YORKTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOLS

CRISIS PROCEDURE MANUAL

Crisis Procedure Release of Students
District Crises Management Team Poisoning/Substance Overdose
Injury Suicide - Death - Loss of Family Member
Fire or Explosion, Gas Leak, Structural Failure Emergency Preparation Procedures
Mass Injuries or Destruction Alternate Sites
Severe Weather/Tornado Media Procedure
Community Disasters Crisis Communication Center

 


CRISIS PROCEDURE

1. NOTIFY EMERGENCY SERVICES FIRE - POLICE - AMBULANCE

9-911

YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY
ELECTRIC - 1-800-572-1131
GAS (NATURAL) 1-800-752-6633
GAS (PROPANE) 914-737-4320
WATER –914-245-6111

2. INSURE SAFETY OF STUDENTS, STAFF AND VISITORS
3. Notify Superintendent of Schools 243-8000
4. Keep the designated emergency phone line open for communications with the Superintendent of Schools.


DISTRICT CRISIS MANAGEMENT TEAM

POSITION

PHONE

Superintendent

243-8000

Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services

243-8015

Assistant Superintendent for Business & Facilities

243-8022

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction

243-8006

Director of Operations and Maintenance

243-8013

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INJURY

1. In the event of:

Nonresponsiveness of subject
Apparent heart attack
Severe respiratory distress
Serious injury IMMEDIATELY CALL 9-911

2. Administer Basic Life Support

Survey the scene to make sure it is safe. You cannot help by becoming a victim.
Stay with the victim; initiate first aid within scope of your abilities.
Do not move victim if you suspect a neck or back injury.
Check for breathing
Check for pulse
Control bleeding
Begin CPR if necessary

3. Contact an administrator and nurse if available.

4. Treat all body fluids as potentially infectious. Follow safety procedures during
contact and cleanup.

5. Administrator contacts parent or other emergency contact person and asks them to
come to school. If unable to contact one of the above and the person needs further
emergency care, take the person to an emergency room via ambulance.

If it is necessary to send a person(s) to the hospital, one staff member should go with
them.
The staff member should be instructed to:

Make no statements or release any information to the media.
Take emergency information with them.
Keep administrator advised of the person's status.
Protect the privacy of the victim(s) and/or their families.

6. Continue trying to reach the parents/emergency contact person and inform them of the emergency and where the person has been taken.

Notify the emergency room staff regarding the status of contact with the parent.

7. Prepare Accident Report regarding incident.

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FIRE OR EXPLOSION, GAS LEAK, STRUCTURAL FAILURE

 

Activate fire alarm and call 911, then notify administrator

Evacuate students, staff and visitors

Notify the Superintendent of Schools, 243-8000 as soon as possible.

DO NOT attempt to fight the fire. Your first responsibility is to evacuate students.

Evacuation Procedures

1. Immediately direct students to proper exit. DO NOT stop for personal items. Be prepared for an alternate exit route due to an area of the building being impassable. Specific staff should be assigned in advance to assist students with disabilities.

2. Take class list or attendance book (office staff takes emergency information) so all students can be accounted for when assembled outside.

3. Teachers follow student lines to be sure all are out. Turn out lights. Close classroom door. If it makes sense, teachers may position themselves to the front of the line after it has been determined that all students are out of the classroom.

4. Move students away from building as per fire drill procedures.

5. Leave sidewalks clear for emergency personnel and equipment.

6. Take attendance. Immediately notify an administrator, person designated or fire fighter if any students cannot be accounted for. Stay with your class. Use a messenger to communicate with administrators.

7. Specific building personnel will be assigned to check all restrooms, locker areas, etc., to ensure that everyone is out of the building.

8. Be prepared to walk your class to the building’s alternate site as instructed by administrator.

9. Student emergency cards, class schedules, or student rosters should be removed from building by designated office person(s) so all telephone numbers and addresses are available, if needed.

10. DO NOT give statements to the media or permit reporters to talk to students. Refer them to the Superintendent.

11. Each school should have a plan for re-entering the building if/when the crisis is resolved. DO NOT re-enter until "all-clear" has been sounded.

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MASS INJURIES OR DESTRUCTION

Call 9- 911 then notify administrator

Evacuate as necessary a sufficient distance from building (See "Fire Evacuation" instructions)

Notify Superintendent 243-8000

Seal off area

Law enforcement will provide crowd control

Superintendent will designate media staging area and provide all public information.

Assist emergency personnel in identification of injured

Take emergency cards, yearbook or class pictures to the hospitals

Designate on-site command center at emergency personnel command center

Account for all student, staff, volunteers, and visitors (keep centralized master list at command center)

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SEVERE WEATHER/TORNADO

Severe Weather/Tornado Watch:

Severe weather or a tornado may develop. Continue normal operations.

Severe Weather/Tornado Warning:

Community alarm sounded or building announcement

Severe weather or a tornado has been detected

TAKE COVER! USE SHELTER DRILL PROCEDURE

Move to position of greatest safety
Maintain until "all clear" is announced

DO NOT board vehicles!

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COMMUNITY DISASTERS

(I.E., INDIAN POINT, GAS LEAK, HAZARDOUS WASTE SPILL, AIR CRASH NEAR SCHOOL BUILDINGS)

Follow directions of civil authorities.
Principal/designee is in charge.

Indian Point/Civil Service drill (test of sirens) will be conducted with prior notification.
In the event of an emergency requiring evacuation, the District’s Early Dismissal Plan will be used.

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RELEASE OF STUDENTS

IF STUDENTS ARE TO BE RELEASED DUE TO CRISIS SITUATION:

Decision will be made by the Superintendent of Schools

Parents/guardians will be informed via the media that students are being released.

DO NOT release any child to an adult (parent, guardian, or neighbor) until a positive identification of the adult is made. Record both the child’s and the adult’s name.

Students who walk to and from school will be released at the same time with instructions to leave the campus and go to their home or designated site as listed on their information card.


FOR STUDENTS WHO RIDE BUSES

Students who ride buses to and from school will be grouped according to bus routes.

The bus garage will send buses and inform each driver of names and addresses of all students on his/her route.

On elementary routes, it may be necessary to assign a faculty member to each bus and assist the driver in identifying students and helping with supervision.

Elementary students will be delivered to their homes. If adult supervision is not available, the student will be kept on the bus until contact is made with parent/guardian or designated relative/friend listed on student’s emergency card.

Middle and high school students will be delivered to their regular bus stop.

 

Information regarding when classes will resume will be disseminated through the local media.

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POISONING/SUBSTANCE OVERDOSE

Notify the nurse

If overdose is taken - call 9-911 then notify administrator

Keep person awake/alert as possible

See the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) on file in principal’s office for

substance information

Call a Poison Control Helpline – POISON CONTROL CENTER 914-366-3030 or 1-800-336-6997. Take the container of sample with you to the phone, if possible.

Utilize trained staff for first aid

Call the parent/alternate contact

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SUICIDE - DEATH - LOSS OF FAMILY MEMBER

Threat of Suicide in the School

Any threat should be taken seriously! Notify an administrator immediately.

Administrator will implement the Student Intervention Plan

1. Notify counselor/psychologist
2. Notify Director of Pupil Personnel Services – 243-8150
3. Activate Intervention Team, as needed (See Student Intervention Plan manual)
4. Notify parent(s)
5. Notify psychiatrist or therapist (if known), contact nurse assigned to facility.
6. Don’t send student home alone.

Suicide or Death in the School

Call 9-911 then notify administrator

1. Administrator will implement the Student Intervention Plan (See Student Intervention Plan manual)

• Visit with family, being sensitive to their wishes
• Provide information and support to other students, as appropriate

2. Notify Superintendent who will:

• notify Board, other administrators
• handle all media and public information
• communicate with Health Department, as needed
• notify Hospice, if needed

3. Activate Intervention Team (See Student Intervention Plan manual)

4. Prepare written statement regarding incident.

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SUICIDE - DEATH - LOSS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL

Notify the building principal.

1. Administrator will implement Post Incident Response (See Emergency Management
Plan, page 42)

2. Notify Superintendent who will:

• notify administrator(s) of other buildings where relatives or close friends of deceased attend or work
• notify Board, other administrators
• handle all media and public information
• communicate with Health Department, as needed
• notify Hospice, if needed


ABDUCTION

(KIDNAPPING/NONCUSTODIAL PARENT)

• All persons checking out a student should sign in at the Health or Main office.
• Administrator/designee check records to determine if there may be a legal custody issue.
• If circumstances warrant or if there is any question, call 9- 911.
• Call the parent/guardian.
• Notify Superintendent at 243-8000
• Be able to state where and when student was last seen, a description of the student and student’s clothing, the names of close friends, a description of the suspect/vehicle, and provide a picture of student, if possible.

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EMERGENCY PREPARATION PROCEDURES

Prepare students and staff in advance for possible emergency situations.

PRIOR TO THE START OF SCHOOL:

1. Review Crisis Procedure Manual and building emergency plan with all staff during preschool staff development days.

• Identify "Chain of Command" for the building. Update list below.
• Identify persons who know First Aid/CPR. Update list in this manual.
• Review location of all building fire alarms and fire extinguishers.
• Review utility shut-off locations and procedures. Designated personnel should attach diagram to back of this manual.
• Review signal system for announcing different crises and their termination,
• Review with appropriate staff the operation of the emergency phone line that will be kept open for communications with the Superintendent.
• Designate responsibilities for crisis situations, including search of premises, aid for persons with disabilities.
• Each staff member will document his/her participation by signing the Crisis Procedure Review form.

2. Secure Crisis Procedure Manuals

3. Post signs in each room/area identifying proper exit in case of fire (red sign) and cover area in case of severe weather.

4. Contact the building's alternate site.

5. Set up schedule for testing building's emergency equipment on a regular basis (battery-operated phone and radio, flashlights, bullhorn, fire extinguishers, etc.). The custodian should keep a log of all tests.

6. Keep a list of who has keys and a floor plan showing room numbers and the locations of windows, doors, storerooms, restrooms, and offices. A copy should be sent to the Director of Operations.

7. Provide list of cell phone numbers to Superintendent. Identify and report designated open phone line number.

 

WHEN STUDENTS ARE IN SCHOOL:

Practice each of these crisis procedures with students:

Fire drill (12 per year required, 8 prior to December 1)
Shelter drill
Bus evacuation drill
Containment drill

The principal should keep a log of all drills.

Inform parents of general procedures that would be used in a crisis situation to protect the safety of students and to keep them informed.

DRILLS NOT INVOLVING STUDENTS:

Annually, building staff will practice, without students, drills of procedures to respond to intruders, disruptive/assaultive behavior, hostage situations, disturbances, and other situations for which student participation is not appropriate.

 

BUILDING CHAIN OF COMMAND (UPDATE ANNUALLY)

Building Principal
Principal Designee
Principal Designee
Principal Designee
Head Custodian

All of the above persons should know how to shut off the building's gas, electricity and water.

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ALERT ALTERNATIVE SITE

In the event an alternate site is needed, a phone call must be made to alert people in the alternate facility that students are on the way. Staff from the evacuated building will supervise the students at the alternate school site.

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MEDIA PROCEDURE

Refer all media to
the Superintendent of Schools
at the Central Office
243-8000
All public statements will be issued from the Superintendent
If necessary, the Communication Center will be moved to
the site of the incident.

The media monitors all 911 calls. Often reporters will arrive on the scene as quickly as the emergency vehicles.

1. Do everything you can to protect the privacy of any victim(s) or their families.

2. If possible, restrict cameras and "on the scene" interviews of students and/or staff. Again, refer all reporters to the Superintendent of Schools at the Central Office. Request establishment of a Communication Center on-site, if necessary.

3. If it is absolutely necessary to make some type of statement:

• Take time to collect your thoughts.
• Report known facts only.
DO NOT release names of anyone hurt or killed.
• Emphasize what is being done (or has been done) to protect the safety of students and staff.

 

CRISIS COMMUNICATION CENTER

In the event of a major crisis or catastrophic occurrence, a Crisis Communication Center will be set up. This will include:

• Media room for reporters. All statements will be issued from there.
• A totally separate area where families, friends, and clergy can be kept informed.
• Extra staff to handle incoming calls and to direct persons to the appropriate areas.

Depending on the circumstances, it is possible the Crisis Communication Center might be set up at another facility, such as the incident site or a hospital.

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