Consistent vocabulary, protocol for LPS response to school incidents
Parents, families and guardians:
In the interest of creating the safest environment possible for all our students and staff, Lincoln Public Schools is adopting a new and consistent district-wide vocabulary, protocol and practice for defining our response to various school incidents. The ability to effectively respond to natural or man-made emergencies and disasters is an essential component of any emergency operations/response plan in our schools – and a critical ingredient in the safe school recipe is the uniform classroom response to an incident at school. Weather events, fires, accidents, intruders and other threats to student safety are scenarios that are planned and trained for by students, teachers, staff and administration.
This school year, LPS is expanding the school district’s safety program to include what is called the Standard Response Protocol. The premise is simple. There are now four specific actions that can be performed during a critical incident: Lockout (secure the perimeter), Lockdown (locks, lights, out of sight), Evacuate (to the announced location) and Shelter (using announced type and method). By standardizing the vocabulary, all stakeholders can understand the response and status of an event. For students, this provides continuity of expectations and actions throughout their educational career. For teachers, this becomes a simpler process to train and drill. For first responders, the common vocabulary and protocols establish a greater predictability that persists through the duration of an incident. Parents and community members can easily understand the practices and can reinforce the protocol.
For more information go to: http://iloveuguys.org/srp.html
