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www.johnsonpublications.zenfolio.com Brooke Robertson | Johnson Publications

PCS Superintendent Phillip Picquet stands with several of the bleeding control kits, assembled and donated by the Perkins County Health Services Foundation.

School takes measures to increase safety

Bleeding control kits and new safety procedures added to PCS

Perkins County Schools administration, faculty and board are continually working to make sure students are kept safe in an ever-changing and evolving world. 

Bleeding control kits are in the process of being placed in each classroom, bus and vehicle at Perkins County Schools. 

PCS Superintendent Phillip Picquet said they want to be as prepared and proactive as possible, and the kits have been something he and school nurse Kerri Minster have been discussing to develop that ongoing goal. 

“It’s one of those things I’d rather have and never have to use, than not have and wish I had,” Picquet said. 

Each kit includes a pair of rubber gloves, clotting sponge, tourniquet, gauze, combine pad, hemorrhage control bandage and cohesive bandage.

Piquet noted many studies have shown that fatalities from school shootings have been from victims bleeding out due to wounds. 

However, these kits can be used for more than just a violent act. Picquet said there are other activities where students could become injured, such as shop class or just some random act, again stating the importance of being prepared. 

The Perkins County Health Services Foundation assembled and donated the kits, delivering them last week. 

“It’s a good partnership and we really appreciate the hospital and foundation’s help with this project,” Picquet said. 

Standard Response Protocol

Picquet, Elementary Principal Nicole Long and Perkins County Sheriff Jim Brueggeman recently attended a training on the Standard Response Protocol (SRP). 

SRP is based not on individual scenarios but on the response to any given situation. It demands a specific vocabulary but also allows for flexibility. 

There are four specific actions that can be performed during an incident. When communicating these, the action is labeled with a “Term of Art” and is then followed by a “Directive.” Execution of the action is performed by active participants, including students, staff, teachers and first responders.

Lockout is followed by the Directive: “Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors” and is the protocol used to safeguard students and staff within the building.

Lockdown is followed by “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight” and is the protocol used to secure individual rooms and keep students quiet and in place.

Evacuate is always followed by a location, and is used to move students and staff from one location to a different location in or out of the building.

Shelter is always followed by a type and a method and is the protocol for group and self protection.

These specific actions can act as both a verb and a noun. If the action is Lockdown, it would be announced on public address as “Lockdown! Locks, Lights, Out of Sight.” Communication to the Perkins County Sheriff’s Office would then be “We are under Lockdown.” 

Each response has specific student and staff action. The Evacuate response is always followed by a location: “Evacuate to the Bus Zone.” Responses can also be combined: “Evacuate to Hallway; Shelter for Tornado; Drop, Cover and Hold.”

Brueggeman said PCSO is pleased to be partnering with PCS in implementing SRP in the school as well as the community, and hopes the community will become involved as well. 

“The SRP will ensure our students and community have a common protocol in place when dealing with threats in our community or while traveling to other school facilities throughout the state,” Brueggeman said.  

Picquet agreed, stating he believes SRP will be beneficial for everyone. 

“For example, when a student from say, Ogallala High School is here, and we get on the intercom and say, ‘Lockout,’ they know what a lockout is,” he said.

Since its introduction in 2009, the Standard Response Protocol has been adopted by districts, departments and agencies across the US and Canada. 

As organizations began adoption of the program, an ongoing commitment from The “I Love U Guys” Foundation has been to keep the materials relevant. In 2015, the Foundation released a total refresh on the materials, practices and guidance.

Long will be training elementary students on SRP during physical education classes on Thursday, Dec 13. After Christmas break, they will begin conducting drills. They are working on scheduling dates for training at the high school.   

Picquet said they now have card readers and cameras at both schools and are increasing safety protocols wherever possible, but the most important thing is building relationships with the students. 

“If the kids feel safe, and they have someone they’ve connected with, they’ll go to an adult if they have a concern. So our number one priority is listening to these kids and building those relationships with them.” 

 

The Grant Tribune-Sentinel

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PO Box 67
327 Central Ave in Grant
Grant NE 69140