Shelter In Place Practice Drill

“Shelter in Place”: (May be recommended by Police, Fire Dept. Emergency Medical Service
(EMS), etc.)
 is used for an environmental, or weather related situation, where it is necessary to keep all
occupants within the school to protect them (e.g., may include chemical spills, blackouts,
explosions or extreme weather conditions)
 people enter and remain in a building with the doors and windows closed
 fans, including heating and air conditioning units, should be turned off to prevent outside
air from entering the building
 normal operations may continue within the building.

The terminology used to initiate a secure school situation should be in clear language and leave
no misunderstanding as to what is expected. Announcement notices using standard language to
identify each of the terminology categories were previously sent to school offices to post beside
the PA system or to pre-record for use in an emergency.

This information applies to the school buildings, portables, facility users such as Daycares,
Recreation Centers, Early Years Centers, etc. Principals need to ensure that announcement
notices are provided for each of these locals within the building.

10.0 Procedures For Shelter In Place (Shelter in Place plan is to be included in the safe school plan for the school)

 Administrators, or designates, receiving information requiring ‘Shelter in Place’ should
initiate it immediately using the PA system;
 The Board will provide standard announcements to be posted beside PA systems to
ensure correct terminology is used when a Shelter in Place is announced.
 If students and staff are outdoors, ring bell for everyone to re-enter the building;
 Close doors and windows;
 Fans, including heating and air conditioning units, should be turned off to prevent
outside air from entering the building.
 Normal operations continue within the building;
 An announcement is made to end ‘Shelter in Place’.

Policy No (hwdsb.on.ca)