Parent Guidelines in Emergencies

The Phelps Clifton Springs Central School District is committed to making school safe for
students and staff, and takes emergency preparedness seriously.

The safety of your child is our top priority.

As a District, we work closely with national, state and local safety officials including police,
fire, emergency medical services, and public health services to ensure that we are well prepared
and that students are protected. We have a comprehensive Emergency Response Plan that helps
our staff and public safety partners respond swiftly should an emergency occur.
Preparing for a school emergency:
1. Provide accurate contact information to your childs school, including alternate phone
numbers for you and your family/friends that you have arranged as your backup. If this
information changes, please update it immediately.
2. Talk with your child about the importance of following instructions in the event of an
emergency.
If a school emergency occurs:
1. Remain as calm as possible.
2. Remain at home or at work to make it easier for officials to contact you, if necessary.
3. Do not attempt to go to the school. Access routes and streets need to be clear for
emergency vehicles. Traffic congestion will make emergency response much more
difficult for police, ambulances, and fire departments to get to the school to deal with the
emergency quickly.
4. Get accurate information and directions:
a. Listen for phone messages and check email.
b. Listen to the local TV/radio stations and check the District website for information.
c. Do not listen to rumors or respond to a childs request to leave school. Remind your
child to stay calm and to follow instructions from school officials.
5. Do not call your child on a cell phone. If numerous people are using cell phones at one
location, it will jam the airwaves, which will overload the system and could prevent
emergency and school officials from using their cell phones. This would seriously hinder
efforts to help students.
6. Do not call your childs school building as telephone lines need to remain open to deal
with the emergency. If the phone system is overloaded, it will hinder efforts to help
students and provide information.

For Your Knowledge

In addition to the most commonly-known fire drill and emergency evacuation drill, below is a
brief description of each of the other drills and procedures:

Severe Weather Drill: A procedure that requires students and staff to be moved away
from harm while remaining inside the school building. Most commonly used in weather
related emergencies when students and staff need to move away from windows and
doors.
Drug Search Dogs: A procedure that requires students and staff to remain inside
classrooms while trained police dogs complete a search of hallways, lockers, and parking
lots, etc. Dogs will not enter classrooms that hold students.
Lockdown: A procedure where all school interior doors are locked, hallways are clear
and staff and students are secured in the rooms they are currently in. This is most
commonly used, in consultation with local police, if there is a serious problem or
potential problem inside the school.
Lockout: A procedure in which all exterior doors are locked and no one is allowed to
enter or leave the building. This procedure allows the school to continue with a normal
school day, but restricts entry/exit. This is most commonly used when an incident is
occurring outside the school.
Defibrillator (AED) Response Team: A procedure that requires immediate need for
those trained in CPR.

What Parents Can Do

Just as the District and schools have safety plans that we review and update, parents need to
review their emergency plans.

Be sure you know what radio/tv station to listen to for emergency information.
Be sure your child knows what to do/where to go if there is an emergency and no one is
home.
Be sure your child knows how to reach you.
Talk to your child if they have an alternate drop location off for emergency dismissal. Be
sure the Transportation Department AND Main Office have updated and accurate
alternate drop location off information.
Be sure your child knows what to do if he/she comes home early. Should your child call
you or someone else to let you know?
If your child has lost the key to the house and cant get in, what should he/she do?
Talk to your child about personal safety.
Teach your child how to recognize danger signals.

Make sure your child knows the sounds of smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors,
fire alarms, and sirens. Be sure your child knows what to do when he/she hears them at
home or in a public location.