Section 1500.30   Objectives of Drills

Each drill conducted pursuant to the Act shall be designed to fulfill the objectives discussed in this Section.

a)         Notification and Response

To ensure that all students, staff members, first responders, and visitors, both inside and outside the school building, are alerted to the fact that an emergency exists; receive adequate instructions on how to proceed, including supplemental instructions from first responders; and respond appropriately to the directions given.  (Each drill is to test whether the notification system and those operating it are prepared to provide emergency notification and appropriate direction to everyone on the property, based on the emergency conditions that exist, and whether those present respond accordingly.)

b)         Movement to Safe Areas

1)         When evacuation is called for, to ensure that evacuation of the building and adjacent areas is complete; that alternate exit routes are used if primary routes are obstructed; and that individuals with physical impairments reach safe areas.  (Each drill is to test whether and how quickly a building's occupants vacate it in an orderly and safe manner, regardless of any obstructions encountered, and whether staff is prepared to provide assistance effectively to those who are unable to evacuate on their own.)

2)         When sheltering in place is called for, to ensure that all the building's occupants reach designated safe areas in a reasonable amount of time.  (Each drill is to test whether students are prepared to respond without hesitation to instructions.)

c)         Communication with First Responders

To ensure that the system for communicating with responding agencies provides timely and complete information about the nature, scope, and current status of the emergency situation and about the status of all the building's occupants, whether evacuated or sheltering in place.  (Each drill is to test the ability of students and staff to provide necessary information to first responders in an emergency of the type to which the drill applies.)

d)         Accounting for All Occupants

To ensure that designated areas for assembling are appropriate to the type of incident to which the drill applies; that they are used by all students, staff, and visitors; and that the controls in place permit accounting for all the building's occupants.  (Each drill is to test the preparedness of students and staff to remain in the areas where they have been directed to assemble; the confidence with which the building's occupants can be accounted for; and the reliability of determining whether any search or rescue activity is necessary.)