International Best Practices for Disaster Prevention, Readiness and Response in Schools: Checklist for Schoolchildren & TeachersØ 1. Create a school safety committee with students, teachers, parents, community leadersÖ Establish a school safety committee to lead Disaster Prevention, Readiness and Response planning in your school. Include representatives from school teachers, schoolchildren, parents and local community leaders. Ö Have regular activities on Disaster Prevention, Readiness and Response in every class. Ø 2. Develop Disaster Prevention & Readiness plans Ö Research historical events and current scientific studies to get information on all the different disasters that could affect your community and your school. Ö Learn what resources you have and how to use these in a disaster, for example: fire extinguishers, first aid kits, generators, ladders, search & rescue equipment, and which students or teachers are trained in first-aid. Ö Assess the physical risks from buildings, non-structural elements (e.g., mirrors, lights) and building contents (e.g., heavy furniture), and other hazards. Take action to reduce these risks (see 3 below). Ø 3. Maximize physical protection: Ö Check if your building’s location, design and structure meet current building codes and safety standards, and if it has been inspected by a qualified structural engineer. If not, repair and retrofit the building to meet safety standards. Ö Check that the building meets fire safety standards, such as well-maintained smoke detectors, fire alarms, fire hoses, fire extinguishers, automatic emergency lighting and clearly marked building exit routes. Ö Check that all hazardous materials are isolated and secured to prevent spill or release. Ö Practice preventive maintenance on buildings, protecting them from damp and other damage, and repairing damage when it occurs. Ö To guard against earthquake and typhoons and protect children from injury: o fasten tall and heavy furniture; o secure computers, televisions and other electronic equipment; propane gas tanks, water tanks, lighting fixtures, roof elements, heating and cooling devices, and other supplies that could kill, injure, or impair; o hang pictures securely on closed hooks. Ö Develop early warning systems in the community against floods, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, landslides and avalanches, and have evacuation plans to move people and assets to safety. Ö Ensure you have back-ups of all important records. Ö Make sure school transportation is inspected for safety; drivers and students are trained in safety skills and avoid overloading of school bus. Ö Ensure that seat belts, helmets and other transportation safety measures are used properly. Ø 4. Plan for and practice what to do during disasters: Ö Make evacuation plans that include: safe areas to meet, evacuation routes to get to those areas, and “buddy systems” to help students who may have disabilities (e.g., physical, sight or hearing disabilities) Ö Agree on evacuation plans and procedures with police, fire and hospital officials. Ö Hold disaster drills at least four times a year with all staff and students. Discuss and improve in practice. Ö Follow basic building evacuation rules: “Don’t talk. Don’t run. Don’t push. Don’t go back”. Ö Establish communication systems for emergencies, which include agreements on how to: o activate warning systems; o share children’s contact information with families and local authorities; o inform all parents/guardians of the location of safe areas for family reunification; o use local news media (radio, newspapers, television) to communicate emergency messages to families. Ø 5. Learn skills for Disaster Response: Ö Key people in the school need to learn organization skills for disaster response. Ö Know how to access reliable external information sources on disasters and how to communicate the information to the school and community. Ö School staff and older students can learn the following Disaster Response skills: o first aid and mass casualty triage (a process of prioritizing patients based on the severity of their condition, so as to treat as many as possible in a short time with limited resources) o light search and rescue efforts o fire suppression o wireless communication o psychological first aid o emergency power operation o procedures to release students to authorized adults o skills related to setting up temporary shelter o knowledge of basic health, nutrition, hygiene and sanitation o how to turn off electricity, water and gas. Ø 6. Have adequate supplies for disaster response: Ö Pack Emergency Supplies for students and staff that last for at least 72 hours. These include: at least 12 liters of water per person, nutritious food like high protein biscuits, first aid supplies, a whistle for alerting others in search and rescue operations, and an emergency torch. Ö Bring the student Emergency Supplies bags to school at the beginning of each school year, and take it home again at the end of the school year. Ö Ensure the school has emergency power, emergency lighting, alternate communications, alternate transportation, shelter and sanitation supplies. Ø 7. Have post-disaster plans: Ö Educate parents on your school’s Disaster Prevention, Readiness and Response plans. Ö In an emergency, release children only to adults approved by parents/guardians, so that parents can easily find and reunite with their children. Ö Have a plan for continued education for students, including alternate locations to continue classes, alternate schedules and copies of educational records. Ö Use school-based activities to educate parents and the community about Disaster Prevention, Readiness and Response. Adapted by UNICEF-China http://www.unicef.org/china/ from Risk RED (Risk Reduction Education for Disasters) http://www.riskred.org/
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