While top of mind for school leaders, safety drills and measures can sometimes feel overwhelming due to the number of requirements. Not only are we planning and executing drills to meet state requirements, but we should also be closing the loop with our staff and families–something that can easily be overlooked. Here are a few quick tips to ensure the planning, execution, and communication of safety drills are completed for your campus.
Elizabeth Janca, experienced school administrator and licensed counselor, explains common school safety drills and how to communicate them to families.
Planning Safety Drills
Meet with your team to ensure that everyone knows how often each type of drill should be done. For example, in the state of Texas, fire drills are done monthly. Their lockdown drills are done once a semester, and hold drills are done once a year. With the appropriate team members, calendar out potential dates and times for each drill to take place throughout the year.
Create variety when you schedule the dates and times of the drills. For example, don’t plan to do every fire drill on the second Tuesday of the month at 9:45. Picking different days of the week and times allows for more opportunities to practice in different situations such as an elective class or at recess. This also alternates which planning periods and/or content and team times are impacted. At the start of each week or at a brief morning check-in, confirm with your team that the selected day and time will still work for the drill. If it doesn’t, remember that it’s okay to be flexible and reschedule! Bonus Tip: Consider scheduling fire drills towards the beginning of the month. This way, if you need to reschedule, you have plenty of time to do so.
Executing Safety Drills
How your school runs a safety drill will be dependent on your staffing and school layout. Having an assigned administration or staff to a specific area near their office/room to clear rooms and hallways with a checklist of what to look for or do during the drill will help ensure consistency. For example, Mrs. Johnson, the 7th-grade Assistant Principal whose office is in Building 3, may be assigned to Building 3 for every drill. She’ll know from her checklist that she should sweep all rooms for a fire drill, or jiggle each door handle for a secure drill, and verify that each door window is covered for a lockdown drill.
Ensure that during the drill there is a clear and open channel of communication for each individual to share when their area is clear. Once the all-clear has been given and classes have returned to normal, your team should meet to debrief.
During the debrief, identify “glows and grows” from the drill and assign any follow-ups that may need to be made. When discussing glows and grows, identify what can be shared in an upcoming staff note and family communication to close the loop. It’s important to have as many of the individuals with an assigned duty present as possible. This can get a full account of the drill, but this isn’t always possible. Have a way for members to share information if they cannot attend.
Communication Safety Drills with Families
Sometimes we forget to bring our families into the conversation about safety drills. However, we should consider sharing with families what the state requirements are and what is involved in each type of drill. This allows families to know what safety measures are in place. In addition, it gives a common language that can be used when talking about it at home, and lets them know what their children can expect during a drill.
Beginning of the Year Communication
It may be helpful to share information with families at the start of the year regarding safety drills. Here are some key points:
What is a drill?
A drill is an opportunity to practice routines and procedures to prepare staff and students in case of an emergency.
Here are the drills you and your family can expect the school to participate in this school year.
| Drill | Reasons For Drill | Frequency | What To Expect |
| Fire Drill | A fire | Monthly | Students follow the fire exit route with their class quickly and safely to a secure location a designated distance from the building Staff confirms all buildings are empty Students can return to the building once “all clear” is given. |
| Evacuation Drill | Mechanical failure Power outage | Once a year | Students follow the fire exit route with their class quickly and safely to a secure location a designated distance from the building Staff confirms all buildings are empty Once “all clear” is given, students can return to the building |
| Lock Down Drill | Threat or a weapon inside the building | Once a semester (Twice a year) | Includes locking doors, covering windows, turning lights off, and all individuals are silent and moved to a corner that cannot be seen from the door window |
| Secure Drill | Threat or hazard exists outside the building | Once a year | All external doors locked All students and staff remain in the building Classes can remain as usual as long as there is one single building |
| Hold Drill | An altercation in a hallway A medical issue that needs attention Unfinished maintenance | Once a year | Clear the halls Close and lock the classroom door. Class can continue but will not transition to next period until “all clear” is called |
| Shelter In Place – Hazmat Drill | A nearby explosion at a plant or facility | Once a year | Seal the room – AC off, windows closed, doors closed |
| Shelter In Place – Weather Drill | Tornado Earthquake | Once a year | Move away from windows and doors Drop, cover, and hold |
After Drill Family Communication
Once you’ve debriefed with your team and identified “glows and grows” from the drill, share the information with families in an upcoming communication. This closes the loop to let families know that drills are taking place as well as how they are going.
Families appreciate knowing how you and your staff are making your best efforts to protect their children. Thank you for everything you do to prepare your staff and building to keep your students safe!
