All verbal threats will be treated the same way as physical threats, and all physical threats made inside or outside the center will be taken seriously.
If the physical threat comes from within the center, notify law enforcement of the incident and communicate with the staff members involved in the incident.
Separate staff members involved in the altercation. Appropriate administrative actions will be taken to ensure the safety and well-being of the children.
EDUCATORS
Report and document any physical threats directed towards the children or other staff members to Administration.
Regardless of whether the physical threat comes from outside or inside the center, remove the children safely from the area in which the altercation is taking place (partial evacuation), and return them only after the situation has been resolved.
INTRUDER
ADMIN
Be in contact with local officials and/or 911.
If appropriate, announce “Attention, hostile intruder in ___ classroom.”
Initiate lock-down. Secure building entrances, ensuring that no one leaves or enters the building.
Administration will be responsible for all notifications (including emergency personnel, staff, and families), including “all clear.”
EDUCATORS
If you notice an unfamiliar unaccompanied person, ask that person how they can be helped.
Should someone exhibit strange or aggressive behavior, report this to an administrator immediately.
Remain calm and be polite. Do not physically restrain or block their movement.
Certain situations may also require educators to gather the children in their care and quickly leave the building, following evacuation procedures.
The bottom line is that each situation is different, and we will all do our best. There is no way to plan for every possibility, or how each of us will react.
ACTIVE SHOOTER
There are three basic steps to survival during an active shooter incident: “Run, Hide, Fight.”
RUN: If you are able to escape, evacuate yourself and children to safety and then contact law enforcement (e.g. 911).
HIDE: If you and the children are not able to evacuate, use a modified lockdown procedure by hiding, keeping the children as calm and quiet as possible to try to avoid detection.
FIGHT: As a last resort, in order to protect yourself and the children, fight the shooter with aggression and improvised weapons (e.g. anything you can throw at the shooter such as books, fire extinguisher, canned goods, etc.)
If an intruder leaves with a child or staff member, it is often better to let them leave rather than prompt a confrontation that would increase the risk of injury.