Responding to a Crisis

Responding to a Crisis

Should I Evacuate School if a Bomb Threat is Called in?

Administrators make this decision based on these factors: age of caller, unrest in the community and weather conditions. Approximately 100 bombs of some type go off in schools each year. No data are available on the number of bomb threats received in the approximately 94,000 schools in the U.S. Some schools are requiring students to make up lost academic time from bomb threat evacuation by taking away scheduled holidays or by requiring students to do class work while awaiting the signal to return to the school building. Close collaborative relations between local police and school administrators in all aspects of crisis planning are important, especially in bomb threat management procedures.

The school receptionist should have a standardized form to record time of day, background noises and voice characteristics of the person calling in the bomb threat. The caller should be asked logical questions about the type of bomb and when it is set to detonate.

What Must be Done First in the Aftermath of a Crisis?

The administrator/principal must take charge. Top priorities include assuring that medical and security needs are met and that identification information accompanies anyone who is injured/ killed. Three waves of people will descend on the school and the building principal must delegate crisis team members to manage these three waves:

• Police and medical

• Media

• Parents

Address the Following Key Practical Questions:

Do we close school early or cancel for the next day? (Hopefully not, as many students will be unsupervised at home.)
Do we change the bell schedule and class schedule?
How do we get facts about the crisis to parents, as well as information on how they can help their children? (Note sent home with students, schedule parent meeting, etc.)
How do we isolate and support school personnel or students who are interviewed by police?
How do we contain the media?

What are the Key Roles of Various School Personnel in Dealing with Large-Scale Emotionality?

Principal's Role in a Crisis:

Direct the crisis team and take charge of the situation.

Be visible, available, supportive.

Dispel rumors by giving everyone the facts.

Communicate with Central Administration and School Board.

Contact family(ies) of the deceased.

Provide updated information to all concerned.

Psychologist's / Counselor's / Social Worker's Role in a Crisis:

Be available.

Cancel other activities.

Locate counseling space.

Get counseling, secretarial assistance.

Contact parents of affected students.

Follow schedule of deceased student.

Support the faculty.

Contact feeder schools.

Teacher's Role in a Crisis:

Provide accurate information to students.

Lead class discussions.

Dispel rumors.

Answer questions.

Model an appropriate response.

Give permission for a range of emotions.

Identify students who need counseling.

Provide activities to reduce trauma and express emotions through artwork, music, writing.

Set aside curriculum as needed.

Discuss funeral procedures including customs and etiquette.

Encourage parents to accompany their children to funerals.

Why are Crisis Drills Important?

Historically schools have had fire drills as frequently as once a month. It is obvious that fires are not the only, or the most common, crisis situation in the schools. By simply reading the newspaper, one can learn the types of crisis situations that have occurred in the schools. School crisis plans must be more than pages in a notebook gathering dust on a shelf Crisis plans must be an ongoing, evolving part of conducting school. Crisis drills make crisis plans come alive, and schools learn from them! Suggestions for conducting crisis drills:

Begin with paper and pencil discussion activities.

Have crisis team anticipate five different school crisis situations.

Each team member writes down duties that he/she would anticipate performing; the team discusses each scenario.

Each semester, choose one scenario to act out.

Inform parents of the importance of crisis drills in local media articles.

Take precautions against unnecessarily alarming students, staff and parents.

Inform parents, local agencies that drills are being conducted.

Avoid using dramatic props such as starter pistols or simulated blood.

Place a sign in the area designating that a crisis drill is being conducted.

Practice drills that involve moving staff and students to a safe location.

Crisis team should receive written and verbal feedback about the management of the crisis.

What are Recommendations from Schools that have Experienced Severe Crisis Situations?

You must recognize that it could happen to you.
No two crisis situations are alike, but what you learn in one situation will help you deal with future situations.
Each person must understand his/her role in a crisis.
School crisis plans must be reviewed at least once a year.
Everyone must be alert.
School safety is an inside job that involves a committed student body, staff and community.

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