Emergency Preparadness

OMS Emergency Drill Protocol

Introduction

This Emergency Plan addresses the Open Mind School planned response to emergency situations associated with emergencies and/or disasters. It is designed to be read, understood, and exercised prior to an emergency and integrated into the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS).

This plan has been written to encompass most potential emergency situations on a school campus. Situations may occur where standard methods and practices may be modified for such circumstances. Nothing contained in this plan should be interpreted as an obstacle to the experience, initiative, and/or ingenuity to adapt to the complexities which exist under emergency conditions.

Types of Drills

Fire Drill

This procedure is followed any time the fire alarm is activated.

The drill is initiated by the fire alarm. Students and staff exit the buildings calmly and orderly and evacuate to their designated areas. Once all people on campus have been accounted for, the drill ends. This procedure is followed any time the fire alarm is activated.

Earthquake Drill

The drill starts with an announcement from the principal over the intercom. Students and staff immediately “DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON.” Students and staff should drop to the floor, duck under a sturdy desk or table, cover the head with arms and hands, and hold onto furniture. Turn away from windows to stay clear of breaking glass. Individuals in wheelchairs can secure against an interior wall and lock the wheels. Protect head by covering with arms if possible.
Remain under until the principal announces that it is time to evacuate. Students and staff exit the buildings calmly and orderly and evacuate to their designated areas. Once all people on campus have been accounted for, the drill ends. This procedure is followed any time an earthquake is felt by the staff or is announced by the principal.

What to do in different spaces

Classrooms
Drop to the floor. Do not try to exit during shaking.
Cover your head and neck with one hand and seek shelter under your desk or table as best as possible.
Hold on to the leg of the desk/table with your other hand.
Laboratory or other room with no tables/shelter
Step back from the lab table.
Drop to the floor on your knees next to a wall, away from glass and other hazards if possible.
Cover your head and neck with your hands and arms.
Hold On to something sturdy during the shaking.
“Wait a Minute” after the shaking stops. Look around for hazards, including behind you, before getting up. Carefully exit the building if instructed.

Shelter-in-Place Drill

This procedure is followed when there is a potential threat in the neighborhood.

The drill starts with an announcement from the principal over the intercom. Staff members lock all classroom/office doors, closing entrance and exit points on the school’s perimeter, close all blinds, and turn off the lights. All staff and students are accounted for through email. Once all people on campus have been accounted for, the drill ends with an announcement from the principal. This procedure is followed when there is a potential threat in the neighborhood.

Lockdown Drill

This procedure is followed when there is a potential threat near or on campus.

The drill starts with an announcement from the principal over the intercom. Staff members clear all hallways; get students and staff inside immediately lock all classroom/office doors, closing entrance and exit points on the school’s perimeter, close all blinds, and turn off the lights. Students and staff build barricades blocking each point of entry and an interior barricade to hide behind. Direct all those in the room to remain still and quiet; turn off/ silence cell phones. All staff and students are accounted for through email. Once all people on campus have been accounted for, students and staff exit the buildings calmly and orderly and evacuate to their designated areas. When all people on campus are accounted for again, the drill ends. This procedure is followed when there is a potential threat near or on campus.

Please note: Potential misinformation about Coronavirus can be anxiety-provoking, especially for children/teens who struggle with anxiety. It’s important to have developmentally appropriate conversations utilizing facts with your child/teen about the coronavirus and to minimize fear and uncertainty for our community.

Emergency Resources

For your information and convenience, here are several local emergency resources:

Contact Information

Emergency 911

To access 911 from a cell phone (408) 277-8911

Non-Emergency 311

To access 311 from a cell phone (408) 277-8900

Mobile Phone Registration

Radio Stations

The following radio stations broadcast emergency information:

KCBS AM 740 KQED FM 88.5 KSOL FM 98.9 (Spanish)

KGO AM 810 KLIV AM 1590

A Parent's Guide to Emergencies at OMS Schools

If there is an emergency at school, you will generally see one of two scenarios when you arrive at the school. You may see all of the students outside in the Assembly Area at Job Train’s parking lot (1200 O'Brien Dr, Menlo Park, CA 94025), if the building is potentially dangerous to the students, or you will see no one outside, because there is a potential hazard outside of the school, and officials are keeping the children inside, and using the building to help shield the students from harm.

Depending on the situation, you may not be able to get close to the school and may be asked to wait in a safe area near the school. If it is hazardous for students to be released, everyone will be kept inside the school until they are notified by the authorities that it is safe. Schools will act with the safety of students in mind, and school officials will always follow the directives of the police department and the fire department.

Please bring the following items:

Driver’s license or other photo identification
Cell phone (for updates)
Medical information and medication, if applicable

During the emergency, students will use the skills they have practiced during drills. The school will contact parents to pick up their children at the Assembly Area. Please do not call the school as we need to keep lines open for communication with emergency service providers and many times the buildings are evacuated. Please be aware that students may only be released to individuals listed on the emergency information. Identification is required to check out a student after an emergency or natural disaster.

Topics for emergency drill discussion

If you were at home during an earthquake, what might fall on you? Can you move those items or secure them so they won’t cause injury?
Do you always keep your cell phone and computer charged? If you have a car, do you always keep the gas tank at least half full?
How would you contact your family in case of an emergency? Do you have an out-of-state contact established to receive messages from your family in the event local phone lines are busy?
ATMs may be offline after a major earthquake. How long can you live on the money you have right now?

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: Is my child safe at school during an emergency?

A: Yes. School staff is prepared to care for students during and after many types of emergencies and disasters. They regularly practice responding to emergencies, and OMS has initiated a comprehensive planning process to assure the safety of all students and staff.. Your child is very safe at school.

Q: What should I do if my child is at school during an emergency?

A: Please—Do not come or contact the school during an emergency! Coming or Contacting the school during an emergency can interfere with emergency first responders (Fire, Police, Ambulance, etc.) and can create additional problems. Your child is safe at school, and if necessary, you will be able to pick up your child after the emergency has passed.

Q: Who can pick-up my child from school?

A: Only those people who are listed under Authorized Pickups may pick-up your child from school, so it is very important that we have this information and that it is up to date and accurate

Q: How will I be contacted if an emergency situation occurs on my student's campus?

A: Depending on the nature of the emergency, parents will be informed through the school message system to emergency contact numbers. Please be sure that all contact numbers are up to date and accurate.

Q: How long will the school care for my child?

A: School staff will take care of your child until you or someone who is under Authorized Pickups arrives.

Q: What can I do to prepare for an emergency?

A: Every home should have emergency supplies and a plan of what to do in the event of a disaster.

Q: How will we communicate if the phones don’t work?

A: In a major emergency (like a major earthquake) electricity and phones will probably not work. Many announcements will be made over the radio, so having a battery operated radio is a good idea. Please look at the Radio Station section for more information.