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readydc

Ready DC
Ready DC

School Safety and Preparedness

Knowing how to react and respond in an emergency can go a long way with keeping students, staff, and families out of harm’s way. School emergency preparedness efforts and emergency plans help keep students and staff safe. Families should discuss how preparedness works both in the home and at school. The school safety page was created as a resource for both families and educators to help create a stronger culture of preparedness throughout District Schools.

For more school preparedness resources and safety tips, visit the District's 2023 Back to School Guide or the Metropolitan Police Department's website.

Parents

Families play an important role in keeping children safe during an emergency.  Whether an emergency happens while kids are at home or at school, there are steps that families can take to protect children.  Knowing what to do in an emergency is an important step in family and community preparedness.  Families can strengthen their emergency preparedness by building a kit, making a plan, updating emergency information, learning basic first aid, and attending trainings.

There are several things that you as a parent can do to assist the school in assuring the safety of your children. These things should be determined ahead of time and discussed with all members of the family.

  • Update your child’s emergency information at school that lists people to notify in case of an emergency. Students will only be released to the people on the list.
  • Make sure all persons responsible for your child have any necessary medications
  • Become knowledgeable in first aid procedures and keep first aid supplies available
  • Know the location of electricity, gas and water valves in your home and how and when to turn them off.
  • Prepare and practice a Family Response Plan.
  • Keep emergency readiness kits stocked and up-to-date.
  • Teach your child how to recognize and respond to danger signals such as smoke detectors, fire alarms, and local community warning systems.
  • Help your child memorize important family information: name, address, phone number, and where to meet in case of an emergency.

Strong preparedness skills start at home. By working with your students at home, they are then able to bring their preparedness habits with them to school.

Educators

While emergencies may be unpredictable, schools can take prepare to better protect students and employees. School safety and security is made stronger by the participation of all teachers, administrators, and staff. Through building a kit, making a plan, learning first aid, attending trainings, and accessing quick reference guides, educators can support the effort to make schools safe learning environments for all children.

For more information about how educators can include preparedness in their curriculum, please visit,  https://www.ready.gov/kids/educators-organizations