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Wednesday, August 20th, 2008

Guidelines for Bio/Chemical Concerns in the Schools

Information provided by the Center for Safe Schools working in partnership with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency

It is important for schools to utilize educational information to assist in making informed decisions regarding procedures and policies. The following check list has been developed to provide technical assistance to schools in response to expressed bio/chemical concerns. Schools are still the safest place for children within their communities.

Policy and Safe School Plan Development

Review district multi-hazard evacuation plans and consult with local response agencies.

  • This may include local law enforcement, hospitals/medical personnel, fire departments, and others
  • The county emergency management office is the point of contact for the hazardous materials team and counter-terrorism task force team activation. After calling 911, bomb threats and biochemical events should be reported to your county emergency management office. The phone numbers are located on the EMERGENCY or County Offices page of your local telephone directory.

Provide bio/chemical information awareness to faculty and staff.

  • Consult with credible sources to determine their availability to provide information awareness seminars; such as medical community, police departments, emergency management agencies, county/municipal health organizations, postal services, etc.
  • Document attendance of staff at information sessions in order to track in-serviced faculty and staff.

Review crisis response plans and evacuation procedures with faculty, staff, parents and students.

  • Make sure everyone knows their responsive course of action.

Organize and conduct drills to assist in the evaluation of the district plan.

Develop or review the procedure for shutting down the air handling system for the building.

  • This procedure should be known by someone in the administrative area in addition to the maintenance personnel.

Encourage staff to be attentive to their surroundings on a day-to-day basis.

  • Report things that appear to be out of place (chemical or hazardous material containers, arrival of unexpected/unsolicited packages, and unfamiliar individuals in the area.)

Review media contact protocol to be utilized in the event of an emergency situation.

Resources

Resource information for terroristic threats

  • Refer to "Safe Schools - A Handbook for Practitioners" This resource was distributed to all public school districts, intermediate units and vocational technical schools in 1999. It was produced by the National Association of Secondary School Principals & DynCorp, 1995. For ordering information call, 703-461-2271.
  • Refer to "Assessing Threats of Violence" This resource was distributed by the Center for Safe Schools, to all public school districts, intermediate units and vocational technical schools in 2001. It is also available on-line by clicking here.

Resource and training information for integrating bio/chemical response into your multi-hazard safe school plans

  • "Facility Security Handbook", "School Safety Handbook" and "Chem-Bio Handbook," published by Jane's Information Group, 1999. (Ordering information 1-800-824-0768)
  • Contact your local or county emergency management coordinator for training information and assistance in developing your emergency operation plans for multi-hazard disasters. Click here for a list of County Emergency Management Agencies from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Web Site. Telephone numbers are located on the EMERGENCY or county offices page of your local telephone directory.
    The county emergency management office is the point of contact for the hazardous materials team and counter-terrorism task force team activation. After calling 911, bomb threats and biochemical events should be reported to your county emergency management office.

Resources for bio/chemical information including guidelines on how to react to suspicious letters, packages or threats

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
United States Postal Service
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Red Cross
Hopkins-biodefense from the Johns Hopkins University Schools of Public Health and Medicine, Center for Civilian Biodefense Strategies
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Anthrax Information

Resources for Crisis Response Training

  • Student Assistance Program Trainers
  • School Crisis Response Planning
    This site has been developed by the Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit # 5 in collaboration with the City of Erie School District. This project was funded to encourage and facilitate a "comprehensive and collaborative" approach to school crisis response planning throughout Pennsylvania.
  • Crisis Response Manual Student Crisis Assistance Manual - This manual provides a practical approach to crisis intervention, crisis management and crisis response. Developed by, Nonpublic School Services, Intermediate Unit 20.

Contacts

Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
As an agency of state government, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) was created in law and is charged with the management and coordination of the Commonwealth's emergency management programs. PEMA is the Commonwealth's emergency resource manager, administering the Commonwealth's Emergency Operations Center (EOC). From this central location, the governor and lieutenant governor oversee the state’s response to developing emergency conditions. Over its satellite-based statewide warning and communications network, PEMA maintains communications with the 67 county emergency management agencies, monitoring local conditions and providing state government support as appropriate. PEMA also works closely with other state government agencies and with county emergency managers to ensure that operations plans and procedures are in-place.

Pamela L. Weeks, State Training & Exercise Officer
telephone: 717-651-2141
e-mail: pweeks@state.pa.us

Joe Rupe, C.E.M.- Multi-hazard Safe Schools Training Program Manager
telephone: 717-651-2026; Fax 717-651-2241
e-mail: jrupe@state.pa.us
Web site: www.pema.state.pa.us

Center for Safe Schools
275 Grandview Avenue, Suite 200, Camp Hill, PA 17011
phone (717) 763-1661 | FAX (717) 763-2083
www.safeschools.info