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This Week in School and Campus Safety
Good morning,
This Weekly Update by the Illinois School and Campus Safety Program provides information on the upcoming session of Campus Emergencies Prevention, Response, and Recovery; announces upcoming sessions of the Understanding and Planning for School Bomb Incidents class and the Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings class; and provides resources for winter weather preparedness.
Please note, we are in the process of updating our contacts list. If you believe you have been added by mistake or wish to no longer receive our emails, just let me know and I will remove you from our directory.
Respectfully,
Laura Black
le-black@wiu.edu
Program Coordinator
Illinois School and Campus Safety Program
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Registration Open: Campus Emergencies Prevention, Response, and Recovery Class on Nov. 23rd & 24th via Zoom
The Illinois School and Campus Safety Program, in collaboration with the National Center for Biomedical Research and Training at Louisiana State University, is pleased to announce a session of the "Campus Emergencies Prevention, Response, and Recovery" course will be held Nov. 23rd & 24th from noon to 4:00 pm via Zoom.
Course Description:
Overview:
This course aims to train personnel from PK-12 schools and institutions of higher education (IHEs), first responders, elected officials, and community stakeholders to respond to campus emergencies effectively and cooperatively during an active shooter incident. Participants will examine successful, nationally accepted emergency management principles that can be used to address the wide range of threats and hazards that educational entities face.
During the course, participants will discuss emergency planning considerations, the importance of an integrated response to campus emergencies, and communications and recovery issues that need to be addressed.
Core Capabilities:
The terminal learning objectives of this course align with the following core capabilities:
• Operational Coordination
• Planning
Scope:
This class is designed to address campus emergencies associated with an active shooter incident requiring the attention of personnel from PK-12 schools and IHEs, first responders, elected officials, and community stakeholders.
Target Audience:
This class is designed for campus leaders who may be involved in planning for, responding to, and recovering from campus emergencies. Suggested attendees are personnel from PK-12 schools and IHEs, first responders, elected officials, and community stakeholders whose responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
• Campus administration
• Faculty governance
• Student governance
• Campus public safety
• Facilities
• Emergency management
• Student affairs
• Campus health services
• Campus public affairs and public information
• Jurisdictional public safety
Prerequisites and Registration:
To enroll in this course, participants must be US citizens and must possess or obtain a FEMA student identification number (SID). Directions for obtaining a SID number are in the registration letter. Click here to view the registration letter and register for the training.
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Coming Soon! Registrations for Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings Class and Understanding and Planning for School Bomb Incidents Class
The Illinois School and Campus Safety Program, in collaboration with the New Mexico Tech Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center, is pleased to announce a session of the Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings class will be held via Zoom on Dec. 15, 2020, from noon to 4:00 pm and a session of the Understanding and Planning for School Bomb Incidents class will be held via Zoom on Dec. 17, 2020, from noon to 4:00 pm. Additional class information, as well as the registration information, will be released next week and spots in the classes will be limited.
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Winter Weather Preparedness, Part I
It doesn't seem possible that it is time to start thinking about winter weather safety but, here we are, almost halfway through November. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency has designated November as Winter Weather Preparedness Month, and with it comes the need for promoting winter weather safety and performing routine seasonal maintenance so K-12 schools and Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) can make sure they are prepared for the onset of inclement weather.
For K-12 schools, winter weather causes several concerns including transportation, early dismissal, school closings, and even the possibility of having to shelter in place. School administrators have to also consider other concerns such as:
- Do bus drivers have training on how to respond should they become stranded in a storm with students?
- Are buses equipped with resources in case they are stranded for an extended period of time?
- If sheltering in place, does the school nurse have several days worth of medicine for students who have prescriptions?
- What about COVID-19 and having to shelter in place?
- What if a student or students are injured but emergency services cannot respond immediately?
Schools must consider these and other potential issues when planning for winter weather emergencies.
For IHEs, winter weather causes some of the same concerns as their K-12 counterparts, but there are additional concerns to address. Instead of having to worry as much about busing students to and from campus, IHEs may have miles of walkways that will need cleared. They also typically face a larger, more diverse student population that may not be familiar with the weather in the area.
Additionally, residence halls alone create several concerns because, even if an IHE closes due to inclement weather, plans must still be in place to ensure the safety of those living on campus. Some concerns include:
- What plans are in place if severe weather causes a power outage and neither electricians nor the utility company can respond?
- Although many students keep food in their rooms, do they have enough in the event they are stuck on campus?
- Are resources readily accessible, even in severe weather, if they don’t have enough supplies?
- Are there plans in place to house commuters if they get trapped on campus?
- What about students trapped on campus who have or develop COVID-19?
IHEs have much to consider as we move into the Winter season.
To help prepare for upcoming inclement weather, over the next few weeks we will look at winter weather preparedness resources for K-12 Schools and IHEs. This week, resources to consider include the Illnois State Board of Education's (ISBE) Extreme Weather Preparedness Tips for Schools, the National Weather Service's When Weather Turns Severe: A Guide to Developing a Severe Weather Emergency Plan for Schools, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Ready Wrigley Prepares for Winter Weather.
"Winter weather claims nearly 100 lives annually, more than lightning, hurricanes, or tornadoes. Winter storms are considered to be deceptive killers because most deaths are indirectly related to the storm. People die in traffic accidents on snow or ice covered roads, from hypothermia due to prolonged exposure to cold, and from heart attacks due to overexertion. About 70% of the deaths occur in motor vehicles accidents, and nearly 25% are from exposure to snow and cold. These statistics indicate the need for a winter weather preparedness plan for schools."
In Ready Wrigley Prepares for Winter Weather, the CDC promotes winter weather preparedness and safety for younger kids. This educational coloring book features activities that help educate kids on emergency kits, carbon monoxide detectors, winter attire, pet safety, and more. It also includes a family communication plan page so kids will have important contact information readily available.
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K-12 Classes
Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings -
Dec. 15, 2020 - Noon to 4:00 pm via Zoom
Understanding & Planning for School Bomb Incidents - Dec. 15, 2020 - Noon to 4:00 pm via Zoom
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Higher Ed Classes
Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings -
Dec. 15, 2020 - Noon to 4:00 pm via Zoom
Understanding & Planning for School Bomb Incidents - Dec. 15, 2020 - Noon to 4:00 pm via Zoom
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Illinois School and Campus Safety Program www.ilschoolsafety.org
schoolsafety@iletsbei.com
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