Lockdown & Lockout

HDSB, 2006Appendix D, Police/School Board Protocol

What is a Lockdown?

• A plan to get students and staff out of harm’s way and into a safe, secure area within the school

• Lockdown restricts movement inside and outside of the school

• All exterior doors are locked• Often referred to as a “reverse fire drill”• Must be practiced twice a year and the record is

placed in the school Fire Safety binder.

When is a Lockdown called?

• An intruder is in the school• Child predator in the area as advised by

police• The school administrator calls the lockdown

over the PA system saying “The school is in a LOCKDOWN situation. This is/is not a practice.”

• Turn off all bells

What is a Lockout?

• A lockout is sometimes referred to as a “modified lockdown” and occurs when the police notify the school that there is police activity in the school neighborhood such that it is not safe for anyone to leave the building.

• All exterior doors are locked• Activity goes on inside the school without any

restrictions (school carries on as usual)• All outdoor activities are cancelled• Any access to and from the school is limited and

carefully monitored by administrators

When is a Lockout Called?

• School administrator has been notified by police or other emergency management personnel that police-related activity is occurring around the school and neighborhood

• Weather /natural disaster-related (power lines down, tornado warning)

• Man-made disaster-related (explosion, fire, train derailment)

What does this Mean?

Whether a Lockdown or Lockout is called is based on the information available at the time to the school administrator, the level of threat and the level of danger to students and staff.

How does a lockdown work?

• Administrator makes the following announcement over the PA system:

• “Attention staff, students and visitors. The school is now in a LOCKDOWN situation”.

• “This is not a practice.”• Administrator contacts 911, describes the situation• Administrator waits for police at front door of

school, if safe to do so• Have Critical Incident Response Kit (red bag)

available for police use.

Role of Teaching Staff

• Bring students in from the halls.• Closest staff member checks the washrooms for

students (if safe to do so) to bring into the classroom.• Remove All Secure plastic and paper signs from

Lockdown envelope posted near doorway• Flip All Secure Happy Face sign over top of door

facing the hallway.• Post paper Happy Face Signs on several exterior

classroom windows.• Cover window in classroom door.

Continued….

• Lock classroom door, turn off the lights, close the draperies or blinds, move students away from windows and door window. If door doesn’t lock, use a wedging piece (chalk brush, book, wooden wedge) under the door from the inside

• Teacher takes attendance• Reports students missing and additional students in

classroom to the office• Student cell phones are turned off• Everyone crouches low to the floor REMAINING

QUIET

What to do next?

• Wait for further PA instructions• Do not open classroom door under any

circumstances• DO NOT RESPOND TO A FIRE ALARM

UNLESS AN ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN MADE TO EVACUATE THE BUILDING OR YOUR CLASSROOM IS ON FIRE or FULL OF SMOKE!

Special Circumstances

• Every school’s floor plan is different• This presents many challenges for a lockdown• Cafeterias, libraries, gymnasia, large foyer spaces

all need a specific plan unique to our school• For large open spaces like a cafeteria, if there are

doors leading from the cafeteria to the outside, then police usually advise a “controlled evacuation” away from the building particularly where locking down the cafeteria is not possible.

Securing Large Spaces

• Describe how large, open spaces are to be dealt with

• This is the section where you personalize your lockdown plan to reflect your school circumstances.

• Posting a paper copy of the All Secure happy Face sign on exterior classroom windows signals to outside classes that the school is in lockdown – DO NOT ENTER THE BUILDING BUT GO TO A PREDETERMINED EVACUATION AREA.