Injury or Illness Alert Signal: None
Teacher Response:
Room Clear
Definition: Announcement, usually by a teacher, to quickly clear a classroom in response to an emergency.
Alert Signal: Verbal announcement by staff—"Room Clear."
Teacher Response: Direct students to move quickly and orderly to the pre-designated buddy classroom.
Mental Health Critical Incident (pre-recovery)
Definition: A mental health critical incident is any event that overwhelms an individual's capacity to cope. Traumatic events can cause psychological and emotional turmoil, cognitive problems and behavioral changes. Alert Signal: Instructions via intercom, classroom telephone, personal notification or e-mail.
Teacher Response:
Teacher Response:
- Notify main office of injury or illness and the exact location of the victim(s) or persons affected.
- Do not use names of victim(s) over walkie-talkies.
- Quickly assess the situation. Make sure the situation is safe for you to approach.
- Take precautions against contact with body fluids.
- Assess the seriousness of the injury or illness.
- Call 911 if needed.
- Call for a "Room clear," if needed.
- Provide first aid if needed and only according to your level of training. If the victim is not breathing or there is no pulse, ask someone to retrieve the AED (if available) and begin CPR.
- Comfort and reassure victim(s). Do not move the sick or injured unless the scene is safe.
- Secure the scene if a crime may have been committed. Do not disturb any evidence.
Room Clear
Definition: Announcement, usually by a teacher, to quickly clear a classroom in response to an emergency.
Alert Signal: Verbal announcement by staff—"Room Clear."
Teacher Response: Direct students to move quickly and orderly to the pre-designated buddy classroom.
Mental Health Critical Incident (pre-recovery)
Definition: A mental health critical incident is any event that overwhelms an individual's capacity to cope. Traumatic events can cause psychological and emotional turmoil, cognitive problems and behavioral changes. Alert Signal: Instructions via intercom, classroom telephone, personal notification or e-mail.
Teacher Response:
- Remain calm. Avoid appearing anxious or frightened.
- Maintain student safety.
- Let children know that it is O.K. to feel upset.
- Observe children's emotional state. Understand that children will express their emotions differently. There is no right or wrong way to feel or express grief.
- Tell children the truth. Don't try to pretend the event has not occurred or that it is not serious.
- Keep your explanations developmentally appropriate.
- Refer children who exhibit extreme anxiety, fear or anger to mental health counselors in the school.