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Safety Share – LOCKOUT and LOCKDOWN for Violence Threats / Shelter-in-Place for Chemical Spills and Severe Weather

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LOCKOUT, LOCKDOWN and Shelter-in-place are emergency responses often confused with one another. Jordan School District created clarifying videos on these responses to train students and staff, all under three minutes in duration, located at: Google Drive > Shared with me > Incident Command Training Videos. Click HERE

REMEMBER: Locks were invented to keep humans out of things. Associate “locks” with humans” and “LOCKOUT” and “LOCKDOWN” with a potentially violent person.  

LOCKOUT and LOCKDOWN are DENY strategies, as part of the AVOID DENY DEFEND response protocols for violence threats. DENY the threat access to you by creating a physical barrier between you and them.

LOCKOUT – external threat

  • Call 911 when SAFE TO DO SO
  • LOCK them OUT of the building, creating a barrier between you and the threat
  • Use the LOCKOUT Card on the dedicated card reader in the main office to quickly lock all exterior doors that are scheduled open at that moment
  • Students and staff on the school grounds should come in for safety
  • Staff card access badges will still work during a LOCKOUT
  • Students and staff remain inside
  • Do not let people exit, or enter until the LOCKOUT has ended
  • Consider bringing occupants of portables into the main building, if SAFE TO DO SO (For supervision, water, lunch, restrooms, medications, etc.)
  • Consider notifying Transportation in case buses are in route to the school
  • Post a sign on entrances stating the school is in LOCKOUT
  • Remain vigilant
  • Keep hallways and common areas clear of students and staff
  • If police enact the LOCKOUT, police end the LOCKOUT
  • Use the END LOCKOUT Card on the reader in the main office to revert to the door schedule at the time it is ended

LOCKDOWN – internal threat

  • Call 911 when SAFE TO DO SO
  • Get behind a closed, locked door of a classroom, office, conference room, etc., creating a barrier between you and the threat
  • LOCKS, LIGHTS, OUT OF SIGHT
  • Consider barricading the door with furniture, if you’re able to do so quickly and safely
  • Remain quiet, silence cell phones, make it seem like an unoccupied room to the intruder
  • The threat is already inside the building so there is no need to lock exterior doors
  • Consider being ready to DEFEND yourself if the intruder gains entrance into the room
  • Consider using text messaging to quietly inform the school Incident Command Team of your status
  • The police will open the door to clear the room, so there is no need for occupants to open the door

Shelter-in-place – chemical spill or severe weather outside (As defined by FEMA, not a response to violence)

  • Call 911 when SAFE TO DO SO
  • Remain indoors, seeking “shelter from the storm” or dangerous air outside
  • Turn off the electrical breakers to the air handlers to quickly restrict outside air from coming in if there has been a chemical spill/leak outside
  • Consider bringing occupants of portables into the main building, if SAFE TO DO SO (For supervision, water, lunch, restrooms, medications, etc.)
  • Consider moving occupants to a specific part of the building, or large gathering space for safety purposes
  • Take direction from police, fire, or the District accordingly

Use the Jordan School District Incident Command Manual when planning, conducting drills and preparing for emergencies. Please contact JSD Emergency Operations Manager Lance Everill with questions: 801-567-8623, lance.everill@jordandistrict.org

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