John McGlashan College - Evacuation Procedure

Earthquake Drill Procedure

Period #5 on 27th September: 

On hearing the continuous school bell... 

1. Do the Drop, Cover, and Hold drill with staff and children in your care: Instruct students to
   
   • DROP down onto your hands and knees 
   (before the earthquake knocks you down).
   This position protects you from falling but allows you to still move if necessary. 
2. • COVER your head and neck (and your entire body if possible) under a sturdy table or desk. If there is no shelter nearby, get down near an interior wall (or next to low-lying furniture that won't fall on you), and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.
   • HOLD on to your shelter (or your position to protect your head and neck) 
   until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if the shaking shifts it around.
   
   Adjust these steps as needed if you will be in an elevator, or other situations during your drill or in an actual earthquake. Instructions are also available for people with disabilities or special requirements. 

 If you are outdoors when the shaking starts, you should find a clear spot away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and power lines, then Drop, Cover and Hold. Stay there until the shaking stops.

While you are doing the drill, imagine that it is real and what might be happening around you. Then, consider what you might need to do before a real earthquake happens to help protect yourself, staff and students, and your school.

Practise what you will do after the shaking stops.   

Proceed with evacuation...

The routine is:

·        The bell will still be ringing continuously... ask class to leave immediately.

·        Count them as they leave

·        If possible shut windows and doors before you leave

·        Quickly check any neighbouring room 
      Exit the building using the safest route... using stairs not elevators 

·        Walk your class up to the grassy school field....away from buildings. Find the safest route there, away from power poles, falling debris from buildings etc...

·        Count heads from your class.

·        Report to Warden after head count.

·        Students with special needs may require particular consideration

As well as doing this, certain persons should act as Marshalls.

This means they check their area is ALL CLEAR and report that to the Warden.

·        Mve – Administration

·        Aan – Rooms 1 – 6

·        Gav – Rooms 7 – 10

·        Mro – Rooms 11 – 13

·        Adu – Rooms 14 – 16

·        Bjo – Specialist Block

·        Dbo – Rooms 23 – 27

·        Rsh – Gilray Block

·        Pga – Library - ELC

·        Nga – Student Centre, Chapel

Other information to consider before the drill...

Ground shaking during an earthquake is seldom the cause of injury. Most earthquake-related injuries and deaths are caused by collapsing walls and roofs, flying glass and falling objects. It is extremely important for a person to move as little as possible to reach the place of safety he or she has identified because most injuries occur when people try to move more than a short distance during the shaking.

Look around you now, before an earthquake. Identify safe places such as under a sturdy piece of furniture or against an interior wall in your home, office or school so that when the shaking starts you can respond quickly. An immediate response to move to the safe place can save lives. And that safe place should be within a few steps to two metres to avoid injury from flying debris.