The safety and security of all Bellingham Public School students and staff is our highest priority. We use the from the I Love You Guys Foundation, and our schools conduct regular safety drills so students and staff are familiar with each of the five safety protocols: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter in Place.
To report information regarding threats, rumors, criminal activity, etc. you can use our Safe Schools Alert line (844) 310-9560 or .
What should families do in the case of a school emergency?
An emergency is a sudden, unexpected, or dangerous situation that requires immediate action.
In an emergency, the district will quickly communicate out to families with updates on the situation and instructions for families. Please be sure your contact information is updated and current in . When families hear of a situation at a school, their first reaction may be to rush to the school to pick up their child, but please avoid doing this in an emergency. Doing so can severely impede the access and assistance of first responder agencies aiding the school. We know it is difficult, but please wait for further communication from the school on the status of the emergency and actions you should take next.
How do we prepare for emergencies at school?
We all share the responsibility of preparing our young people on how to respond in an emergency. The response to a safety situation depends on the impact the emergency may have on the people or facilities involved. Students and staff practice five standard response protocols that provide a structure for most safety situations.
The following response protocols are prominently posted in schools and are practiced throughout the school year. Practicing response protocols helps students and staff learn consistent, clear, shared language and actions. We encourage families to review these protocols and talk as a family about the importance of practicing safety protocols.
Hold: Remain in your classroom or area, clear the hallways
This protocol is used if there is a need to keep halls clear of occupants; for example, if a person is experiencing a medical emergency or otherwise needs privacy.
Students:
- Remain in your room or area
- Clear the hallways
- Wait until the 鈥淎ll Clear鈥 is announced by staff or emergency responders.
Staff:
- Recover people from the hallway
- Close classroom / office door. You may lock door.
- Account for students, visitors and others in the area.
Take attendance and note time.
- Activity may remain 鈥渂usiness as usual.鈥
Secure: Get inside, lock exterior doors, lock room doors.
This is the protocol used to safeguard people within the building.
Students:
- Return to inside of building.
- Wait for direction.
- You may continue with your activity indoors, however be mindful of surroundings.
Staff:
- Recover students, staff from outside the building.
- Lock or monitor outside doors.
- Increase situational awareness.
Be mindful of activity near you.
- Account for students and others who are within your room or area. Take attendance and note time.
- Activity may remain as 鈥渂usiness as usual.鈥
Lockdown: Locks, lights, out of sight
This is the protocol used to secure individual rooms and keep occupants quiet and in place.
Students:
- Remain in your room or area.
- If in hallway, go to nearest classroom or office. Close and lock door.
- Turn off lights and move away from sight.
- Stay quiet and silence phone.
- Do NOT open door.
- Prepare to evade or defend if you choose to. (Run / Hide / Fight)
- Wait for emergency responders or principal to lift lockdown and/or evacuate the room.
Staff:
- Recover people from the hallway if safe to do so.
- Lock or barricade the door(s).
- Turn off lights and move away from sight.
- Maintain silence (silence phones).
- Do NOT open door.
- Take attendance and note time.
- Prepare to evade or defend if you choose to. (Run / Hide / Fight)
- Wait for emergency responders or principal to lift lockdown and/or evacuate the room.
Evacuate -- to a location; leave the building
This protocol is used to move people from one location to a different location in or out of the building. The most common evacuation drill is a fire drill.
Students:
- Leave belongings behind if required.
- If possible, bring your phone.
- Evacuate as a class or individually.
- Follow instructions from adults.
Staff:
- Bring attendance sheet and flip chart.
- Lead students to evacuation location, which is determined by incident.
- Take attendance and note time.
- Report injuries or problems at evacuation location using Red Card / Green Card method. Cards at back of flip guide.
Assist people with mobility and sensory disabilities:
During an evacuation, staff should make every effort to assist people with mobility and sensory disabilities away from the hazard and toward an 鈥渁rea of rescue assistance,鈥 a staging area for people to wait until emergency personnel arrive. This area is also referred to as an 鈥渁rea of refuge.鈥 An 鈥渁rea of rescue assistance鈥 is most often located at staircase landings in multi-story buildings.
Shelter -- Safety strategies for hazards.
This protocol is used along with a safety strategy for group and self protection. Hazards may include: earthquake, volcanic eruption, hazardous materials, inclement weather, tsunami, or other outdoor hazard.
Safety strategies vary by hazard:
- Example hazard: Outdoor hazard: Evacuate to an area of shelter inside a building.
- Example hazard: Earthquake/volcanic eruption:
Drop, cover and hold on.
- Example hazard: Hazardous materials (Hazmat): Seal the room; Shut windows, close door, use clothing to block door gap.
- Example hazard: Tsunami: Get to high ground.
Students:
- Follow adult directions.
- Use appropriate safety strategy for hazard.
Staff:
- Guide students and others in use of appropriate safety strategies.
- Account for students and others who are within your room or area.
- Take attendance and note time.
- Report injuries or problems using Red Card / Green Card method. Cards at back of flip guide.
