Utah Special Education Paraeducator Handbook - Granite School ...

Often, these gestures or shouting are meant only to intimidate rather than as a prelude to violence.
However, school should be a safe place for you as well as for students. You should not have to be
exposed to threats of violence or actual violence.
Emergency Preparedness
Schools are still the safest place in the U.S. for students to be. However, since the 9/11 attacks on the
World Trade Center, we are more aware of potential problems. Tornadoes, earthquakes, and fires are
still in the news. In the event of any school emergency, your responsibility will be to help keep the
students safe. Get a copy of your school’s emergency preparedness plan and read it. If your role is
unclear in the plan, ask your supervisor what your role will be. Your knowledge of what to do for
yourself and the students will help you to respond in a calm, decisive way. Earthquakes. Utah is
considered “seismically active.” We have experienced damaging earthquakes in the past and larger
earthquakes are likely to occur in the future. Our population is concentrated in the areas where they are
most likely to happen. Many of the older buildings including some of our schools have low earthquake
resistance. Be aware of expectations and evacuation procedures in case of an earthquake.
Fire Procedures/Evacuation. Every school has an evacuation plan to use in case of fire in the building.
Students and staff need to exit the building in a systematic, safe, and orderly manner in case of a fire or
other emergency. You must find, read, and understand this policy. You need to help keep people and
property safe.
Your school will have drills so that students and staff can practice and know what to do in case of an
emergency. It also gives administrators the opportunity to see that everyone knows how to evacuate a
building quickly and safely. Fire alarms and other equipment are checked to see if they function
properly. It is important to keep everyone safe until the fire department arrives.
School buildings have safety features that you can use. They should have:
Smoke detectors in all common areas and corridors.
Manual Pull Fire Alarm Stations on the walls at each outside door entrance/exit.
Fire extinguishers throughout the building - These weigh around 15 pounds and require you to
pull a pin before aiming the hose and squeezing the handle. Take a few minutes to examine the
extinguisher and learn how and when to use it.
Emergency exits illuminated EXIT signs
Automatic sprinkler system
Most schools have an emergency power and lighting system which will provide enough electrical
power for evacuation
Familiarize yourself with locations and operating procedures for the above safety features.
Utah Paraeducator Handbook Page 30