Critical Incidents

1
Critical Incidents

• Considerations for a Response Plan
• Prepared by Sgt. V.L. Gualillo Atlantic Beach
  Police Department

2
No One is Immune

• The first step in successful resolution of any
  critical incident is to
• BELIVE IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU !!!

3
Critical Incident Types

• Natural Disasters
• Accidents
• Disturbances
• Violence

4
Have a Plan

• A planned response will reduce confusion during a
  stressful situation
• This will increase safety, reduce stress and
  speed up a return to normal activities

5
A comprehensive Plan

• Requires thoughtful preparation
• Security surveys
• Prevention techniques
• Intervention plans
• Site preparation
• Communication
• Input from all staff

6
Command and Control

• Signals for an emergency should be unique to a
  type of incident
• Who can activate this signal?
• Protocol for most common locations

7
Command Control

• ID the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary persons to
  assume direction of the situation. Incident
  Commander (IC)
• ID procedures for notification and coordination
  with Emergency Services
• ID primary location for an Emergency Operations
  Center (EOC)

8
At The EOC

• Post regularly update checklist of equipment
  phone numbers
• Means of communication w/ staff
• Camera for documentation
• PA System in working order
• Private phone line for comm. w/ emergency service
  only during crisis

9
Bomb Threats

• No radio, cell phone etc. communication when a
  bomb has been threatened due to inadvertent
  detonation by radio waves

10
The Smart Box (Classroom)

• Daily Class Roster
• Emergency Contacts for each student
• White sheet and gloves used for first aid
• Release Roster to record Childs release
• Candy / gum to reduce stress
• Playing cards / small games
• Small Blanket

11
The Smart Box (Admin)

• Good Idea to have two in separate locations
• All Keys to Facility (in a locked case)
• Detailed Floor Plan Layouts (x20 laminated)
• Phone Lists, Faculty, Students, Admin.
• Protocol cards
• Building plans, Elect., Water, Gas, AC, Cable TV
  controls / service points

12
Remember Special Needs Kids

• Special needs / medical Info. cards
• Sign Language cue cards
• Picture cards for Neurological deficit Or
  Delayed students

13
Contingency Plans

• Lock Doors or other Method of controlling
  movement
• Instruct staff on Barricade in Place protocol
• Protocol for staff or separated students
• Remain in shelter until all clear is given or
  situation necessitates movement

14
Procedures

• Location for casualty Triage
• Systematic process for student release
• Verify authorized persons
• Sign out of students
• Alt. language Info. sheets for parents

15
Procedures

• ID how non-critical staff / students will be
  transported to medical facility
• Establish plan and location for orderly dismissal
  of students that will not effect the Triage area
  or other Crisis Mgt. Operations
• Consider traffic flow and parking problems
• Provide alternate language info. on emergency
  protocol before an incident

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Preparation

• Conduct Practice drills
• Establish a buddy system
• Practice a clear and effective communication
  system Alarm , All Clear unique from class
  periods and Fire Alarms
• Establish a Public Information Officer (PIO) for
  media other than the IC
• Establish a person to handle Info. requests from
  family members specifically

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Preparation

• Media area
• Work with LE to provide a specific location for
  the media to set up and receive information
  updates.
• Designate only one or two persons to act as LE
  contacts, these people must have the authority to
  make high level decisions or have immediate
  communication with those who do

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Preparation

• Designate a person to take messages and scribe
  the events for documentation
• Have a secondary means of communication should
  the primary fail
• Require an Initial Debriefing of all staff after
  the incident before they leave the facility

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Recovery

• ID a process to clean repair to facilitate a
  rapid return to normal routine
• ID critical incident debriefing team and
  counselors for students and staff

20
For the Teachers

• Have a workable Plan
• Share your ideas with others
• Be sure it conforms to the schools Protocols

21
Stopping a Fight

• Summon assistance immediately
• Use loud verbal commands to STOP NOW
• Address others by name to help with specific
  directions
• Call the fighters by name if you know them
• If it is too dangerous to intervene continue to
  communicate with them
• If you can separate them do so calmly

22
Response to a Violent Incident

• Call for Emergency Services
• Assess the situation regarding your Crisis Plan
• Defuse the situation if necessary or if you are
  able to do so reasonably
• Identify people involved good descriptions
• Note important facts, circumstances and witnesses
• Be sure your class is being attended to

23
Barricade in Place

• Upon being alerted to a dangerous situation
• Calmly lock all entry points to your room
• Move students away from door windows
• Keep them occupied but quiet
• Dont flood Admin. With calls / questions
• Provide PERTINANT Info. if you have it
• Wait for the All Clear Signal

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Evacuate

• When the Evacuation Signal is given to the
  predetermined safe area
• When it is obvious that you and your class are in
  a dangerous place and need to go
• When in an open or outdoor area move quickly and
  orderly to a predetermined safe area or the most
  secure place quickly accessible
• Wait for an All Clear Signal

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Discussion
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My Contact Information

• Atlantic Beach Police
• 850 Seminole Rd
• Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
• 904-247-5859
• Vgualillo_at_coab.us

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Informational Sources

• Duval County Schools Critical Incident Response
  Model
• Florida Dept. of Education SAFE SCHOOLS, Action
  Planning Preparedness Workshop 8-11-99
• National Tactical Officers Assn. School
  Violence-Law Enforcement Response
• California Dept. of Education, School Safety and
  violence Prevention Office Crisis Management and
  Response
• California Dept. of Education Crisis Response Box