JIS EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

A GUIDE TO RESPONSE AND LIFE-SAVING

Emergencies, disasters, accidents and injuries can occur at any time and without warning. Being prepared to handle emergencies is an individual as well as an organizational responsibility. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that employees are aware of safety procedures and emergency protocols.

JIS EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

  • DO NOT PANIC
  • To deal with an emergency you must be prepared. Being ready can save lives, prevent injuries and lessen damage to property.
  • During an emergency it is important to remain calm and composed at every stage of the emergency.

SIGNALS:

Fire Alarm – Siren Sound

Lock Down Alarm – Megaphone Whistle

FIRE

  • When a fire or smoke alarm is triggered, a siren will sound in the building where the fire or smoke starts and device is located.
  • Students walk in a single file and in an orderly manner to the assembly point.
  • They DO NOT RUN but are not be leisurely.
  • Windows and doors shall be left closed, but doors should remain unlocked
  • Teachers will take student class lists bearing the phone numbers of parents and attendance sheet to Assembly Points. Students separated from their class at the time, will join their class at the assembly point.
  • The teacher will call out each student’s name and tick it off. This is to ensure that everybody is accounted for and nobody is left inside.
  • The teacher stays with her/his class. Unassigned teachers help to maintain order and assist in areas in which urgent need is required.
  • All stay at the assembly point and wait for further instructions.

GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TIPS

  • Staff members should not try to fight fires unless they have special training.
  • One should not run if one’s clothing catches fire – running fans and spreads the flames.
  • A person on fire should stop, drop and roll. Rolling in a coat, blanket, or on the floor helps to smother the flames.
  • When it is absolutely necessary to enter a closed room in a burning building, the door should be felt with the palm of the hand – if it is hot, it should not be opened.

First Aid Teams

A team shall be led by the Nurse in charge of the clinic in a section. Other members could be five (5) additional staff, with no specifically assigned duty, nearest to clinic at the time of the fire

The teams shall rush to the assembly points carrying: 1st Aid Boxes; stretchers; wheelchairs; and emergency medication & materials.

First Aid Activities

Basic Rules of First Aid:

  1. Keep the injured pupil lying quietly.
  2. Look for severe bleeding. Check breathing.
  3. Look for injuries or fractures.
  4. Send for help. Be sure to give the exact location.
  5. Reassure the injured pupil.
  6. Every injury creates shock.

Severe Bleeding:Apply direct pressure (use pressure points).

No Breathing:Initiate CPR. (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is a lifesaving technique useful in many emergencies, including heart attack, in which someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped. The American Heart Association recommends that everyone begins CPR with chest compressions.

Chest Compression

  • Put the person on his or her back on a firm surface.
  • Kneel next to the person’s neck and shoulders.
  • Place the heel of one hand over the center of the person’s chest, between the nipples. Place your other hand on top of the first hand.
  • Keep your elbows straight and position your shoulders directly above your hands. Use your upper body weight (not just your arms) as you push straight down on (compress) the chest.
  • Push hard at the rate of about 100 compressions a minute.
  • If you have not been trained in CPR, continue chest compressions until there are signs of movement or until emergency medical personnel take over.
  • You may apply “Rescue Breathing” mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose breathing, if you have been trained in it.

NOTE

  1. It is far better to do something than to do nothing at all; if you are fearful that your knowledge or abilities are not 100% complete.
  2. Remember, the difference between your doing something or doing nothing could be someone’s life
  3. Send for help immediately.

Traumatic Shock to Bones, Joints, and Head:

  1. Apply cold to prevent swelling
  2. Keep student quiet.
  3. Do not move the student unless further danger is imminent.

Convulsions or Seizures

  1. Do not restrain the individual
  2. Clear all sharp objects from around the individual.
  3. Keep airway open.

EVACUATION FROM ASSEMBLY POINT

  1. Gates: All gates must be opened fast and cleared of any obstacles. No standing must be allowed in the gate area, apart from the personnel assigned to it. Leader – Chief Security Officer.
  2. Drivers: Must park their vehicles at evacuation center, at least 25 meters from the gates and /or point of the fire. A driver plus one staff to help students board the vehicle must be ready by each vehicle, if necessary. Leader: Operations Manager.
  3. Fire Extinguisher Points–Staff must rush to fire point with extinguishers; the number depending on the nature of the fire. As much as possible those closest to the extinguishers, and who know how to operate them, must be assigned.Leader: appointed by supervisor.
  4. Telephone; Supervisorand/or appointed staff should call the Fire Brigade and the Police..
  5. Public Address System: 2 Staffthat should be able to speak Arabic, English and French. Those closest to the director’s office and/or appointees of supervisor can do the job.
  6. Rounds: Supervisorand 5 standbys, who could function in the absence of the staff responsible for a particular function could make rounds to supervise activities.
  7. Filing Out:Students could file out in an orderly manner guided by their homeroom teachers directed toward the gates, by supervisors’ assistants. They mustnot RUN and they must also not walk LEISURELY.
  8. They are further directed to the evacuation assembly points and/or to the drivers’ locations to board the busses.
  9. Checking: Home Room teachers (other volunteers) check attendance list at the evacuation assembly point again, to ensure that every student is accounted for.
  10. Notifying Parents:Home Room teachers (other volunteers) should call parents to inform them about the evacuation and where their children are located. They should allay their fears and give them assurance of their children’s safety. When the situation is disastrous, they should just be invited over to be attended to by trained personnel.
  11. Reduce Stress: Home Room teachers (other volunteers), talk to the students amicably to calm them down and reduce their anxiety.
  12. NOTE: SUPERVISORS/SWEEP TEAMS
    • The Supervisor and his team, as well as all the leaders, have mobile phones with which to communicate and coordinate activities during and after the evacuation
    • They shall also be responsible for evacuating visitors and redundant staff. They shall go round the centers to superintend activities, making a final sweep of the building and ensuring that all students and adults have evacuated.
    • If the premises and/or situation become dangerous, the emergency communication system and/or SMS messaging will be activated. Students will remain at the assembly point until a parent or authorized person comes to pick them up
    • Students can only be released to parents/guardians or those designated by prior authorization from parent/guardians.

Task Force/Supervisors:

  • Must be responsible for supervising the whole operation and critically monitoring outcomes.
  • Composition: (a) Those with a background in security training; e.g. police, fire brigade, army, prisons etc.,
  • (b) Those with experience in similar exercises.
  • (c) Coordinators
  • (d) Committed and dedicated staff.
  • Each floor has a “dada” stationed there. They must be part of the task force to inspect the rooms and ensure that no student is left in the classroom. It is the most convenient arrangement under the circumstances.
  • Some staff could also be coopted to help in the evacuation of infants and the physically challenged.

Security Staff: (an essential part of the task force).

  • Must open fully, the gates leading outside.
  • Must clear all obstacles from the exit points to ensure a free exit-corridor leading outside.
  • Must control movements in an orderly manner.
  • Must man the fire hydrants, fire extinguishers and assist in physical tasks where available.
  • (d) Committed and dedicated staff.
  • They are responsible for visitors’ safety..

Nurses and First Aid Personnel:

  • Must bring to the safety area an emergency first aid box containing relevant drugs for treating shock, burns, pain, fractures and other injuries;
  • two (2) stretchers;
  • one wheel chair;
  • a few blankets and other relevant materials.
  • The staff working closest to the clinics should assist in bringing items quickly to the assembly point.

Telephone numbers:

  • Numbers of the fire brigade, police and ambulance services should be displayed boldly on the walls within the premises.
  • Some staff should be appointed to call them immediately when the need arises.

Public Address System:Should be manned by staff members who can issue instructions in Arabic, English and French.

NATURAL DISASTER

Earthquake

Note: The type, severity, reactions, and impact of an incident are not always the same. The information provided below is some suggested actions to take. This may or may not be everything you should or should not do as your actions may vary depending on the incident.

Before:

  • Make sure fire extinguishers, first aid kits and a battery-powered radio are ready.
  • Make up a plan of where to meet fellow staff members after an earthquake.
  • Don’t leave heavy objects on shelves (they’ll fall during a quake).

Beginning and During:

At the first feeling of tremor, faculty, staff and students should:

Stay calm! If you are indoors, stay inside. If you are outside, stay outside.

If you are indoors, stand against a wall near the center of the building, or crawl under heavy furniture (a desk or table).

Move away from windows, heavy furniture and light fixtures. Students should kneel alongside the wall, bend their heads close to their knees, cover the sides of their heads with their elbows, and clasp hands firmly behind neck.

Do not stand in an interior doorway – it can collapse and you will be crushed.

If you are outdoors, stay in the open away from power lines or anything that might fall. Students should lie down or crouch low to the ground. Be aware of dangers that may demand movement.

Don’t use matches, candles, or any flame.

If you are in a car, stop the car and stay away from power lines, bridges, overpasses and buildings. Stay inside the car until the earthquake stops. School buses should pull over and stop. Students should remain in their seats.

Don’t use elevators.

Turn bodies away from windows.

If in a laboratory or kitchen, all burners should be extinguished (if possible) before taking cover.

Evacuate facility once tremors have subsided.

After:

  • Evacuate the building as soon as possible using fire evacuation procedures.
  • Injured persons should not be moved unless the condition of the building is life threatening.
  • Anticipate the aftershock. It will come..
  • Hand-held radio or cell phone essential.

First Aid:

Use procedures stated under “Fire” emergency, as a situation may demand

LOCK DOWN PROCEDURES:

This is the procedure to follow when there is a dangerous, life-threatening intruder in the school premises. The intruder could be a mental patient run riot, or a person in possession of a dangerous weapon. Under such circumstances, the Lock Down Alarm, which is a whistle from the megaphone shall be sounded and the following measures are expected to be taken.

  • The police and /or other security agencies should be alerted immediately. A mechanism should be put in place for this contingency.
  • Students outside should take cover in the nearest safe room and take cover.
  • All students should remain in their classrooms, with the doors locked and barricaded.
  • They should be gathered in one corner and again barricaded with tables and suitable objects.
  • Students could hide under tables or lie on the floor if there is shooting.
  • The teacher ensures that no students put up any erratic or provocative behavior that may endanger them.
  • Wait patiently for the siege to end, heralded with an alert from staff or faculty outside.
  • First aid measures are similar to those prescribed for “Fire” emergency; but in this case the First Aid team has to move in fast to assist.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURE FOR FIELD TRIPS

When taking students on field trips, the teacher(s) should have the following:

  • Class lists completed with confidential health information (in sealed envelope).
  • First Aid Box & Insurance Form.
  • The addresses and telephone numbers for emergency contacts.
  • Mobile telephone.

Responsibilities and Procedures in the Event of an Accident

  • Prior preparation will help; plan ahead.
  • Remain calm. Try to keep the children calm.
  • Don’t show nervousness.
  • Evaluate need for medical assistance.
  • Reassure students and check for injuries.
  • Be clearly in command.

If students are injured:

  • Obtain assistance from bystanders.
  • Apply basic first-aid procedures as earlier shown.
  • Notify school and law enforcement officials:
  • Communicate with parents.