1. Purpose

The purpose of this document is to pronounce and document various Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) emergency response arrangements, plans, measures, and coordination points as may be necessary for a school or college. This procedure aims to ensure the health and safety of all individuals within the school/college community by providing clear and effective protocols in the event of an emergency, in line with national, provincial, and international laws.

2. Scope

• Stakeholders: This SOP applies to all students, teachers, administrative staff, contractors, visitors, parents, and any other individuals present within the school/college premises or participating in school/college-organized activities.
• Jurisdiction: This SOP is applicable within the geographic jurisdiction of the school or college, including any school transportation facilities, extracurricular venues, or off-site events under the school’s or college’s supervision.
• Timeframe: This SOP is applicable at all times during the operational hours of the school/college, as well as during after-hours activities, field trips, and other events organized or endorsed by the institution.

3. Fundamentals of HSE Emergency Response

1. Prevention
   • Prevention involves identifying potential hazards, assessing risks, and implementing measures to reduce the likelihood of emergencies. Regular safety audits, risk assessments, and safety inspections of the school/college infrastructure, equipment, and operational processes are essential to ensure the safety of all individuals.
   • For instance, ensuring that electrical systems are properly maintained to prevent electrical fires, or ensuring safe and clean food handling practices to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses.
2. Preparedness
   • Preparedness refers to the readiness of the institution to handle emergencies effectively. This includes having an emergency response plan, setting up emergency kits (first aid, fire extinguishers, etc.), conducting staff training, and ensuring that everyone knows their roles during an emergency.
   • Ensuring that the school or college is equipped with emergency exits, evacuation routes, and clear signage is crucial. Furthermore, all personnel, including teachers, staff, and students, should be familiar with these routes and procedures through drills and simulations.
3. Response
   • The response phase focuses on the immediate actions taken during an emergency to minimize harm. This includes activating alarms, evacuating people, administering first aid, and notifying emergency services.
   • It’s vital that all staff are trained in emergency response protocols, such as evacuating students calmly and swiftly, extinguishing small fires, or providing first aid until professional help arrives.
4. Recovery
   • Recovery is about returning to normal operations after an emergency. This may involve assessing damages, providing psychological support to students and staff, restoring services, and improving safety protocols.
   • This phase may also involve debriefing, reviewing the event, and identifying areas for improvement to update the emergency response plan.
5. Communication
   • Communication is essential during an emergency. There should be clear, predefined channels for notifying staff, students, parents, and emergency services. For example, using loudspeakers or text message alerts to announce evacuations.
   • Furthermore, the media manager should be ready to communicate important information to external parties in a calm and controlled manner to prevent panic and misinformation.
6. Evacuation Routes
   • Safe and clearly marked evacuation routes are crucial for the timely and orderly evacuation of students and staff during an emergency.
   • These routes should be free from obstacles, wide enough to accommodate large groups of people, and lead to safe assembly areas. It’s also important that these routes are regularly inspected to ensure they are always clear.
7. First Aid
   • First aid should be administered immediately to those injured in an emergency to prevent further harm before professional medical help arrives. All staff members should be trained in basic first aid and CPR.
   • The school/college should also have designated first aid stations equipped with necessary supplies such as bandages, antiseptics, and defibrillators.
8. Incident Reporting
   • All incidents, regardless of severity, should be reported and documented. This helps identify trends, refine emergency protocols, and ensures legal compliance. Incident reports should include information about what happened, how it was managed, and the outcomes.
9. Coordination
   • Effective coordination between internal emergency teams (teachers, security, staff) and external services (fire department, medical teams, police) is essential to ensure a swift and effective response. The designated Emergency Response Team Leader should coordinate with these entities during the event.
10. Training and Drills

• Conducting regular emergency drills for all members of the school/college community ensures that everyone is prepared to react quickly and calmly. Drills should simulate different emergencies (e.g., fire, earthquake, medical emergency) to ensure comprehensive preparedness.

5. Roles & Responsibilities

Roles during emergencies must be clearly defined to ensure an effective response.

• Students:
  • Follow instructions calmly during emergencies, evacuate safely, and report injuries or concerns.
• Teachers/Staff:
  • Ensure students’ safety, manage evacuations, provide first aid, and report incidents.
  • Teachers should have specific roles, such as accounting for students during roll call at the assembly point.
• Parents:
  • Ensure their child is aware of the emergency procedures and keep updated on any incidents.
• Emergency Response Team Leader:
  • Coordinates the overall response during an emergency, communicates with external authorities, and ensures the plan is executed smoothly.
• First Aiders:
  • Administer first aid until professional help arrives, including CPR, wound care, and managing medical emergencies.
• Evacuation Manager:
  • Supervises and manages the evacuation process to ensure everyone is safely evacuated. This includes ensuring all routes are clear and assembly points are safe.
• Media Manager:
  • Responsible for controlling external communication with the media to ensure that accurate information is disseminated and to avoid panic.
• Security and CCTV Operators:
  • Monitor the premises to ensure unauthorized persons do not enter during the emergency and provide security assistance where needed.

4. Types of Emergencies and Response Measures
5. Heart Attack

• Prevention: Encourage healthy lifestyle, proper diet, regular physical activities, and awareness about symptoms.
• Emergency Response:
  • Call for medical help immediately.
  • Administer CPR if trained.
  • Keep the person calm and comfortable.
  • Prepare an emergency response team for quick action.

2. Epilepsy

• Prevention: Educate students and staff about epilepsy and its triggers.
• Emergency Response:
  • Keep the individual safe by removing surrounding hazards.
  • Time the seizure duration.
  • Do not put anything in the mouth.
  • Call for medical help if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes.

3. Paralysis

• Prevention: Encourage safe practices in physical activities and avoid accidents.
• Emergency Response:
  • Call emergency services immediately.
  • Keep the person still, avoid moving the head and neck.
  • Monitor breathing and perform CPR if necessary.

4. Injury/Accident

• Prevention: Maintain safe walking paths, supervise physical activities, and provide safety equipment.
• Emergency Response:
  • Apply first aid based on the type of injury (e.g., bleeding control, immobilization).
  • If serious, transport the person to a medical facility after calling an ambulance.

5. Asthma

• Prevention: Ensure all asthma sufferers have inhalers and are aware of triggers.
• Emergency Response:
  • Help the individual use their inhaler.
  • Move to a less polluted environment.
  • Call for medical help if the situation worsens.

6. Chemical Burn

• Prevention: Proper handling, storage, and labeling of chemicals; PPE usage.
• Emergency Response:
  • Rinse the affected area immediately with water for 15-20 minutes.
  • Seek medical help immediately.
  • Remove any contaminated clothing.

7. Asphyxiation (Choking)

• Prevention: Educate on proper eating and safe practices.
• Emergency Response:
  • Perform the Heimlich maneuver.
  • If unsuccessful, call emergency services immediately.

8. Heat Stroke

• Prevention: Encourage hydration, provide shade, and monitor outdoor activities.
• Emergency Response:
  • Move the individual to a cool area.
  • Provide water if conscious.
  • Call medical services immediately.

9. Fire (Small and Medium)

• Prevention: Regular fire drills, fire extinguishers, and fire alarms.
• Emergency Response:
  • Small fire: Use a fire extinguisher if safe.
  • Medium to large fire: Evacuate and call the fire department.

10. Earthquake

• Prevention: Structural integrity checks of the building.
• Emergency Response:
  • Drop, Cover, and Hold On during tremors.
  • Evacuate once the shaking stops and head to a safe assembly area.

11. Flood

• Prevention: Understand flood zones and implement drainage systems.
• Emergency Response:
  • Evacuate to higher ground.
  • Avoid moving through water and wait for rescue teams.

12. Snake Bite

• Prevention: Awareness training and safety practices.
• Emergency Response:
  • Keep the individual calm and immobilized.
  • Call for emergency medical services.
  • Do not try to suck out venom.

13. Mad Dog Bite

• Prevention: Rabies awareness and vaccination protocols.
• Emergency Response:
  • Clean the wound immediately with soap and water.
  • Seek immediate medical help for rabies shots.

14. Major Fire

• Prevention: Regular fire drills, fire extinguishers, alarm systems, and clear exits.
• Emergency Response:
  • Evacuate immediately following the fire alarm.
  • Use fire exits and assembly areas.
  • Call the fire brigade.

15. Stampede

• Prevention: Crowd management and designated paths.
• Emergency Response:
  • Ensure all exits are open.
  • Maintain crowd order and direct people safely to evacuation areas.

16. Communicable Diseases

• Prevention: Promote hygiene practices and vaccinations.
• Emergency Response:
  • Isolate affected individuals.
  • Inform health authorities and seek professional medical support.

5. Roles & Responsibilities

• Students: Follow safety protocols, inform staff of any safety concerns, participate in drills.
• Teachers/Staff: Supervise students, initiate emergency responses, provide first aid.
• Parents: Ensure their child is aware of emergency protocols and remains informed during emergencies.
• Emergency Response Team Leader: Oversees the entire response, coordinates with external agencies.
• Firefighters: Respond to fire-related incidents, ensure safe evacuation.
• First Aiders: Provide immediate care until professional help arrives.
• Evacuation Manager: Manages the evacuation process and ensures assembly at safe zones.
• CCTV Operators: Monitor and record activities for analysis and coordination.
• Security Staff: Ensure all gates are monitored, prevent unauthorized access during emergencies.
• Media Manager: Handles communication with external media regarding the emergency.

6. Training, Drills, and Rehearsals

• Conduct regular emergency drills (fire, earthquake, evacuation, medical emergencies).
• Ensure all staff members are trained in first aid, CPR, and basic firefighting.
• Schedule annual HSE awareness sessions for students and staff.

7. Terms and Glossary

• Buddy System: A safety practice where individuals are paired for mutual support during evacuations or emergencies.
• Fire Wall: A barrier designed to prevent the spread of fire.
• Collapse Zone: The area around a collapsing structure that is deemed unsafe.
• Arson: The criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property.

8. Applicable Laws and Standards

• Pakistan Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Law
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards
• The Civil Defence Act, 1952
• International Labour Organization (ILO) Safety Standards
• Pakistan Building Code

9. Annexures

• Evacuation Plan for Fire
• Evacuation Plan for Earthquake
• Post Emergency Drill Report Format
• HSE Emergency Contact List

This SOP will be reviewed annually and revised as necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals in the school/college community.

6. Training, Drills, and Rehearsals

Regular and comprehensive training ensures that everyone knows their roles and can act efficiently in an emergency.

• Staff Training:
  • Annual refresher courses for all staff on first aid, fire safety, emergency evacuation, and CPR.
• Student Drills:
  • Regular evacuation drills should take place at least once every quarter to ensure that students are familiar with the process.
• Mock Drills:
  • Simulate real-life emergencies, including fire evacuations, earthquake drills, and medical emergencies, to assess response times and efficiency.

7. Terms and Glossary

• Buddy System:
  • A system in which two individuals are paired to ensure mutual safety and help each other during an emergency. One person assists in guiding or helping the other to safety.
• Fire Wall:
  • A fire-resistant barrier used to prevent the spread of fire from one section of a building to another.
• Collapse Zone:
  • The area immediately surrounding a damaged structure that is at risk of collapse during or after an earthquake or other disaster.
• Arson:
  • The criminal act of intentionally setting fire to property.

9. Annexures

• Evacuation Plan for Fire:
  • A diagram outlining all fire exits, safe assembly areas, and procedures to follow in the event of a fire.
• Evacuation Plan for Earthquake:
  • Detailed instructions on how to evacuate safely during an earthquake, with specific locations for safe assembly areas and tips for staying safe from falling debris.
• Post-Emergency Drill Report Format:
  • A template for documenting drill activities, evaluating the effectiveness of the response, and identifying areas of improvement.
• HSE Emergency Contact List:
  • A comprehensive list of important contacts, including medical facilities, fire departments, police, and other local emergency services.