Category
Multi-hazard Practice Drills
Category
Multi-hazard Practice Drills
State law requires districts to implement multi-hazard practice drills (e.g., fire, lockdown, active shooter, or evacuation drills) and encourages or requires inter-agency coordination.
Utah Administrative Code R277-400-6. Emergency Preparedness Training for School Occupants.
(1) An LEA's or a school's plan shall provide procedures for a student to receive age appropriate emergency preparedness training including:
- (a) rescue techniques;
- (b) first aid;
- (c) safety measures appropriate for specific emergencies; and
- (d) other emergency skills.
(2) During each school year, an elementary school shall conduct emergency drills at least once each month during school time.
(3) An LEA shall alternate one of the following practices or drills with required fire drills:
- (a) shelter in place;
- (b) earthquake;
- (c) lock down or lock out for violence;
- (d) bomb threat;
- (e) civil disturbance;
- (f) flood;
- (g) hazardous materials spill;
- (h) utility failure;
- (i) wind or other types of severe weather;
- (j) parent and student reunification;
- (k) shelter and mass care for natural and technological hazards; or
- (l) an emergency drill appropriate for the particular school location.
(4)
- (a) Fire drills shall include the complete evacuation of all persons from the school building or the portion of the building used for educational purposes.
- (b) An LEA or a school may make an exception for the staff member responsible for notifying the local fire emergency contact and handling emergency communications.
(5) Each school shall have one fire drill in the first 10 days of the regular school year and one fire drill every other month during the school year.
(6) A secondary school shall conduct all drills in accordance with Section 15A-5-202.5
(7) An LEA shall notify the local fire department prior to each fire drill if notice is required by the local fire chief.
(8) When a fire alarm system is provided, an LEA shall initiate by activation of the fire alarm system.
(9) Schools that include both elementary and secondary grades in the school shall comply with the elementary emergency drill requirements.
(10) In cooperation with the LEA's local law enforcement agency, an LEA shall:
- (a) establish a parent and student reunification plan for each school within the LEA;
- (b) as part of the LEA's registration and enrollment process, annually provide parents a summary of parental expectations and notification procedures related to the LEA's parent and student reunification plan; and
- (c) require each school within the LEA to publish the information described in Subsection (12)(b) on the school's website.
Utah Administrative Code R277-400-7. Emergency Response Review and Coordination.
(1) For purposes of emergency response review and coordination an LEA shall:
- (a) provide an annual training for LEA and school building staff regarding an employee's roles, responsibilities, and priorities in the emergency response plan.
- (b) require a school to conduct at least one annual drill for school emergencies in addition to the drills required under Section 15A-5-202.5 and R277-400-6 by October 1.
- (c) require a school to review existing security measures and procedures within the school and make necessary adjustments as funding permits.
- (d) develop Standard and protections for participants and attendees at school-related activities, especially school-related activities off school property.
(2) An LEA or school shall coordinate with local law enforcement and other public safety representatives in appropriate drills for school safety emergencies.
Utah Code 53G-4-402. Powers and duties generally.
(18)
- (a) A local school board shall adopt and implement a comprehensive emergency response plan to prevent and combat violence in the local school board’s public schools, on school grounds, on its school vehicles, and in connection with school-related activities or events.
- (d) A local school board shall, by July 1 of each year, certify to the state board that its plan has been practiced at the school level and presented to and reviewed by its teachers, administrators, students, and their parents and local law enforcement and public safety representatives.