Emergency Preparedness

A majority of SBHCs have emergency preparedness plans in place with response strategies to address school-based events that include:

• Medical/mental health emergencies (91%)
• Natural disasters (87%)
• School shootings (72%)

Do you?

NASBHC is committed not only to supporting comprehensive healthcare in schools, but also to supporting a well-developed plan for emergencies in schools. The definition and understanding of emergencies can vary greatly by geographic location, population density, and community needs, among other things. This page, developed in partnership with the Connecticut Association of School-Based Health Centers, has links to resources that will guide the development of an emergency preparedness plan for any situation.

Emergency Preparedness addresses four key principles:

1. Mitigation/Prevention - what schools and districts can do to reduce or eliminate risk to life and property
2. Preparedness - the process of planning for the worst case scenario
3. Response - the steps to take during a crisis
4. Recovery - how to restore the learning or teaching environment

The very best guidance for SBHCs is to prepare with an “all hazards approach”. There is no one formula that fits every crisis, but the all hazards approach will prepare the SBHC for most events. That is the advice of FEMA and most other emergency response organizations.

General tips SBHCs can take to begin

Additional websites that have excellent resources, information, and planning systems.