Welcome to February’s Safety Spotlight! This month LWSD will have two safety-related drills for staff: Shelter-in-Place Drill and Emergency Radio Test. I thought it would be helpful to discuss what a shelter-in-place drill is and how it is different from other emergency responses and drills like lockdown, secure, and hold. The purpose of shelter-in-place drills is to protect students and staff by reducing their exposure to some sort of hazardous material (e.g., chemical, biological, or radiological contaminants) released into the air. Essentially, we seek to isolate the inside environment from the outside environment. In a real situation, this would be achieved by closing and sealing outside doors and windows with plastic sheeting and duct tape. Additionally, all fans would be shut and vents closed in rooms while the HVAC systems would be shutdown. During a drill, staff practice mock closures of HVAC systems and sealing of operable, exterior windows and doors. Again, the goal of shelter-in-place is to remain in the building and keep the contaminant out. For reference, please see the district’s revised Emergency Procedures Poster, as well as November, December, and January Safety Spotlights that unpack lockdown, secure, and hold drills, respectively.
Thank you for reading this edition of the Safety Spotlight, and please reach out with questions or suggestions. Also, if you are interested in a free presentation to your PTSA community, please reach out to me at President@LWPTSA.net.