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As of 2/01/2005 the programs that these guidelines affect are the: ATOMS Scholars Program, Central Pennsylvania Science Fair, Interscholastic Reading Competitions, Pennsylvania Academic Competition, and the PA Middle School and High School Computer Fairs. If additional student centered programs are offered, they will be conducted under these same guidelines.
Objectives
- To protect the physical and emotional well being of students, staff and faculty.
- To respond safely and effectively to critical incidents
- To prevent or minimize injury, damage, and disruption, and to return to "business as usual" as soon as possible.
Prevention Guidelines
Building Safety
- All entry doors to the building will be closed to prevent entry from outside the building. Access to the building will be limited to one designated entrance and all staff, participants and parents will be instructed to use that entrance when exiting and entering the building.
- Students, staff, and observers will be informed what areas of the building will be utilized by the Appalachia IU summer program and discouraged from entering unauthorized areas.
- A member of the faculty or staff will be present at the entry door before and at the close of each day's activities.
- All members of the faculty and staff will be provided with information regarding appropriate emergency procedures for exiting the building.
- Staff, students, and parents will receive a copy of the IU8 "Safe School Guidelines" in order to familiarize them with the guidelines that are in effect and how the staff and students will be protected.
Personal Safety
- All courses utilizing open flames, hot glue guns, the mixing of chemicals, or extremely sharp cutting instruments will have at least one lab assistant and one teacher present in the class while these activities are taking place.
- All classes that leave the school grounds for field studies will have at least one teacher and one lab assistant for every fifteen students. All teachers leaving the school grounds with students will have access to the emergency forms for those students.
- All students participating in the program will be required to complete an emergency form listing any medical problems as well as, emergency instructions and phone numbers.
- On the first day of the program, all instructors will be provided with a list of any students who have medical issues so they can be proactive and avoid incidents or allergic reactions.
- Students who require medication during the day should inform a lab assistant or teacher that he/she is taking medicine. The parent or guardian can bring the medication to the school and administer the meds or the parent can supply a note stating that a staff member is permitted to give his/her child the medicine. Unless it is imperative that the child have the medication with him/her at all times, the medicine should be given to a lab assistant. Do not send more medication than what is needed for one day at a time.
- Signed permission forms will be obtained for all students who are attending a class that involves dissection, use of the Internet or handling live animals. If permission is not granted, then an alternate activity or method of discovery will be implemented for the student.
- All summer programs will have at least one fully supplied first aide kit at each location.
- Flashlights will be supplied to all teachers utilizing equipment that requires darkened areas.
Student Early Dismissal
- Students leaving early one day due to illness, appointments, vacation, or some other reason should notify a lab assistant and/or teacher beforehand. If possible, the parent or guardian should give verbal notification or a written note to an ATOMS staff member. The staff has an “Early Dismissal Form” that needs to be completed. This form provides us with a record of the child’s name, date, time and reason he/she left, as well as who took the child. This prevents any confusion in the classroom and at dismissal time in case someone else comes to pick-up the child.
Crisis Intervention Guidelines for Staff
Facilities Emergency
- In the event of a power outage, have the students remain quietly in the room. Send a representative to the office to obtain information concerning the problem and then report back to the teacher. If the power will be off for an extended period of time a decision will be made in regards to an early dismissal. If students are dismissed early, the emergency numbers listed on the emergency form will be utilized to arrange transportation for the students.
- In the event of a natural disaster, the teacher will seek shelter for the class in an area, if any designated by the school as a less hazardous area for that particular type of natural disaster. (Examples: under desks, in the hallway) After the event has passed, a decision will be made in regards to an early dismissal. If students are dismissed early, the emergency numbers listed on the emergency form will be utilized to arrange transportation for the students.
- In the event of a fire in the building, all faculty, staff, students, and observers will exit the building via the designated exit route for their room. All faculty will carry their class list when exiting the building. If the primary route is not accessible, the secondary escape route will be used. If students are dismissed early, the emergency numbers listed on the emergency form will be utilized to arrange transportation for the students.
- In the event of an explosion in the building, all faculty, staff, students, and observers will exit the building via the designated exit route for their room. All faculty will carry their class list when exiting the building. If the primary route is not accessible, the secondary escape route will be used. If students are dismissed early, the emergency numbers listed on the emergency form will be utilized to arrange transportation for the students.
Medical Emergency
- To the extent possible, make sure the patient is situated in an area that will not cause further injury to themselves or others near them. Obtain the person’s emergency form and the first aide kit from the faculty room. If this is a life threatening injury, immediately send someone to the office to call for an ambulance. If the injury is non-life threatening, contact the patient's parent or guardian and then render first aide, if appropriate, to treat the injury.
Transportation Delay
- In the event that a student is not picked up at the appropriate time, take the student to the office. Obtain the emergency form and call the numbers listed on the form until someone is reached that can pick the child up. Do not leave the child unattended at any time.
Violent Threats / Acts
- If a student is observed carrying a weapon in the school the teacher should immediately isolate the other students from the perpetrator. If possible, notify the proper authorities. If the students can safely be evacuated from the building do so. If not, close and lock the door, turn off the lights, remain quiet, and hide in the classroom out of the line of vision through the door. Once the incident has passed, the students will be safely exited from the building. Students will be dismissed early and the emergency numbers listed on the emergency form will be utilized to arrange transportation for the students.
- Faculty, staff, or students who see or hear a student threaten harm towards another student will immediately isolate that student and contact the program director. The child's parent or guardian will be contacted. Upon investigation of the incident, the student may be asked to leave the program.
- Students observed bringing items into the building, which could cause harm to themselves or others, will be asked to remove the items from the school grounds. (Examples: drugs, cigarettes) If the item being brought into the school is illegal, the proper authorities will be contacted, as well as the student's parent or guardian. The student will be isolated in the school office with a faculty or staff member until the authorities and parent arrive. If appropriate, the student may be asked to leave the program.
At all times and in all of the above situations it is imperative that the faculty, staff, students, and observers remain calm and do not panic.
These guidelines are an effort to deal with possible problems in ways that appear appropriate in advance. Actual events may require different responses. The Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 cannot guarantee any ones safety.
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