Classroom Go Kit
The following list is provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA):
§
Bright-colored bucket with lid. The bucket should be stenciled with the
classroom number for visual identification.
§
First aid kit
§
A hat, vest, or other unique identifier for the teacher (and aide)
§A whistle
Student accounting paperwork for student accountability (class list, contact
information, etc.)
§
Tarp or ground cover
§
Age-appropriate time-passers (cards, crayons, etc.)
Based on input from Texas school districts, the Texas School Safety Center
(TxSSC) makes the following additional recommendations:
§
Consider using a backpack instead of a bucket to allow the teacher to have
his/her hands free during the evacuation. The backpack may be hung on a hook
or Velcro just inside the classroom door.
§
If caps or visors for teachers/aids are included in the Go Kit, make them uniform
and plain. Attractive visors/caps might be used for other purposes and then will
not be available for use during an evacuation.
§
Ask teachers at each grade level for suggestions for age-appropriate books and
games to include. Consider making activity cards with 4 -6 suggested quiet
games (e.g., word games ) that do not require additional supplies. The TxSSC
will have suggestions for activities available soon at www.txssc.txstate.edu.
§Include the following:
-latex-free rubber gloves
-sunscreen (Ask school nurse to recommend a brand)
-a small flashlight and batteries
-a pad of paper and pen for the teacher
If you have questions or suggestions about Go Kits, please contact TxSSC staff
at 877.245.8082. We welcome your input.
EMERGENCY GO-KITS
An emergency go-kit is a portable collection of emergency supplies and information. Schools should consider the specific characteristics of the school such as population, climate, facilities and resources when preparing an emergency go-kit. Go-kits often come in the form of
backpacks, buckets or a large duffel bag on wheels that can be easily carried out of a school in case of an emergency. Go-kits should be stored in secure, readily accessible locations.
The school’s emergency plan also should include procedures for designating staff responsible for replenishing the emergency go-kits with such items as fresh batteries, bottled water, updated phone lists, student rosters, maps, etc.
Administrators, teachers, and members of the schools’ emergency response teams (e.g.,
nurses, building engineers) may have emergency go-kits with supplies needed to carry out their assigned responsibilities. While go-kits for these groups are similar, there are some distinctions. For example, classroom go-kits could be a “go-bucket,” which is a five gallon bucket intended for both storage and if necessary, lavatory use. Go-buckets can be assembled and supported by community stakeholders such as parents or other community groups or businesses. Embracing these stakeholders in the process binds the community together in a collective effort for
addressing increased safety in schools and the community at large.
RECOMMENDED ADMINISTRATION GO-KIT CONTENTS
Suitable container(s) (i.e. large duffel bag on wheels, wheeled garbage can)
Laptop computer, PDA or USB flash drive with necessary student and administrative data
Map of building(s) with location of exits, phones, first aid kits, assembly areas ) could include maps of surrounding streets and evacuation routes
Blueprints of school building(s), including utilities Student rosters and current attendance lists Emergency student profile sheets/cards Copy of flipchart and/or district procedures Flashlights, fresh batteries
First aid kits Tissue
Bright safety vests for visibility and leadership identification Blanket Whistle Duct tape Glow sticks Waterproof matches Dust masks
Two-way radios, cell phones, fresh batteries
Stickers, dry erase markers, small whiteboards, notepads, permanent markers, pens Local phone directory, district phone directory
Disposable gloves, sanitizer, sanitary wipes Water, cups
OTHER SPECIFIC ITEMS FOR HEALTH SERVICES EMERGENCY GO-KIT
Any of the above, plus:
Suitable container (i.e. large plastic bins, drawer roll-carts)
“Red-bin” medications (inhalers, epi-pens, other needed stock medications) Diabetic test kits and snacks
Zip-lock bags Medical reference Container for sharps Wheelchair
Student and staff emergency contact information Other ________________________
Other ________________________
CLASSROOM EMERGENCY GO-KIT CONTENTS
Suitable container (i.e. five gallon bucket with lid or a backpack) First aid supplies
Emergency procedures flipchart
Current class roster, student attendance list, emergency contact information Flashlight and extra fresh batteries
Portable radio, fresh batteries or other communication device Plastic sheeting for privacy
Space blankets
Toilet paper, tall kitchen garbage bags and ties
Age-appropriate student activities (cards, crayons, games etc.) Paper, pens, permanent markers
Whistle
Bottled water, cups Tarp or ground cover
Leather work gloves, latex gloves, safety goggles Duct tape
Scissors
Other ________________________ Other ________________________
HELPFUL
HINTS
FOR SCHOOL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Emergency Response and Crisis Management
TA Center
Emergency Response and Crisis Management
TA Center
U.S. Department of Education Emergency Response and Crisis Management Technical Assistance Center
The Office of Safe and Drug-Free
Schools (OSDFS) encourages
schools to consider emergency
management in the context of its four
phases: mitigation and prevention,
preparedness, response, and recovery.
The preparedness phase involves
developing policies and protocols
for multiple hazards, establishing an
Incident Command System (ICS),
conducting training and exercises,
and ensuring necessary resources are
available should an emergency occur
in school.
One suggested activity for enhancing
school preparedness is the creation
of emergency supply kits – or,
emergency “go-kits.” “Go-kits”
are portable and should contain a
stockpile of essential emergency
supplies. “Go-kits” often come in the
form of backpacks or buckets that can
be easily carried out of a school in
case of an emergency. They are stored
in a secure, readily accessible location
so that they can be retrieved when
an emergency requires evacuation.
It is important that several “go-kits”
be located throughout the building.
Administrators, teachers, and critical
members of the school-baseds ICS
team (e.g., nurses, building engineers)
may have a “go-kit” with supplies
needed to carry out their assigned
responsibilities. When preparing
“go-kits,” schools should consider the
specific characteristics of the school,
such as, its population, climate,
facilities, and resources. The school’s
emergency plan also should include
procedures for designating which staff
are responsible for replenishing the
“go-kits.”
Some schools find it beneficial to
have two major types of “go-kits”:
1) for administrators and 2) for
teachers in each individual classroom.
Examples of items to be included in
each type of kit follow.
EMERgEnCy “go-kiTS”
RESoURCES
1School districts can also use the following to help determine the type of supplies to include in “go-kits” for both administrators and individual classrooms:
American Red Cross: Recommended Emergency Supplies for Schools. The
American Red Cross Web site contains information on how and where to store emergency supplies and how much to stockpile. It also includes recommended supply lists for individual kits, classrooms, and an entire school.
http://www.redcross.org/ disaster/masters/supply.html
Practical Information on Crisis Planning for Schools and Communities. This
guide, developed by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, offers useful information for schools
assembling emergency supplies and classroom kits (see pages 6-25 to 6-27).
http://www.ed.gov/admins/ lead/safety/emergencyplan/ crisisplanning.pdf
“go-kiT” ConTEnTS
ADmInISTRATIOn “GO-kIT” SUpplIES
Clipboard with lists of:
All students
Students with special needs and description of needs (i.e. medical issues, prescription medicines, dietary needs), marked confidential
School personnel
School emergency procedures
Key contact information for the district crisis team Parent-student reunification plan
Whistle
Hat or brightly colored vest for visibility and leadership identification Battery-operated flashlight and batteries
Utility turn-off procedures
Emergency communication device First-aid kit with instructions
ClASSROOm “GO-kIT” SUpplIES
Clipboard with lists of:
All classroom students
Students with special needs and description of needs (i.e. medical issues, prescription medicines, dietary needs), marked confidential
Classroom personnel
School emergency procedures Whistle
Hat or vest for teacher identification First-aid kit with instructions
Pens and paper
Age-appropriate student activities (such as playing cards, checkers, inflatable ball, etc.)
RESoURCES (cont.)
FEMA: Are You Ready?
This publication, developed by the Federal Emergency management Administration (FEmA), offers advice for families and individuals on creating kits for home and work. The information can help schools with preparedness activities and also offers guidance for choosing, storing, and maintaining items. http://www.fema.gov/ areyouready/assemble_ disaster_supplies_kit.shtm
READYAmerica Supply Checklists. The checklists,
prepared by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, can be found at www.Ready.gov. The site suggests supplies for basic needs such as food, clean air, and first aid, and checklists for portable kits and for people with special needs. http://www.Ready.gov/ america/supply_checklists. 1 All hyperlinks and URLs included in this publication were accessed on July 21, 2006. The Emergency Response and Crisis Management (ERCM) Technical Assistance (TA) Center was established in October 2004 by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools (OSDFS). The center supports schools and school districts in developing and implementing comprehensive emergency and crisis response plans by providing technical assistance via trainings, publications and individualized responses to requests. Helpful Hints provides a quick overview of school emergency preparedness topics that are frequently the subject of inquiries. For additional information about emergency “Go-kits” or any other emergency management-related topic, please visit the ERCM TA Center at www.ercm.org or call 1-888-991-3726. For information about the Emergency Response and Crisis Management grant program, contact Tara Hill (tara.hill@ed.gov), Michelle Sinkgraven (michelle.sinkgraven@ed.gov), or Sara Strizzi (sara.strizzi@ed.gov). Disclaimer: This publication was funded by the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools at the U.S. Department of Education under contract number GS23F8062H with Caliber Associates Inc. The contracting officer’s representative was Tara Hill. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Education, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government. This publication also contains hyperlinks and URLs for information created and maintained by private organizations. This information is provided for the read-er’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education is not responsible for controlling or guaranteeing the accuracy, relevance, timeliness or completeness of this outside information. Further, the inclusion of information or a hyperlink or URL does not reflect the importance of the organization, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered.
