Parents need to know the drill in case of school lockdowns

Schools have emergency procedures in place, and although they’re continuously reviewed with all faculty and students, practiced and evaluated, their success also depends on parents’ cooperation.

For each of us, student safety is the priority.

Last school year, Laie Elementary went into lockdown. It was a benign threat, but a valuable learning experience. That came to mind again earlier this week, as news unfolded about the shooting rampage and lockdown at the naval yard in Washington, D.C.

A lockdown is when students, teachers and faculty are confined to their rooms due to a perceived or real threat, which may include a shooter.

All students must immediately report to the nearest available room such as a classroom, library, cafeteria or front office.

The doors and windows are locked and everyone must hide and stay as quiet as possible.

Everyone is secured in place for their own safety. People — including parents — who arrive on campus may be interpreted, and treated, as threats.

For everyone’s safety, no one except law enforcement officials are allowed to enter or exit rooms and the campus during lockdown.

The situation is tense and terrifying, but for the children’s sake, parents and guardians should:

>> Immediately monitor and keep their communications channels — such as phones, text and computers — open for first-available and ongoing messaging, information or instructions from the school administration.

This may come via the School Connects automated system or the school’s website. It may name a specific waiting area or a site for reuniting with children.

>> Not call the school. Why? It ties up school phone lines at the exact time when communication between law enforcement, the state and school administration is critical.

>> Not try to pick up their child from school at that time for the reasons stated earlier.

Together, law enforcement officials, the district office and the school administration will assess the situation and make the most appropriate decisions to protect everyone’s safety. Parents and students must do their parts.

In preparing for another event or the next drill (fire, campus evacuation, shelter-in-place or lockdown), it’s important that parents:

>> Give their children’s school their current contact information and quickly tell whenever it changes.

Our communications system is only useful if we have their updated information.

>> Talk to their school principal so they know the procedures during emergencies and drills.

>> Remind their children to treat these events seriously.

If after a school tragedy or emergency a child needs counseling, the parents should contact the school counselors.

These links provide resources for children dealing with a crisis: www.apa.org/topics/violence/school-shooting.aspx and http://crisisguide.neahin.org/crisisguide/after/mentalhealth.html.