Drill Planning Checklist

 

 Exercise Planning Team
 Create a timeline for the drill.
 Identify planning team members: site personnel, emergency responders, and community members.
 Assign responsibilities to team members.
 Design and Develop Drill
 Identify type of drill.
 Identify where the drill will take place.
 Identify who will participate in the drill.
 Identify actions, procedures, and protocols that will be drilled.
 Prior to the Drill
 Be sure the procedures call for use of simple language to make announcements (lockdown, evacuation, reverse evacuation, room clear).
 Review safety and security procedures with all staff, volunteers, members, and students.
 Review each individual’s emergency responsibilities.
 Make proper notification of the plan to conduct a drill (parents, guardians, other).
 Have an all clear procedure identified to end the drill.
 

Review and test communication protocols:

  • Between different groups (site personnel, medical, law enforcement)
  • Among site personnel
  • With groups outside the building
  • From rooms to the main office
  • With other sites
  • With parents/guardians
 During the Drill
 Determine if the emergency alert/announcement was clearly communicated and understood throughout the building.
 Determine if the procedures and protocols were properly followed.
 Identify if there was a method for room staff/volunteers to communicate with the main office.
 Identify if the procedures for hallways, bathroom, and open areas were followed.
 Identify if the procedures for individuals outside were followed.
 After the Drill
 Conduct a debriefing session with key partners to discuss lessons learned and measures for improvement.
 

Identify/discuss:

  • How long the drill took
  • What worked well
  • What needs to be improved
  • Other people needed for the drill team
  • Emergency response time if this were not a drill
  • Next steps
 Prepare an after-action report with observations of and recommendations for the drill.
 Improvement Plan
 Review and update plans and procedures per the after-action report.
Adapted from: State of New Jersey Department of Education School Security Drill Checklist, https://www.state.nj.us/education/schools/security/req/req.pdf
Evacuation Drill Procedures

 

Before the Drill
Assign each room or area a designated evacuation route and an alternate route.Staff, volunteers, members, and students should be familiar with the evacuation routes. Primary and alternate routes should be identified.
Evacuation instructions should be posted in each room or area.Posters with evacuation diagrams and instructions should be posted in each room or area.
Unique warningsEmergency warnings should be clearly distinguishable from each other.
Ensure drill alarm systems are in working order.All alarm systems should be kept in working order at all times.
Plan for alternate warning procedure and evacuation routes. 
Alert any necessary personnel in advance of the drill.It may be necessary to notify food service personnel or other staff in advance of the drill.
Provide law enforcement and fire departments with the building floor plan, plans, and procedures. 
Assign responsibilities.All staff and volunteers should be assigned responsibilities. A staff member or volunteer should evaluate conditions of the assembly area(s) before the evacuation.
Day of the Drill
Notify 911 dispatchers of the drill.Also provide notification when the drill is complete.
Issue evacuation order. 
Turn off computer monitors and other educational aids, where applicable. 
Begin evacuation.Everyone should evacuate the building immediately upon hearing the alarm. Prearranged evacuation routes should be used.
Maintain orderly movement.Do not permit individuals to stop for coats, books, or other belongings. Individuals should walk quietly and be supervised. If the designated route is blocked, the next nearest exit or designated alternate route should be used. Designated staff or volunteers should stand at doors until everyone in the room or area has filed out, and should then take rosters and emergency kits.
Maintain accountability.When the assembly areas are reached, designated staff or volunteers should ensure everyone is accounted for. Discrepancies need to be reported.
Remain in assigned area.Keep all individuals in the assigned assembly area, until instructions are given.
Record evacuation times. 
Issue return to building notification.All individuals return to building in an orderly, safe manner.
Adapted from: The Virginia Educator’s Guide for Planning and Conducting School Emergency Drills, https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/sites/dcjs.virginia.gov/files/publications/law-enforcement/virginia-educators-drill-guide.pdf
Evacuation Drill Checklist

 

 ActionComments/Notes
 911 notified 
 Drill information sent to parents/guardians 
 All individuals evacuating remained quiet and orderly 
 Staff or volunteers closed doors as they left (kept unlocked) 
 Restrooms and hallways cleared  
 Radio communication effective 
 Emergency kit brought to assembly area 
 Proper accounting for individuals conducted 
 Alarm notification heard in all areas 
 Assembly area clearly marked, safe, and effective for the evacuation 
 Evacuation times recorded 
Adapted from: Lincoln County Schools Drill Evaluation Form, http://rems.ed.gov/docs/repository/REMS_000067_0001.pdf
Lockdown Drill Procedures

 

Before the Drill Date
Review lockdown procedures with staff, volunteers, members, students.The key to a successful drill is awareness of the drill goals and objectives and understanding of roles and responsibilities.
Announce the drill date to staff and volunteers. 
Send a letter to parents/guardians.Let parents know that emergency preparedness is necessary and that it is essential that they take it seriously.
Day of the Drill
Notify 911 dispatchers of the drill.Also, notify them of the conclusion of the drill.
Assemble the crisis team and/or designated evaluators.The crisis team members and/or designated evaluators should be assigned sections of the building to evaluate.
Initiate lockdownFollow the lockdown procedures in your emergency plan.
Evaluate each room.Evaluators should knock on doors, listen for talking, look in windows for visible individuals, check for computer monitors left on.
Issue a release.Once the proper procedure is used, issue a release. Only staff need to know the proper procedure for release.
Evaluate and debrief.Use the lockdown drill checklist for the evaluation.
Adapted from: The Virginia Educator’s Guide for Planning and Conducting School Emergency Drills, https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/sites/dcjs.virginia.gov/files/publications/law-enforcement/virginia-educators-drill-guide.pdf
Lockdown Drill Checklist

 

 ActionComments/Notes
 911 notified 
 Drill information sent to parents/guardians 
 Scenario reviewed with staff and volunteers in advance 
 Staff, volunteers, students, and members went into a room, closed and locked all doors and windows 
 Computer monitors turned off 
 Individuals in rooms were quiet 
 Signs placed on doors to indicate lockdown 
 Process to account for all individuals conducted 
 Drapes, curtains, blinds closed 
 Release notification successfully issued 
Adapted from: The Virginia Educator’s Guide for Planning and Conducting School Emergency Drills, https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/sites/dcjs.virginia.gov/files/publications/law-enforcement/virginia-educators-drill-guide.pdf