Learn how critical school crisis teams are in managing emergencies and how LVT mobile security units can enhance safety and preparedness.
Safety is important everywhere, but when it comes to schools, ensuring the well-being and security of students is critical. Schools face a range of potential crises, from natural disasters to security threats, making effective crisis management more important than ever. Administrators are primary responsible for preparing and managing these emergencies. Working together with school faculty, community members, and local law enforcement schools can create a strong crisis response team, who will work together to prevent, respond to, and recover from emergencies.
A school crisis team consists of administrators, counselors, school nurses, teachers, and security personnel who are responsible for handling emergencies that may affect students and their safety. This team works together to respond to a wide variety of situations such as major medical emergencies, natural disasters, and problematic student behavior like fights, drugs, or bullying. The responsibilities also extend to human threats, such as active shooters or terrorist attacks, as well as technology-related incidents like network hacks or power outages.
For example, if a major storm causes unexpected flooding in the area, the school's crisis team would immediately activate their predetermined emergency response plan. The team leader, typically the principal or designated administrator, coordinates with local authorities to ensure the safety of everyone at the school. Counselors focus on providing emotional support to students, while security staff manage the evacuation routes and confirm that the building is secure. School nurses would be on hand to address any medical emergencies that might arise during the evacuation. At their best, crisis teams collaborate to ensure a swift and organized response.
When it comes to school crisis teams, the wider the expertise, the stronger the team. Diversifying skill sets and responsibilities ensures all needs are met. During and after a crisis, each team member addresses different needs. For example, counselors help with the emotional and psychological needs of students and teachers. Teachers provide support and maintain order in classrooms and with students. Nurses administer medical care and first aid and security personnel verify the physical safety of the school. These crisis teams can also connect to local law enforcement who can provide wider security expertise and support.
Teams should select a designated leader so that all instructions, updates, and decisions are channeled through a single point of contact. This centralized approach allows for more informed and efficient decision-making, with all relevant information considered and shared to the entire team. A clear leader ensures clear communication. In a crisis, the leader is expected to assign specific responsibilities to team members and coordinate with external agencies like law enforcement or emergency responders. With this focus, everyone remains informed and aligned on the plan.
It is important to recognize that every school’s needs are unique and specific. A well-crafted plan addresses the individual risks, resources, and dynamics that shape a school and considers how they can effectively respond to emergencies.
The first step in developing a crisis plan is to consider the greatest potential risks and specific threats for a school. This will allow administrators to develop a customized crisis plan that meets their specific needs. By carefully evaluating the school's vulnerabilities—such as unsecured entry points, outdated safety equipment, or signs of student behavioral issues—the crisis team can proactively address these risks, minimizing the likelihood of a crisis occurring.
The most effective plans will include clear procedures and protocols to follow that establish a structured response to an emergency. Once the team has a plan of how everyone in the school will respond in a crisis, drills and practice scenarios allow the team to rehearse their roles and actions under pressure. Teachers and students need to regularly practice emergency responses to ensure that students and staff are familiar with the procedures and can react quickly and calmly in a crisis. Regular training exercises can expose weaknesses in the plan and build confidence in the team’s ability to effectively respond.
When creating your plan consider both short-term emergency responses and long-term recovery plans that will be in effect long after the initial crisis is over. A short-term response would include how students and teachers respond in the moment of the emergency. Long term plans are the ways the crisis response team will continue to care for the school community. This allows schools to return to normal operations as quickly as possible while also supporting those affected by the event. As part of a long-term plan, counselors could continue to meet with students who have psychological needs after an incident or even hold community healing events. School administration and teachers can work together to gradually restore classroom and daily schedules back to the typical structure.
Working closely with local police and emergency services is crucial for a school's crisis preparedness. This time and relationship will help responders to be familiar with the school's layout, protocols, and specific needs.
Consider holding combined training exercises between the school's crisis team and local police to build stronger relationships and allow both teams to practice working together in a potential crisis scenario. Establishing and practicing communication channels between the two groups ensures accurate information will be relayed quickly and allows for a coordinated responses in a possible future emergency.
Local law enforcement can also conduct threat assessments and safety audits to identify security gaps and offer recommendations to strengthen school safety. By involving police in these proactive efforts, schools are better equipped to prevent and respond to emergencies with the support of experts.
During an emergency within the school, focus on using a reliable communication platform, such as intercoms, radios, or secure messaging apps, to ensure clear and immediate communication between administrators, teachers, and staff. In these messages use the language and codes you have practiced in emergency trainings (e.g., "lockdown" or "evacuate") to guarantee everyone knows exactly what actions to take.
Concentrate on keeping those within the school calm by providing frequent updates to staff about the evolving situation. Even simple information and instructions like “stand by” or “await further directions,” can reduce anxiety. Practice these communication methods regularly during drills, so that staff are familiar with protocols and know how to respond under pressure.
Clear and consistent communication is key to maintaining trust within the school community during an emergency. Sharing accurate information with parents as soon as possible helps prevent the spread of rumors and can help reduce potential panic. Regular updates will foster trust and reduce anxiety. Crisis teams should use various communication methods like text, calls, email, and school social media so that the message reaches everyone. It is crucial to give parents actionable information; let them know exactly what they should or should not do. Acknowledge the emotions and concerns of the school community, offering reassurance that steps are being taken to ensure everyone’s safety.
Throughout an emergency, all communication should come from one consistent source. This designated spokesperson, such as an administrator, will be a dependable, authoritative voice throughout the crisis. Once the situation is under control, offer a detailed explanation of the event, the response, and the recovery plan. Share your plans to provide ongoing support for emotional and mental health as needed.
LVT mobile security units can play a key role in a school's crisis prevention plan. Mobile security units can monitor vulnerable areas and respond quickly to report suspicious activity on and around school property before it escalates. LVT Units’ flashing lights and visible presence deter potential threats from even approaching the school. Immediate alerts can be sent to your device so that you know the second a threat arises. The high-definition cameras in the security units can capture the smallest of details to allow identification and effective responses to potential threats. By working closely with the school’s crisis team and local authorities, LVT mobile units help ensure a proactive approach to school safety and emergency preparedness. For more information on how our LVT mobile security units can become an active part of your school’s crisis team, contact us today.
