Community
Safety and Security

What To Do in an Emergency

Notification and Parent Roles

In the event of an emergency, parents will be notified via One Call Now emergency notification. Please listen to the message in its entirety before taking any actions.

Do not call school or expect your child to call you; the use of cell phones will tie up emergency lines that must remain open.

ORDERED EVACUATIONS FOLLOWING CRITICAL SCHOOL INCIDENT

List of 2 items.

  • Overview

    The Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD) has developed a comprehensive school
    Evacuation Plan that will be used in the event of a critical school incident that requires an
    evacuation. The Evacuation Plan is designed to protect and keep students safe. Police, school and city personnel have been trained and are prepared to implement the plan. In order to help maintain student safety during the evacuation process, the school is relying on parental cooperation. The following instructions are provided so parents will have an overview of the plan and understand the procedures for reuniting with their child after an evacuation.

    *An ordered evacuation will occur when a situation dictates that everyone leave all buildings on campus.
     
    In the event of a critical school incident that requires a school evacuation, designated locations have already been established to determine where the students will be evacuated and where parents will respond.

    Students will be evacuated to the Huntington Beach Central Library:
    7811 Talbert Ave.
    Huntington Beach, CA 92647

    Parents will respond to the Huntington Beach Sports Complex:
    18100 Goldenwest St.
    Huntington Beach, CA 92647

  • Procedures

    • Notification of the school evacuation will be announced via the media and the School’s means of communication.
    • Parents are to go to the Huntington Central Park Sports Complex and look for a yellow school bus, which will be parked in the northwest corner of the Sports Complex parking lot. The bus will be used as a landmark to identify the Parent Check-In Area, which is where parents will complete a check-in form for each child they want to pick up.
    • DO NOT GO TO THE SCHOOL as this will slow down the evacuation process and will result in delays in family reunification.
    • After parents fill out a check-in form they will wait at the Student Release Area which is located at the turf soccer fields at the sports complex.
    • When the child is ready to be released, then he/she will be escorted by the school personnel from the Library to the Student Release Area,where the child will be released to the parent.

Lockdowns

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  • Overview

    A lockdown is a procedure the school uses in a situation that is life threatening or potentially life threatening in order to keep students and staff safe.  Reasons can include active shooters, terrorist attacks, chemical/biological release, intruders on campus, hostage, threat of violence and abduction/kidnapping.  The school will remain in lockdown until the school is safe and secure.

    Remember, a lockdown means a life threatening or potentially life threatening situation is occurring.

    Any employee can make an announcement made over the PA system to initiate a lockdown or a shelter in place.  As possible, include as much detail as possible as to what is occurring and any additional identifying information that is available.

  • Procedures

    Remember the “Run, Hide, Fight” Lockdown Model:

    RUN – Move away from danger.

    OR

    HIDE – Find a secure location to hide.

    OR

    FIGHT – Fight if you are facing imminent injury or death from the attacker.


    Decision Making Process:
    1. Recognize what is going on.
      • Is the situation life threatening or potentially life threatening?
    2. If so, take action immediately. Don’t wait!
      • When choosing an option ask yourself, “Based on the available information, what option (Run, Hide, Fight) can I choose to limit my exposure to danger?”
    3. Reassess as needed.

    Actions taken by students and staff using the Run–Hide–Fight Model:

    RUN

    1. Move away from the danger.
    • Keep moving until you are in an area where you can hide safely or far enough away from the danger to provide safety.
    • This may mean leaving campus.
    • Move in a manner so cover and concealment are between you and the attacker.
    • Cover protects you from gunfire.
    • Concealment protects you from being seen, but not gunfire.
    • Help others escape if possible.
    • Prevent others from entering the area.
    2. Have you thought about where you are going to go if the RUN option is chosen?
    • It might have to be an off-site location because any nearby secure locations will already be locked or secured.
    • The only requirement is that it is away from the danger.
    • If possible, ensure you have more than one route/exit.
    3. Call 911 once you are safe and away from the danger.

    HIDE

    1. Identify your primary and alternate secure locations to hide.
    • A secure location is any location that can be quickly and easily locked or secured and used as a safe area to hide in, which is away from the danger.
    • Plan to have a primary secure location and at least one alternate secure location in case your primary secure location is not available.
    2. Lock or secure door.
    • Barricade door if needed.
    3. Close blinds and/or cover windows.
    4. Shut off lights.
    5. Turn off sources of noise.
    • Includes cell phones.
    6. If possible, find a place to hide where you are out of view and allows you to quickly transition to the Run or to the Fight option.
    • Duck and Cover may not be your best way to hide.
    • Create and use Pocket Spaces, if possible.
    7. Remain silent.
    8. Have some type of weapon (books, stapler, fire extinguisher, chair, scissors, etc) in your hand so you can defend yourself immediately if needed.
    9. Do you have an emergency exit to use in the event you need to leave quickly?
    10. Disregard the fire alarm system and school bells unless otherwise informed.
    • If you see fire or smoke you need to act.
    10. Call 911 if it is safe to do so.

    FIGHT

    1. Fight if you are facing imminent injury or death from the attacker.
    2. Use any measures available to fight off the threat and continue to engage until the attacker is incapacitated.
    • If safe to do so, hold the attacker until law enforcement arrives.
    3. Fight as a group if possible.
    4. One fight strategy to use is the “Throw and Go” method.
    • Throw something at the attacker and then engage.
    5. Act with physical aggression.
    6, Have the will to survive, even if injured.
    7, Commit to your actions.
    8. Target vulnerable parts of the attacker’s body such as eyes, face, and groin.
    9. Improvise weapons to defend yourself.
    • You are only limited by your imagination.
    • Identify objects you can throw at the attacker.
    • Identify objects you can use to hit or stab the attacker with.
    10. Be aware of the potential for multiple attackers.

Shelter in Place

List of 2 items.

  • Overview

    Shelter in place may be initiated in non-threatening circumstances to keep people away from areas where there may be a medical emergency or disturbance. The campus will remain in a lock down or shelter in place, until the campus is safe and secure.

    Remember, a shelter in place means “caution” and is meant to keep students/staff away from an area of the school or an outside incident.

  • Procedures

    Actions taken by students and staff during a shelter in place:
    • If you are already inside a secure area, stay inside.
    • If you are outside, get to the nearest secure area and stay inside.
    • Close and lock the door.
    • Staff checks email for further instructions, information, directions, and restrictions.
    • Ignore passing period bells.
    • Students may not leave the room for any reason, which includes restroom breaks.
    • Do not automatically respond to a fire alarm - Need to verify validity.
    • Advise all students/staff not to engage in unnecessary communication (ie phone calls, texts and email).
    • Wait for the “all clear” signal before returning to normal status.

    Notification
    Primary methods to communicate a Shelter in Place will be the school’s PA system and email.

    Classroom instruction/activity
    • Class instruction may be able to continue depending on the restrictions put in place.
    • Communication to staff on what restrictions are put in place will usually be done through work emails, but the school PA system, school radios, or cell phones may also be used.
    • Be prepared to switch to a Lockdown (Run, Hide, Fight) if the situation changes.

Lockdown or Shelter in Place Examples

List of 2 items.

  • Intruder/Trespasser

    An intruder/trespasser is an individual on the school campus that has not followed the established visitor procedures and may or may not be a safety hazard to the school.

    An intruder/trespasser is an individual on the school campus that has not followed the established visitor procedures and may or may not be a safety hazard to the school.

    Individual on campus, but no apparent threat indicated:

    • Escort the individual to the front office to obtain a guess badge and to sign-in.
    • If they refuse to go to the front office, notify front office that there is a potential intruder threat on campus and keep an eye on the subject if it is safe to do so.
    • Shelter in place may be ordered.
    • Command Team may contact the authorities if needed.

    Individual on campus, who is armed, poses a threat and/or has a hostage:
    • Initiate lockdown.
    • Command Team will call 911 and notify them of a lockdown taking place and/or a weapon is present. Stay on the line until told to hang up.
    • If situation allows, Command Team will meet with police.
    • The Command Team will communicate with the parents where they should go to be reunified with students.

  • Police activity near campus/Suspicious subject on or near campus

    Activity on or near campus may or may not be a safety hazard to the school.  A shelter in place or a lockdown may be ordered. During the event, the school may transition between shelter in place and lockdown, depending on the information available.

Other Emergencies on Campus

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  • Equipment Failure

    Electrical, gas, water main burst, or any other mechanical failure that could shut down the school for an extended length of time.
    • Evacuate building if the situation is deemed dangerous by the Command Team.
    • The Command Team will communicate with the parents if the school needs to be closed.

  • Fire

    Fire alerts are signaled by a pulsating horn and flashing strobe lights.
    • If fire or smoke is identified, find the nearest Fire Pull Station and pull the alarm.
    • Students should evacuate with teacher to the back field.
    • Contact the Front Office, if possible.
    • The Command Team will communicate with the parents if the school needs to be closed.

  • Natural Disasters

    Earthquakes, floods and any other Acts of God which could shut down the school for an extended length of time.

    Earthquake: Drop. Cover. Hold On.
    • 911 may or may not be called.
    • The Command Team will communicate with the parents if the school needs to be closed.

  • Bomb Threat

    Telephone or verbal on-campus bomb threat, suspicious package or letter.
    • Call 911.
    • If it is a package or letter, do not handle and evacuate. Notify police on the scene where item is located.
    • The Command Team will determine if an evacuation or school closure should be ordered and will communicate with the parents.

  • Medical Emergency

    Medical emergencies include major injuries such as severe bleeding, spine or head injury, breathing problems, compound fractures, etc., that occur on campus.
    • Call 911.
    • Call the office/nurse and report the incident. Inform them that 911 has been called.
    • Provide basic first aid if possible until assistance arrives.
    • DO NOT move an injured person and keep the person as motionless as possible.

  • Drugs/Contraband

    If you suspect that a student/ faculty member has been drinking, is under the influence of drugs or in possession of alcohol or drugs on campus:
    • Contact the Command Team.
    • Bring the student/faculty member to the front office.
    • Police may be contacted.
    • Parents may be notified.
    • Alcohol or drugs possession by visitor: Initiate procedure for intruder/trespasser on campus.

  • Suicide

    Suicidal gestures are attempted suicide situations which are not immediately life threatening in a medical sense (e.g. superficial scratching of the wrists).
    • Contact the Command Team.
    • If possible, bring student to the front office.
    • Parents will be notified.

  • Serious Suicide Attempt

    • Contact the Command Team.
    • Call 911 if injury has occurred.
    • Authorities will be notified.
    • Parents will be notified.

  • Death of Student/Faculty/Staff

    During school hours or a school sponsored activity:
    • Call 911.
    • Contact Command Team.
    • Command Team will determine how and who to notify of the event.

    Occurring outside the school setting:
    • Contact Command Team.
    • Command Team will determine how and who to notify of the event.

  • Suicide Ideations

    Suicide Ideations are situations in which a person makes verbal or written threats of suicide or even vague assertions about not having anything to live for.
    • Contact the Command Team.
    • If possible, bring student to the front office.
    • Parents will be notified.
EMERGENCY CONTACTS

Ambulance, Paramedic:
911

Fire / Non-emergency:
911 / 714-536-5411

Poison Control Center:
800-222-1222

Police / Non-emergency:
911 / 714-960-8825

SoCal Gas Emergency/ Safety:
911/ 800-427-2000

SoCal Edison Report an Outage:
800-611-1911
The Pegasus School is a coed, non-profit, nonsectarian day school in Huntington Beach, California, that serves students in pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8. A Pegasus education equips bright, motivated students to achieve future academic success and make a positive impact on society.