Emergency Readiness
General Response Protocol
The General Response Protocol gives schools instructions to follow when an emergency happens. It uses common language to identify the steps to take until first responders arrive.
In every incident, school administrators will first call 911. Then they will look at the unique situation and decide:
- whether to lock down (soft or hard), shelter-in, or evacuate.
- if any instructions should be changed to fit the specific circumstances.
PS 166 conducts safety drills regularly. First, teachers give lessons on actions to take in an emergency. Then the school periodically conducts practice drills.
If you would like to discuss the drills with your child, please download the student lessons about safety drills.
Lockdowns
Soft Lockdown: No Imminent Danger
Administrative teams, Building Response Teams, and School Safety Agents will meet at the designated command post for further direction.
Hard Lockdown: Imminent Danger
No one should sweep the school in a hard lockdown. All individuals, including School Safety Agents will take appropriate lockdown action and await the arrival of first responders.
In Any Lockdown
- A Public Address (PA) announcement made two times:
- Attention: We are now in soft/ hard lockdown. Take proper action.
- Students are trained to move out of sight and keep silent.
- Teachers are trained to:
- Check the hallway outside of their classrooms for students, lock classroom doors, and turn off the lights.
- Move out of sight and keep silent
- Wait for first responders to open door, or for the message:
- The Lockdown has been lifted
- followed by specific directions
- Take attendance and account for missing students by contacting the main office.
Evacuation
Often, the fire alarm system alerts staff and students to start an evacuation.
However, there may also be times when a Public Address announcement starts an evacuation.
-
- Announcements will begin with “Attention” followed by specific directions
- They are made two times.
- Students are trained to:
- Leave belongings behind
- Form a single file line
- In cold weather, students should be reminded to take their coats.
- However, students wearing exercise or gym clothes will not return to the locker room.
- Students without winter coats will be taken to safe, warm location as quickly as possible.
- In cold weather, students should be reminded to take their coats.
- Teachers are trained to:
- Grab evacuation folder (with attendance sheet and Assembly cards).
- Lead students to evacuation location as identified on Fire Drill Posters.
- Always listen for additional directions
- Take attendance and account for students.
- Report injuries, problems, or missing students to school staff and first responders using Assembly Card method.
Shelter In
There is a Public Address announcement made two times:
- Attention. This is a shelter-in. Secure the exit doors.
- The Shelter-In directive stays in effect until it is ended by a Public Address announcement
The Shelter- In has been lifted
Students are trained to:
- Remain inside the building
- Conduct business as usual
- Respond to specific staff directions
Teachers are trained to:
- Be more aware of their surroundings
- Conduct business as usual