Crisis Communication Plan to Increase School Safety

No one anticipates receiving a call that their child’s school is in an active emergency. Even officers who are trained to handle emergency situations do not want to respond to a crisis involving a learning institution.

However, the reality is that a crisis can happen anywhere.

Natural disasters, criminal activity, active shooters and even disease outbreaks can impact school safety.

So how should schools respond?

There are some emergency situations that no one can predict, but you can be proactive and prepared, and this starts with an effective communication plan. Schools must adopt a crisis communication plan and invest in the right technology to ensure student and staff safety.

What Is a Crisis Communication Plan?

A crisis communication plan is a detailed set of instructions that informs students, staff, parents and the community on what to do in the event of an emergency. It also includes how you share information, who communicates, when is it shared and the method you use to disseminate information to all involved.

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states, “The right message at the right time from the right person can save lives.” Communication plans should involve forethought and planning.

Your plans must also cover communications for both internal and external awareness.

What Should You Include in Your Plan?

The key element of an effective plan is ensuring that all stakeholders are informed, and this starts before an emergency ever takes place. Your crisis communication plan should include the following:

• Policies and procedures: Outline detailed instructions that define what information should be shared and who has the authority to do so.
• Communications team: Identify team members who are responsible for collecting and disseminating information.
• Reunification process: When an emergency happens, there has to be a communication strategy to restore order. You might consider:
  • Where should students and staff go?
  • How are parents notified?
  • Where can students meet parents without creating chaos?
  • How do you communicate and reassure parents that you’re able to handle a crisis?
• Communication with local agencies: The Orange County Public Schools are a great example of coordinated communication efforts between schools and local agencies. Part of their communication plan includes a school district dispatch team and resource officers for every campus. Your school depends on first responders to provide safety and resources to those in need. You need a method to share information and communicate with external organizations.

How Technology Can Make a Difference

Most students have access to smartphones and technology to share information immediately, whether it be through text, pictures or video; and in the case of an emergency, sharing misinformation with family members can create panic, chaos and confusion.

Having the right technology for communication helps school officials communicate easier and quicker to provide accurate information to first responders and families.

CentralSquare helps agencies and organizations of all kinds maximize safety through our Public Safety Suite® solution.

One of the key benefits of our technology is that it is specifically designed to make information sharing easy and accessible between agencies, disciplines and organizations. First responders get the right information to send the appropriate response unit, saving valuable time and lives.

It is also important to have technology that is functional and easy to use. Through custom forms and modules, Public Safety Suite is adaptable and configurable. You can set the system up to fit according to your needs.

Our system also has administrative features that allow you to create records and identification processes for students. This is especially important when keeping track of students during an emergency and communicating with families to let them know that their student is safe.

Take the First Step Today

In an ideal world, no one would have to deal with the reality of emergencies happening on school grounds, but this is not the case.

While you cannot predict the next crisis, you can be fully prepared with a communication plan and the technology to help implement it.

If you’re ready to take the next step to increase safety for your students and staff, connect with our team of experts to learn more about how our solutions can help.