Safety & Emergency Management
Every FCPS student will learn in a safe and secure environment. Administrators and their School Emergency Management Teams are trained to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from all emergency situations in or near our schools.
- Reunification Role of Parents & Guardians (YouTube video)
- Updates to the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) for School Safety (YouTube video)
- Standard Response Protocol (SRP) Training (YouTube video)
- Standard Response Protocol - English
- el Protocolo de Respuesta Estándar - Spanish
- Standard Reunification Method - English
- Método de reunificación estándar - Spanish
Contact
Scott Blundell
Director of Safety & Emergency Management
Sue Wiles
Administrative Secretary
(301) 696-6808
Fax: (301) 696-6962
Depending on the situation a school might implement:
| AVOID, DENY, DEFEND (Active Assailant) STUDENTS Avoid – rapidly move away from the danger Deny – assist the teacher/adult in barricading the area (if appropriate); move to the “safe area of the room”; silence cell phones; identify secondary exits (if appropriate) ADULTS Avoid – rapidly direct students to move away from the danger Deny – quickly secure and barricade doors; shades/blinds down, lights out, out of sight, quiet (silence all cell phones); move all students to the “safe area”; identify secondary exits Defend – identify non-traditional weapons in the area and be prepared to utilize the same; understand that if engaged in Defend, there is still an opportunity for others to Avoid |
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HOLD! In your room or area. Clear the halls. Students: Clear the hallways and remain in the room or area until “All Clear” is announced. Do business Adults: Confirm door is closed and locked. Account for students and adults. Do business as usual. |
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SECURE! Get inside. Lock outside doors. Students: Return to inside of building. Do business as usual. Adults: Bring everyone indoors. Lock outside doors. Increase situational awareness. Account for students and adults. Do business as usual. |
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LOCKDOWN! Locks, lights, out of sight. Students: Move away from sight. Maintain silence. Do not open the door. Adults: Recover students from hallway if possible. Confirm door is locked and shut. Turn out the lights. Move away from sight. Maintain silence. Do not open the door. Prepare to avoid or defend. Students and Adults: When locking down is not an option, Avoid, Deny, Defend. |
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EVACUATE! (A location may be specified) Students: Leave stuff behind if required to. If possible, bring your phone. Follow instructions. Adults: Lead students to evacuation location. Account for students and adults. Notify of missing, extra, |
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SHELTER! Hazard and safety strategy. Students: Use appropriate safety strategy for the hazard. Tornado: evacuate to shelter area. Hazmat: |
Safe Schools and Students
Keeping schools safe is everyone’s responsibility. To help, FCPS has a supervisor of Security and Emergency Management, each school has at least one school counselor, and there are school psychologists assigned to every school. A School Resource Officer (SRO) Program places a deputy sheriff in each high school to assist in maintaining a safe environment. The deputies also respond to needs in the corresponding middle and elementary feeder schools. In addition to their role as law enforcement officers, SROs serve as mentors and positive role models.
To report safety concerns, escalate your issue according to the following:
- contact the school's administration, counselor, or SRO;
- contact FCPS at the Central Office (301-696-6806 or safety.team@fcps.org)
- contact the appropriate local law enforcement agency at their non-emergency number listed below.
FCPS investigates all reported threats. We remind the community: If you See Something, Say Something, and when it comes to social media, please Report It, Don’t Repeat It.
