Classroom emergency preparedness for teachers is a newsworthy topic as more and more schools experience student emergencies. In the event of a physical or health emergency, teachers need to be prepared. Natural disasters, intruders with the intent to do harm, and other emergencies can occur without warning. It is crucial that you have a plan in place to deal with different kinds of emergencies. Here are some tips for classroom emergency preparedness.
Classroom Emergency Preparedness Safety Tips
In a secure setting, teachers can instruct and mentor students, encourage good conduct, and guard against misconduct and accidents. However, a variety of elements, such as physical hindrances and diversions, as well as adult and child behavior, have an impact on classroom safety. Although they can’t eliminate all risks, teachers can lower the likelihood of occurrences.
Any teacher may make their classroom safer by following the advice in this checklist:
Invest the time to acquire and pass on CPR and first aid knowledge.
A student or co-worker can be hurt on campus before, during, or at afterschool extracurricular activities. The amount of health and safety instruction should be an intentional plan by school administrators. Your school may or may not mandate that teachers acquire basic first aid or cardiac resuscitation training but having trained personnel on campus can save lives.
Create a safe learning environment by creating safe spaces.
Accidents can occur very easily in unorganized, congested areas. Classroom clutter is off putting to the learning process. It is more difficult for students to think clearly and feel energized in a closed-off, stuffy classroom. Make the area as safe as you can by keeping the room organized and with clear traffic paths.
Select instructional strategies that place students first.
To prevent safety mishaps, teachers must constantly watch their students closely. Children are prone to actions that can create dangerous school environments regardless of age. Students are inclined to play with standard classroom supplies and other items in ways that occasionally endanger others and themselves.
Work on making an emotionally secure classroom.
Finally, safety encompasses more than just physical security. Any age student might face anxiety and stress at any time of the year. Teachers take the lead in providing safe communication. Stress is detrimental to learning. At the beginning of each school year, make it known that your classroom is where kids feel comfortable speaking up in class and approaching you for advice.
(Fmtadmin)
Emergency Response
Ensure that your classroom has a first-aid kit, and instruct students on what to do if a minor accident occurs, and what to do in a medical emergency. Among the topics to cover are:
- Keep your cool: Children naturally want to assist; tell them that the best thing they can do is be considerate and willing to follow instructions. If you aren’t assisting the victim, stay back. Sometimes, kids try to be too helpful. Tell them the value of remaining seated or allowing a person hurt adequate space for help to come.
- Go for help: Teach children that it’s acceptable to leave someone alone if necessary to get help there as quickly as possible. If a cell phone is available, use it to call for help.
- Basic first aid protocol: Explain to children the dangers of bloodborne diseases and the necessity of wearing gloves. Demonstrate to them how to stop bleeding, assist someone choking, and what not to do when a person is gravely hurt.
- Calling 911: When dialing 911, it’s usually a good idea to rehearse having a conversation with an emergency response. Roleplay with them and allow them to practice with one another.
(StaySafe.org)
ALICE Safety Training
ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate. You don’t have to scare kids to teach them about safety; you just need to know how. Even in loving homes, schools, and communities, young people still risk being harmed. The essentials to keeping children safe are expertise and information. The ALICE primary school program offers kids quick, easy, and generally reliable strategies to educate them on how to defend themselves. (ALICE Training)
Teaching health and safety in the classroom is an important life skill. It not only helps students stay safe but also prepares them for emergencies. By keeping this article in mind, we can help create a secure educational environment where everyone feels supported, heard, and valued, ultimately leading to better learning and classroom health and safety outcomes.
Works Cited
Fmtadmin. “Classroom Safety (TIPS).” Classful, 14 Nov. 2022, classful.com/classroom-safety-tips/.
“A Guide to Safety in the Classroom.” StaySafe.org, staysafe.org/safety/classroom/.
“Alice Elementary School Training: Sign up for Age-Appropriate Alice Active Shooter Training for Elementary Schools – Alice Training.” ALICE Training®, 21 Apr. 2020, www.alicetraining.com/our-program/alice-training/k12-education/age-appropriate/.
