Emergencies

This information guide is for the use of Maret faculty and students to assist in your capacity to respond to different types of emergencies.

A hard copy of this information is available in every office and classroom and should be kept within easy access, where it will be immediately available as a guide for action during an emergency.

Please familiarize yourself with the contents of this guide. In the event you are faced with an emergency, it will serve as a quick reference for effective action. For additional information, please ask your Division Director or Department Chair.

The following information does not cover all emergency situations. It is meant to be used as a guide to make you aware of your environment and situations that might occur.

• A teacher or parent chaperone must stay with students.
• Evaluate first aid needs.
• In the event of a CRISIS, notify:

Switchboard: 202-939-8800 or
Main Office: 202-939-8848

After hours:
Security Guard/Emergency 2-Way Radio 202-939-8812 or
Jon Young 202-497-5335 (cell) or
Susan Epps 202-577-8928 (cell) or
Bill Hodgetts 410-598-5544 (cell) or
Marjo Talbott 202-494-5719 (cell)
202-686-4130 (home)

• Release students only to parents, guardians, or authorized representatives. Record the name of the person to whom students were released.
• In the event of any accident/injury, an incident report must be completed and submitted to the School Nurse upon returning to school. Incident report form is available online at maret.org/faculty/faculty-resources under School Forms—Health and Medical.
• Any vehicle accident requires that an incident report form be completed and submitted to the Administrative Operations Coordinator or Jon Young upon returning to school.

EVACUATION is used to get students and staff out of the building by a predetermined route. The sounding of the fire alarm or emergency bell will signal this. All faculty, students, and staff will proceed via predetermined routes, when possible, to the front lawn.

If there is a need to leave our campus, we will proceed by foot to Washington International School (3100 Macomb St. NW) via their back gate on Klingle Street. VIEW MAP TO WIS.

If you need to leave campus quickly, the back fence has two exits: one by the stairs and the other in the middle, which we will unlock.

LOCKDOWN: Due to a critical incident or an emergency situation that occurs at or near the School, it may become necessary for Maret to be placed into a lockdown mode for the protection of students and faculty.

If circumstances require a lockdown, the Head of School or her designee may make the announcement using an intercom through the telephone system.

A lockdown consists of moving all students into the School, securing all entrances, and denying access to any unauthorized person.

SHELTER: Possible use is for a threat on or near campus or severe weather. Do not use outside paths to move to safe locations. Silently move to key locales on campus, such as Lower School Library, Theatre, New Gym or to lower-level corridors, away from windows and glass, as instructed based on the threat.

If you need to stay in classroom/office, close and use door wedge to secure door; turn off lights; lower shades.

• If you see a fire or smoke, immediately pull the nearest fire alarm, or call Security Guard/Emergency 2-Way Radio (202-939-8812).
• If a student or staff member’s clothing catches on fire, do not allow them to run. Running will fan the fire. STOP, DROP, AND ROLL.
• Smother the fire by wrapping the person in heavy fabric (coat, rug, curtain, etc.) and rolling the person on the ground. If fabric is not available, roll the person on the ground unwrapped.
• Follow instructions in the Evacuation/Lockdown/Shelter section.
• The last person out of the room should verify that the room is empty, turn off the lights, and then close the door.
• Remain calm.
• Account for all students and remain and remain in your evacuation location until further instructions are given.
• Students and staff are not to reenter the School until the Head of School or her designee gives the “All Clear.”

When a student is missing or lost, notify:
Switchboard202-939-8800 or
Main Office202-939-8848

After hours:
Security Guard/Emergency
2-Way Radio202-939-8812 or
Jon Young (cell: 202-497-5335) or
Susan Epps (cell: 202-577-8928) or
Bill Hodgetts (cell: 410-598-5544) or
Marjo Talbott (cell: 202-494-5719; home 202-686-4130)

• Furnish a physical description and information about the student’s clothing and report any problems or pertinent information that is known to you regarding the student.
• Remain calm.
• Immediately search the entire area for student (i.e, closets, under desks, restrooms, etc.).
• Ask other students if they know where the missing student may be.
• If a student is lost on a field trip, the teacher should enlist the aid of all available adults to search for the student.

In the event of serious injury or illness, our immediate concern is to aid the sick or injured.

• Immediately Notify:
  School Nurse 202-939-4051 and
  Switchboard202-939-8800 or
  Main Office202-939-8848
  After hours:
  Security Guard/Emergency 2-Way Radio (202-939-8812) or
  Jon Young (cell: 202-497-5335) or
  Susan Epps (cell: 202-577-8928) or
  Bill Hodgetts (cell: 410-598-5544) or
  Marjo Talbott (cell: 202-494-5719; home 202-686-4130)
• The School Nurse or Athletic Trainer or, in their absence, a first aid certified employee, should be sent immediately to the location.
• After determining the seriousness of the injury, either the Division Director, the Director of Athletics, or the first aid provider may make the decision to call 911 for an ambulance.
• Issue appropriate emergency procedures to ensure that students are not unnecessarily exposed to trauma or danger (e.g., clear the room).
• Remain calm and reassure students that all possible actions are being taken to care for the injured or ill person and to protect others.
• Rejoin your students as soon as possible.
• Account for all students and remain with them until further instructions are given.
• An incident report needs to be completed as soon as possible for each incident involving an accident or injury at the School.

Under most circumstances school will remain in session until the close of the regular academic day. Parents may pick up their children at any time. A skeletal staff will remain with students who are not picked up at time of dismissal.

Thunderstorms

Students and adults may not remain on playing fields or lawns when there is lightning or a hailstorm in the area. Students and adults may not be out on playing fields or lawns until 30 minutes after there has been lightning or thunder.

Tornado

• Move to inside hallways, basement areas, or closest lower-level interior spaces away from windows and glass.
• Turn off lights, close doors, leave one window open if possible.
  • Assume “Drop and Tuck” position.
  • Get on your knees facing a wall.
  • Bend at waist and touch top of your head to the wall.
• Cover back of your head with your arms.
• Sweepers ensure all individuals are in a safe location.
• Faculty take attendance upon arrival at location.
• Stay in this location until the “All Clear” or further instructions are given.

Earthquake (usually occurs without warning)

• Get under sturdy desk, table, or supported doorway until shaking stops. Otherwise, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch near an inside corner of the building.
• Avoid glass, windows, outside doors/walls, and anything that could fall.
• DO NOT use the elevators.
• Stay in location until the “All Clear” or further instructions are given.

If you are outdoors: Stay in the open. Do not enter damaged buildings. Beware of fires, downed power lines, and aftershocks.

If you are driving: Stop. Remain in vehicle.

All body fluids (blood, vomit, urine, feces, saliva) have the potential to infect people with disease such as Hepatitis B, HIV, or other serious illnesses. If possible, the maintenance staff should be called for assistance with the cleanup.

• Wear disposable latex or vinyl gloves at all times when dealing with another person’s body fluids.
• Avoid getting another person’s body fluids in your eyes, mouth, open sores, or wounds.
• If exposed, rinse the affected area immediately and wash with soap and water.
• Report exposure to:
  School Nurse 202-939-4051 and
  Switchboard 202-939-8800 or
  Main Office 202-939-8848
  After hours:
  Security Guard/Emergency 2-Way Radio 202-939-8812
• Nurse and/or maintenance crew will supervise all cleanup procedures.
• After removing gloves, follow good hand washing practices.
• See Blood borne Pathogen Kit and Guide, located in Head’s Office, Assistant Head: Finance & Operations’s office, Maintenance Office, and Nurse’s Office, for more information about related exposure and cleanup issues.
• If a student is exposed to bodily fluids, have the School Nurse or Athletic Trainer come to the scene to recommend follow-up care.

A suspicious object is something out of place, such as an unattended briefcase leaning against the outside of a building.

• Do not touch or approach a suspicious object.
• Immediately Notify
  Switchboard: 202-939-8800 or
  Main Office: 202-939-8848
  Security Guard/Emergency 2-Way Radio 202-939-8812
  After hours:
  Security Guard/Emergency 2-Way Radio 202-939-8812
• Identify the area clearly so it can be barricaded.
• Get students out of the immediate areas and wait for directions.
• Follow Crisis Team members’ instructions for appropriate Emergency Response Procedure.
• Account for all students and remain in designated area until contacted.

• Direct all strangers or visitors to the Receptionist/Main Office.
• Visitors to our campus should wear a nametag that they receive from Administrative Operations Manager (Woodley Reception Office)
• Immediately Notify
  Switchboard: 202-939-8800 or
  Main Office: 202-939-8848
  Security Guard/Emergency 2-Way Radio 202-939-8812
  After hours:
  Security Guard/Emergency 2-Way Radio 202-939-8812
• Report suspected or actual weapons or altercations immediately to Switchboard or Main Office.
• Stay with students, keeping them together.
• Use door wedges to secure classroom doors, and lower blinds.
• Use resources in safety kits if possible to help protect you and your students.
• Account for all students and remain in the area to which you were sent (or rejoin your students as soon as possible, if you directed the students to leave the classroom).

FIRST AID KITS LOCATED IN:

• School Nurse’s Office
• Athletic Trainer’s Office
• Receptionist’s Office
• Maintenance Office
• Athletics Office
• LS, MS, and US Directors’ Offices

BLOOD-BORNE PATHOGEN KITS LOCATED IN:
(Stored within Emergency Packs)

• Main Office
• School Nurse’s Office
• Athletic Trainer’s Office
• Maintenance Office

EPIPENS LOCATED IN:

• Cafeteria
• School Nurse’s Office
• Athletic Trainer’s Office
• Contact Division Directors for additional EpiPens

DEFIBRILLATORS LOCATED IN:

• Cafeteria
• Cardio Room (Fitness Wing)

IN CASE OF EVACUATION OR LOCKDOWN

• Call for location of water supplies, power bars, blankets, and emergency equipment:
  Jon Young (office: 202-939-8813; cell: 202-497-5335) or
  Bill Hodgetts (office: 202-939-8821; cell: 410-598-5544)