School drills  prepare students for emergencies.  There are fire drills, shooter drills, tornado (weather) drills, lock down drills, evacuation drills, earthquake drills, etc. depending on where you live.  All of which are to be practiced several times per school year. Some states require paperwork as verification of drills completed.

The U.S. Department of Education Office and Healthy Students’, OSHA, formerly the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, Center for School Preparedness, provides support and information at the website: http:ww.ed.gov/emergencyplan.

As a teacher I recall a particular situation that happened during a weather practice drill.  Weather/school drills were important because a few years before, tornado type winds had collapsed buildings in various areas of the small town.  When the drill commenced, students immediately moved into the hall in a squat position, heads down and covered.  Their teachers watched over them for anxiety meltdowns. Too many young students didn’t understand and would worry about their family’s safety and concern of what was happening.  About 10 minutes later the drill concluded and classes resumed.  What we hadn’t realized was that the class of art students went to the back of the room to the safety of the supply closet in order to be away from the windows.  Needless to say, the teacher didn’t hear the announcement that the drill was over as there was no announcement speaker in the closet.  She stayed there for an extra 20 minutes with her students until the classroom teacher went to retrieve her students and discovered that the teacher and students were missing. She immediately reported it to the office.  The art teacher was not happy that nobody told her the drill was over.  Luckily it was a laughable mistake that was immediately corrected.

That situation occurred many years ago and more serious situations have happened since.  Therefore, more safety drills are now part of the school year.

Recently, the tornado in Oklahoma has promoted much concern about school buildings not containing the proper safety areas for students.  Today’s schools are  energy efficient with skylights in ceilings that provide natural light. Also, classrooms contain windows  for the same purpose. With these efficiencies, preparing for emergencies becomes more of a concern.  This may be purposeful today but it adds another variable when it comes to safety.  Areas must  be available for each type of emergency.  Teachers must prepare to care for students in any and all types of emergency.

School Drills and Parents

If you are a parent, teacher, or administer, be aware of your school building.  Where would you go for an emergency?  I transferred to a building that had many windows.  It was beautiful and modern.  The first time I experienced a weather drill in that building I was shocked.  Teachers and students moved into the hall near glass doors and windows.  Many thoughts ran through my head as to how to relocate the students to a safer area away from glass.  It took some time to create safe areas, designated emergency areas for handicapped students, etc.  I was also surprised that parents in the building didn’t know where to go and looked for teachers and administrators to guide them. Emergency plans need revisited and tweaked with every new emergency or situation.