BOARD POLICY  6114

 

Emergency Drills - Tornado Drills

 

1.        Principals are responsible for arranging and conducting tornado drills at least one every month during

September, October, April, and May.

 

2.        Specific and detailed typed instructions concerning the procedures must be placed in the hands of each

teacher, custodian, secretary, nurse, or any other employee who works in the building.

 

3.        The instructions must describe procedures and routes which the students must follow, and the place

within the building that the students will take shelter.

 

4.        One copy of the diagram and instructions are to be posted in each classroom, gym, auditorium, or any

other place in the building where the students or employees may be.

 

5.        A copy of the plan for tornado drills will be submitted to the Superintendent before the opening of

school each year.

 

6.        Upon receiving a warning of possible tornadoes, the central office will notify each building principal.  If an individual school should receive a warning first; they should notify the central office.

 

Fire Drills

 

1.        Principals are responsible for arranging and conducting at least one fire drill each calendar month

during which time school is in session.  (R.C. 3337.29 and 3737.99).  At least one drill during the second week of school should be made for orientation purposes.

 

2.        Specific and detailed typed instructions concerning the procedures and exits in case of fire must be

placed in the hands of each teacher, custodian, cooks, secretary, nurse, or any other employee who either directly or indirectly works with students.

 

3.        The instruction must prescribe procedures and direction of exit for all areas which are at one time or

another occupied by students or other personnel.  Each room and area should be listed separately, so that anyone at a glance could determine the plan of exit.  Directions should be brief and concise.

       (Include gyms, auditoriums, etc.)

 

4.        One copy of each instructions and diagrams should be posted in each office, hall, classroom, gym,

auditorium, boiler room, etc., as of the beginning of each school year and should remain posted throughout the year.  Any changes of routine must be announced and posted as they are made.

 

5.        A copy of the plan for fire drills will be submitted to the Superintendent before the opening of each

school year.

 

 

9-19-66

Rev. 12-11-78

Rev.  1-12-81

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Administrative Rules and Regulations   6114

 

Tornado Drills

 

1.        Section 37327.73 of the Ohio Revised Code provides that principals or other persons in charge…”shall

designate, in accordance with standards prescribed by the State Fire Marshal, appropriate locations to be used to shelter pupils in case of tornado, tornado alert, or tornado warning.”

 

2.        The fire alarm shall not be used to alert occupants of a tornado, tornado alert, or tornado warning.  The tornado alarm signal shall have a sound which is different than and which cannot be mistaken for the fire alarm signal of the school.  The tornado alarm signal shall be audible within all locations of the school.  The alarm shall be a reliable separate system (from fire), capable of operating independently in case of electrical power failure.  The system shall be approved by certified safety inspector each year.

 

3.        Tornado damage is predictable and school administrators should determine and designate the area(s) in

their buildings which offer the safest protection.

 

4.        The following is a list of criteria that is suggested for use in the selection of the safest available shelters

against tornadoes:

 

a.        Areas in basements are preferred over all others, but not necessarily the southwest corner.  Do not

select an area with only one exit unless there are other overriding considerations.  Go as low as you can go in a building.

b.       Select, where possible, core or interior spaces; avoid walls of glass; avoid load bearing walls;

avoid corridors which are not baffled with a wall and which open to the south or west; avoid exterior walls, especially those facing south or west; avoid exterior walls, especially those facing

south, southeast, or west. 

c.        Desirable locations include; basements, core areas, short spans, and leeward sides.

d.       Match the persons affected with the space.

e.        Do not select locked rooms since many rooms may not be accessible during a time of emergency.

f.         First aid kits and supplies should be in close proximity in the area(s) designated.

g.       Avoid at all cost: cars, buses, chimneys, top floors, and modular classrooms.

h.       Avoid if possible: glazing, long spans, large spaces, halls facing west or south, windward sides, load bearing walls, space opposite doorways or opening into rooms with windows in exterior walls, interior locations that contain windows, locations where locations that contains windows, locations where interior doors swing, and spaces within the falling radius of higher building parts.

i.         Seek the best available :  lowest floor (preferably the basement), short spans (small rooms, corridors, storage spaces, washrooms), and interior space.

 

5.        These Rules and Regulations are not all-inclusive nor are they complete.  They contain only a portion

of the total information needed to avoid a possible catastrophe in a school.  Therefore, it is the duty of the school principal to be thoroughly knowledgeable on this matter and then inform all those in his jurisdiction on all aspects of safety regarding tornadoes and how to avoid disasters caused by same.  He shall promulgate in writing and distribute such instructions to all in his school.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Administrative Rules and Regulations  6114

 

Fire Drills

 

 

1.        All outside doors and exits must be left unlocked while children are in the building or during school

hours. 

 

2.        All exit doors shall be free from debris, boxes, chairs, desks, and the like.  The hardware on the doors

shall be kept in workable condition in order that the doors may be easily opened from the inside.

 

3.        Auto and other vehicles parking near school doors which would impede the rapid exit from the

building by students will not be tolerated.

 

4.        When fire drills are conducted, the students shall be taken to a safe distance from the building and kept

under teacher care at that point until the school official’s signal for re-entry.

 

5.        Teachers shall see to it that students are removed from the building during a drill or emergency. 

Restrooms and the like should be searched to make sure all students are out or have been evacuated.

 

6.        If time permits, doors and windows should be closed within the building during a fire emergency.

 

7.        Each principal shall provide his teachers and students with adequate fire drills instructions pertaining to his building.  Teachers shall, as part of their work, instruct their students in fire safety and in the exact route in their building evacuation.

 

8.        Students shall leave the building during fire drills and emergencies in an orderly and brisk manner.  There is to be no pushing, shoving, or “horseplay”.

 

9.        Alternate routes of exit from the building shall be planned and rehearsed by the school principal, this assuring the students a safe evacuation if one or more exits cannot be used.

 

 

9-19-66

Rev.  12-11-78

Rev.  1-13-81