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Safety Drills

The safety of our students and staff is one of the Elizabethtown Area School District's highest priorities. Throughout the school year, all District schools conduct a variety of age-appropriate safety drills to help students and staff prepare for emergencies. These exercises provide opportunities to practice safety procedures, build familiarity with emergency protocols, and reinforce calm, confident responses should a real emergency ever occur.

All safety drills are conducted in accordance with Pennsylvania School Code, state regulations, and the District's Emergency Operations Plan. Drills are designed to be developmentally appropriate for students and are conducted in a manner that minimizes disruption while reinforcing important safety practices.

Types of Safety Drills

Fire Drills

Fire drills prepare students and staff to safely and efficiently evacuate the building in the event of a fire or other emergency requiring evacuation. These drills help familiarize students with evacuation routes, designated assembly areas, and emergency procedures.

  • Frequency: Conducted monthly in accordance with Pennsylvania law.

Severe Weather Drills

Severe weather drills prepare students and staff to respond safely during weather-related emergencies, such as tornado warnings or other hazardous weather conditions. Students and staff practice moving to designated shelter areas within the building and following established emergency procedures.

  • Frequency: Conducted periodically throughout the school year as part of the District's Emergency Operations Plan.

Security Drills

School security drills prepare students and staff to respond appropriately during a variety of safety situations that may require protective actions such as lockdowns, secure-in-place procedures, evacuations, or other emergency responses. These drills are conducted using age-appropriate procedures and, when appropriate, in coordination with local law enforcement and first responders.

  • Frequency: Conducted at least annually in accordance with Pennsylvania law, with additional drills conducted as appropriate.

School Bus Evacuation Drills

School bus evacuation drills help students learn how to safely and quickly exit a school bus during an emergency. Students practice proper evacuation procedures, review bus safety expectations, and become familiar with emergency exits and safe evacuation techniques. In accordance with Pennsylvania law, students who ride District transportation participate in school bus evacuation drills each school year.

  • Frequency: Conducted twice each school year for students who ride District transportation, in accordance with Pennsylvania law.

Communication with Families

Families will be notified in advance that safety drills are conducted throughout the school year. For security reasons, the District does not publicly announce the specific date, time, or location of individual drills. When appropriate, schools may communicate general information about upcoming drills through building newsletters or other school communications.

Questions

If you have questions regarding the District's safety drill procedures, please contact:

Garret Rain
Director of School Safety and Emergency Preparedness
garret_rain@etownschools.org