SoWashCo Schools Explains Emergency Safety Protocol to Community
SoWashCo Schools outlined its comprehensive emergency response procedures during a community presentation, detailing the Standard Response Protocol used to ensure student and staff safety during various crisis situations.
The school district uses the Standard Response Protocol created by the I Love U Guys Foundation, a system implemented in more than 45,000 schools, agencies and organizations worldwide. The protocol was developed through research-based best practices involving school administrators, psychologists, public safety experts, families and first responders.
The system identifies five specific response actions: hold, secure, lockdown, evacuate and shelter. Each action carries distinct instructions tailored to different emergency scenarios. A hold keeps students in classrooms when incidents occur in hallways, while a secure response locks exterior doors when threats exist outside the building. The most serious action, lockdown, is implemented when threats are believed to be inside the school building.
Evacuation procedures guide students and staff to designated safe locations during events like fires or gas leaks, while shelter protocols primarily address severe weather situations. Teachers lead students through each response, taking attendance and maintaining communication with families as appropriate for each scenario.
Local law enforcement partners and emergency responders also understand the Standard Response Protocol, ensuring coordinated responses during actual emergencies. The district encourages students and families to visit the district website to learn more about safety procedures.
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- District adoption of the 'I Love U Guys' Foundation's Standard Response Protocol for emergency management.
- Standardization of emergency terminology across 45,000 global entities to improve crisis response.
- Clarification of lockdown protocols including student communication policies with families.
Nothing is more important than the safety of our students and staff in our schools.
I’m okay. We're in a lockdown. I'll update you when I can.
Source document
[0:00] Nothing is more important than the safety
of our students and staff in our schools.
[0:04] And when an incident occurs.
[0:06] Having a prepared response is the
foundation of a safe school environment.
[0:11] That's why our school district uses
the Standard Response Protocol
[0:15] created by the
“I Love U Guys” Foundation.
[0:18] The standard response
protocol is used in more than 45,000
[0:22] schools, agencies,
and organizations around the world.
[0:25] It was created through the research based
best practices of school administrators,
[0:29] psychologists, public space safety
experts, families, and first responders.
[0:35] So how does the Standard Response
protocol work in our schools?
[0:39] The Standard Response Protocol provides
common language that proactively
[0:43] identifies five possible actions
that could be required during an incident
[0:47] or an emergency, and every action carries
specific instructions.
[0:52] The actions are hold, secure,
[0:55] lockdown, evacuate, and shelter.
[1:00] The most common action is hold.
[1:02] A hold is called
[1:04] because something is happening
in the halls or an area of the building,
[1:07] and staff need to keep students
out of the halls until it is resolved.
[1:11] This could be a student
or staff medical issue.
[1:15] In a hold, all students will remain in the
classroom and the teacher will lock the
[1:19] classroom door, take attendance, and continue
with their class until an all clear is given.
[1:25] We can keep learning,
[1:27] but we won't be allowed to leave class
for any reason, even if the bell rings.
[1:40] If a secure is called,
[1:42] it means there is a threat or hazard believed
to be happening in the neighborhood
[1:46] or outside the building,
and everyone needs to get safely inside.
[1:50] This could be a dangerous animal
or criminal activity nearby.
[1:55] A secure means
that the exterior doors are locked
[1:58] and no one else is allowed
in or out of the building.
[2:01] Any classes outside
[2:02] are brought in and activities
inside the building continue as normal.
[2:06] Even class changes will happen as usual.
[2:09] Staff will take attendance
and continue with their class
[2:12] until an all clear is given.
[2:23] A lockdown is the most serious action
we might take
[2:27] when there is a threat or hazard
believed to be inside the school building.
[2:31] This could be a threatening intruder.
[2:34] During a lockdown,
[2:36] No one
is allowed into or out of the building.
[2:39] All students and staff remain
in their locked classrooms or offices.
[2:43] Staff will turn off the lights.
[2:45] Move everyone out of sight,
take attendance and then remain silent
[2:49] until police or school administration
release classrooms or areas.
[2:54] Our teacher will tell us when it's okay
to text our family saying,
[2:57] “I’m okay. We're in a lockdown.
I'll update you when I can.”
[3:01] A lockdown will only end
when it is deemed safe
[3:04] by law enforcement, in partnership
with school administrators.
[3:20] Students and staff might be asked to evacuate
[3:23] because of a power outage, a fire or a gas
leak.
[3:27] Teachers will lead their students
[3:29] safely out of the building
to a designated location.
[3:32] Take attendance
and wait for further information.
[3:35] Our teacher will tell us
if we will return to school,
[3:38] or if will be picked up by our
family from another location.
[3:53] A shelter is called,
[3:55] most commonly in response to severe
weather events affecting the school.
[3:59] Students might remain in their classroom
[4:01] or move to a designated safe location
inside the school.
[4:05] Our teacher will tell us
if we're staying in our room
[4:07] or moving somewhere else.
[4:15] These five actions
[4:17] of the Standard Response Protocol
help us know what to do
[4:20] when there is a crisis in our schools,
and we're not alone.
[4:23] Our local law enforcement partners
and emergency responders also understand
[4:28] the standard response protocol and what is
expected of us during an emergency.
[4:33] Thanks to the Standard Response Protocol.
[4:35] We're all using the same tools and the
practiced responses to keep everyone safe.
[4:41] To learn more about safety
in our district, visit our website.
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Other Topics from This Document
Standard Response Protocol (SRP) in schools
Emergency safety actions: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, Shelter
Collaboration with law enforcement and emergency responders
School safety best practices and common language
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