JCBE/POLICY FILE: 343.6/485.1

Approved: 11/18/75

Revised: 3/25/82

Revised: 3/24/88

FIRE AND TORNADO DRILL POLICY

Because the Board has a duty to ensure the safety of its students at all times, it intends that students shall be adequately prepared to act intelligently and efficiently in the event of a fire or tornado so that injuries can be avoided whenever possible.

To prepare students for emergency situations, regularly scheduled, monthly drills shall be conducted in each local school. The principal should notify the nearest fire station in advance of each fire or tornado drill to allow them to participate if possible.

The following procedures shall serve as guidelines for conducting fire drills:

1. After careful consideration of possible routes, the principal shall map the safest routes for students to follow in the event of a fire. The safest route from each room shall be posted in that room.

2. The principal shall establish an effective signal for alerting students to the fire drill.

3. A fire drill shall be held at least once a month. The time and day shall be decided by the principal, but they should vary from month to month.

4. After the signal has been given by the principal or designee, the students shall leave the school in an orderly manner along the prescribed routes and shall move to a designated area safely distant from the building.

5. To lessen the chances of smoke inhalation during actual incidences of fire, teachers and students should be aware that it may be necessary to crawl through certain areas where smoke is hazardous. During drills, areas should be designated as "smoke areas" where teachers and students will practice stooping or crawling. Principals are responsible for development of detailed procedures.

The following procedures shall serve as guidelines for conducting tornado drills:

1. The principal and/or the assistant principal shall study the floor plan provided for the school which defines the safest areas for students to go in event of a tornado. The safest area and route from each room shall be posted in that room.

2. An effective signal shall be established by the principal for alerting the students to the tornado drill.

3. Tornado drills shall be conducted monthly by the principal or a designee. The day and time shall be decided by the principal, but they should vary from month to month.

4. When the signal has been given, the students shall go in an orderly manner to their designated areas.

5. The principal or the assistant principal shall record, on forms forwarded monthly to the Division Superintendent for Support Operations, the date and the time it takes the students to reach designated areas.