Washington State School for the Blind

 

EMERGENCY & SAFETY PROCEDURES

DESK REFERENCE

 

EMERGENCIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September, 2004

 


This Emergency and Safety Procedures Desk Reference has been designed to provide a basic contingency manual for WSSB’s administrators, faculty, and staff in order to plan effectively for campus emergencies and promote a safe environment for its students and staff.  While the guide does not cover every specific situation, it simplifies and consolidates the basic administrative guidelines necessary to address primary emergency and safety incidents.

 

Our local area, Southwest Washington, has a history of volcano ash fallout, earthquakes, and police emergency response situations.  These are often impossible to predict, and may provide little warning, if any.  Therefore, advance planning on how to effectively handle natural disasters, such as fires, earthquakes, and volcanic activity, or human caused incidents such as bomb threats, chemical spills, or acts of violence cannot be stressed too strongly.  In addition, establishing, and maintaining general procedures that promote safety in all aspects of the school’s operation is vital.

 

This guide is applicable to all campus personnel, facilities, and operations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION


When notification is received of an emergency, the Facilities Manager, Director of Residential Services, Principal, or Superintendent is to be immediately contacted.  Provide location, type of emergency and your name.

The Administrator contacted will:

·        Assume direct control of the campus security, assess the scope and magnitude of the emergency, and establish pedestrian and vehicular control at the scene.

·        Supervise the activities at the scene until relieved by the Superintendent, and/or the local police/fire departments.

Other supervisors shall assist in crowd control, evacuation of employees and students, and other duties as prearranged and/or assigned.

 

FOR EMERGENCY CALL 911 OR IF CALLING FROM SCHOOL…9-911

 

Telephone Directory

POSITION                    NAME                 CELL#                 HOME#

Superintendent                Dean Stenehjem     360-607-4840        887-0824

Facilities Manager            Rob Tracey           360-606-5896        254-1399

Dir. Residential                Renee Corso                   360-921-2103        604-8306

Principal                          Craig Meador        360-601-6535        574-8815

Dir. Outreach                  Dee Amundsen      360-901-1640        750-9704

 

 

 

 

EMERGENCY CONTACTS


In the event emergency number 911 is NOT working, other emergency numbers are:

Clark Co. Emergency Preparedness                       360-737-1911

CPS (Local Intake)                                                360-993-7901

CPS (Central Intake)                                              1-800-526-5624

CWS (Child Welfare Services)                               360-993-7902

Fire Department (non-emergency)                           360-699-8166

Red Cross                                                             360-256-2000

Sheriff’s Office                                                     360-699-2211

Vancouver Police Department                                360-696-8292

Washington Medical Center                                   360-256-4180

Washington State Patrol                                         360-699-6161

 

Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind                 208-934-4457

(Emergency Communications Center)


SERIOUS INJURIES

If a person receives a serious injury on campus, and you are using the on-campus phone system:

·       Contact the Health Center (ext. 123) if the accident occurs between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.

·       Call 9-911 to request paramedic and ambulance assistance if the accident occurs between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. or if:

§        The victim is unresponsive.

§        There is massive bleeding.

§        The victim requests an ambulance.

Stay on the line with the 911 dispatcher until instructed by the dispatcher to hang up.  Stay with the victim and ask someone to guide rescue and ambulance personnel to the scene.

 

Always apply approved First Aid procedures.  Do Not Move the Seriously Injured Person unless they are in a life threatening situation.  Asses the person’s injuries and treat for shock, as needed.

 

MINOR INJURIES

Minor injuries, not requiring emergency care, may be treated by First Aid certified personnel.

 

First Aid kits are available in one or more location in each building.  Locations of First Aid kits are listed on the Escape Route Maps posted inside the main entrances to each building.  Employees should familiarize themselves with the location of the First Aid kit for their area.

 

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES


List persons in your area who are trained in First Aid and/or CPR.

 

FIRST AID/CPR TRAINED STAFF IN YOUR WORK AREA:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A FIRST AID KIT IS LOCATED AT:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


EVACUATION

Alarm System

The school has a Fire Alarm System which is activated by smoke detectors or by pulling building alarm stations.

 

Definition of EVACUATION

Evacuation is the reaction to a set of circumstances that demand immediate action to protect life, or preserve public health or essential services.

Considerations:

·       The danger is immediate or imminent, and the area of danger or threat is reasonably isolated

·       The risk of danger by remaining inside the building is greater than leaving building.

·       The decision to evacuate is made by a supervisor or their designee, or by responding to alarm systems in place.

·       Exit is made to designated meeting area for the building, (or another location of reasonable safety if designated area is affected by the danger or threat at hand).

 

Building Evacuation (e.g. Fire/Other Disaster)

1.     Evacuate buildings when fire alarms sound and/or if directed to do so by the Principal, Director of Residential Services, Superintendent, or their designee.

2.     Remain calm, leave the building by the nearest cleared exit, and ask others to do the same.  Evacuation Route maps are posted at the main entrances of most school buildings.  Check these maps for the nearest escape route in preparation for an emergency.

3.     Take class/cottage ROSTER and EMERGENCY PLACARDS from your area with you.

4.     Assist persons with disabilities to exit the building.

 

EVACUATION/LOCKDOWN


5.     Check rooms, elevators, and other isolated areas.

6.     Proceed to a clear designated area away from the affected building(s), and keep streets and fire lanes, fire hydrants and walkways clear for emergency vehicles and personnel.

7.     Take roll call upon arrival at designated safe assembly area.  Account for all students.

·       Hold up GREEN emergency placard if all students are accounted for, and there are no injuries.

·       Hold up RED emergency placard if students are missing, or if there are injuries.

·       Lack of an emergency placard signals HELP is needed.

8.     Remain at assembly area(s) until “ALL CLEAR” is announced.

9.      Return to building(s) only when they are declared safe to occupy.

 

Elevators:  Do not use elevators in case of fire, explosions, or earthquakes as there is risk of entrapment.

 

School Grounds Evacuation

Evacuation of all or part of the school grounds will be announced by the Superintendent or designee.


LOCKDOWN

Definition of LOCKDOWN

Lockdown is the reaction to a set of circumstances that demand immediate action to protect life, or preserve public health or essential services.

Considerations:

·       The danger is immediate or imminent, and the area of danger or threat is not isolated.

·       The risk of danger in leaving the building is greater than remaining in the building.

·       The decision to lockdown is made by a supervisor or their designee.

·       Staff and students remain in the building and reasonably secure their area.

 

Lockdown Procedures

1.     A call for lockdown will be made by the Principal, Director of Residential Services, Superintendent, or their designee.  (In the Irwin building, a lockdown will be signaled by the continuous ringing of the school bell for more than 20 seconds.)

2.     Quickly check hallways, and other common areas.  Get students into classrooms, cottages, or other inside areas.

3.     Instruct students to sit on the floor and to remain calm.  Maintain a calm atmosphere, to the degree possible.

4.     Lock doors and windows, close window blinds, and turn off all lights.

5.     Keep students away from windows and doors.

6.     Account for all students.

·       Place GREEN emergency placard from your area in the window or under the door if all students are accounted for, there are no injuries, or there are no threats present.

·       Place RED emergency placard from your work area in the window or under the door if students are missing, if there are injuries, or if a threat is present.

·       Lack of an emergency placard displayed signals HELP is needed.


7.     Keep students in secured inside areas until “ALL CLEAR” has been announced.

8.     Staff without students report to the office (if in school building) for instructions.

9.     School Secretary staffs phones and radio.  If staff and students are off-campus, calls are placed to cell phone contact numbers to advise them of lockdown status.  If lockdown occurs during work transition times, calls are placed to incoming staff contact numbers to advise them of lockdown status.  Appointed staff member delivers messages, as needed, and works with Principal or Director of Residential Services.

10. Do not use any remote control devices, telephones, or radios during a lockdown unless directed to do so by Principal, Director of Residential Services, or Superintendent.

11. Staff are to remain in designated areas unless instructed to do otherwise by Principal, Director of Residential Services, Superintendent, or Police.

12. When “ALL CLEAR” is announced, evacuate to designated meeting area for your building for staff and student roll call.


When the fire alarm sounds, remain calm.  WALK, DO NOT RUN!

 

IRWIN and KENNEDY Buildings

Staff will instruct students to leave the building immediately and to gather at the

GAZEBO.

 

COTTAGES

Staff will instruct students to leave the cottages immediately and to gather at the following locations:

Chapman                       Grassy area East of Chapman & South of Irwin

 

Clarke Cottage             North side of Watson, near glider swing

 

Hall Cottage                  Basketball area between Hall and Clarke

 

Watson Cottage            Grassy area to North of Watson & SW of Gazebo

 

BAC/ORC

Staff and students will leave the building immediately and gather at the FLAG POLE.

 

DRY Building

Staff and students will leave the building immediately and gather at the GAZEBO.

 

OLD MAIN

Staff and students will leave the building immediately and gather at the FLAG POLE.

 

 

 

 

DESIGNATED MEETING AREAS


PROCEDURES

When report of a bomb threat is received, the person receiving the threat is to record complete information as listed below.

·        Record exact wording of the message and listen intently for any voice or speech peculiarities and background noises.  The recipient should be alert for repeated use of certain words or phrases.  Pay close attention to how the caller talks. Description of Caller’s Voice: Male: … Female: … Young: …Middle-Age: …Old: ….Accent: …..Tone of Voice: …..

·        Is the voice familiar: …..  Background Noise: …..

·        Person receiving call: ………..

·        Comments: …………….

·        Date ….  Time call received….  Time caller hung up….

Ask the Caller These Questions:

·        When is the bomb set to go off?  Where?  Where is the bomb now?

·        What kind of bomb is it?  What does it look like?

·        Why did you place the bomb?

Follow up:

§        Notified Principal or Dir. Residential, Facilities Manager? y/n

§        Notified Supervisor? y/n

§        Other Action Taken:

§        Copy filed and forwarded to Principal, Dir. Residential, or Facilities Manager: y/n

 

The School Administrator notified will:

1.     Notify the local police and fire departments.

2.     Notify Superintendent and other Administrative Team members.

3.     Maintain an air of calmness in order to avert panic.

4.     Be alert for unusual or suspicious person, vehicles, or objects.

5.     Ask persons who normally frequent the area to point out unusual or suspicious person, vehicles, or objects.

 

BOMB THREATS


 

6.     In evaluating the threat, the School Administrator notified will consider the following factors:

a.      Time and day of the week.

b.     Building population and usage.

c.     The actual nature and working of the threat.

d.     Any recent racial, religious, or labor problems in the area.

e.      Receipt of any recent letters, telephone calls, or threats.


CHEMICAL SPILLS (IMMEDIATE DANGER)

If a chemical spill takes place, which in the opinion of the person(s) responsible for such material, poses a threat to themselves or building occupants, the following steps should be taken:

1.     Sound the fire alarm.  If you have body contact with the spilled material, remove any contaminated clothing immediately and flush areas of bodily contact with large amounts of water.

2.     Call Facilities Manager at 606-5897 or 254-1399.

3.     Notify your supervisor.

4.