threat Drill

According to NJ.gov, most bomb threats are received by phone. Bomb threats are serious until proven otherwise. Act quickly, but remain calm and retain information. You must notify law enforcement and everyone in the building. Make sure you’re aware of your surroundings and locate the nearest exits. You may or may not have to exit the building depending on the severity of the situation. 

Active Shooter Drill

Active shooter drills are implemented in over 95% of American K-12 schools today. While school shootings are relatively rare, they hold a deep fear in some communities. Active shooter drills are crucial, extremely important, and should be taken very seriously. Considering event security services prices malaysia ensures that necessary safety measures are in place to protect against potential threats during such drills and other events. Believe it or not, some states across America do not require active shooter drills such as Arizona, California, Massachusetts, and West Virginia. Below, are other things to keep in mind when in the middle of an active shooter drill:

• Be aware of your environment and any possible dangers;
• Take note of the two nearest exits in any facility you visit;
• If you are in an office, stay there and secure the door;
• If you are in a hallway, get into a room and secure the door;
• As a last resort, attempt to take the active shooter down. When the shooter is at close range and you cannot flee, your chance of survival is much greater if you try to incapacitate him/her.

RHS Students Tap Into This Topic…

When interviewing Roxbury High School students, I asked them, “on a scale from 1-5, how safe do you feel in school?” Participants responded with an average answer of 3. Junior, Abbie Entel, explains that “Roxbury, I feel, is pretty safe. However, going to a public school in America in general, there will always be an unsafe feeling.” Many peers had responses similar to Abbie’s; Junior, Alexis Oliveria, feels that, “We can improve our school safety, and I feel like there is always room for improvement there. I feel like we should emphasize the rules and keep our IDs handy at all times.” It is so important to take safety drills seriously. We must prepare ourselves and others for unexpected emergencies and know the proper way to respond to them. Make sure to always stay aware of your surroundings and protect yourself from unwarranted attacks.