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575 School Safety: Crisis Planning
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Mitigation and Prevention

Schools do not have any control over some of the hazards that may impact them, such as an earthquake or plane crashes. However, they can take precautions to either minimize or even eliminate such hazards. For example, schools in earthquake-prone areas can secure bookshelves and train students and staff on what to do during a tremor.

School Emergency Action Plans
Tragedies prompt Maryland educators to revise school emergency action plans.

School safety and emergency management experts often use the terms mitigation and prevention differently. Crises experts suggest schools should consider the full range of what they can do to avoid or lessen the impact of crises. Here are a few important ideas:

  • Facilities - check window seals, HVAC systems, building structure; bolting bookshelves to walls and securing loose wires; and anchoring outdoor equipment that could become flying projectiles
  • Security - check functioning locks and controlled access to the school and fencing hazardous areas.
  • Culture - check school policies and curricula.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

2-1. Although Crisis Management teams can't control all hazards, such as earthquakes, what can they proactively address to reduce potential hazards?