Emergency Preparedness Wrap-up, 2019-20

The following is a summary of 2019/2020 Emergency Preparedness (E-Prep) activities.

We want to recognize and thank the following individuals for contributions to Emergency Preparedness, the Northshore School District, and our students:

Julie Beard (East Ridge PTA)  

• E-Prep Advocate: Supported our meetings with Northshore School District Superintendent Dr. Reid ensuring an  E-Prep focus and she worked to bring attention to preventing child abuse and neglect; our community cares deeply about children and we know that school districts are one of our most important partners in keeping children safe. In 2019 she was a key participant in the Safe Schools Advisory Committee. Read the report.

Jennifer Blasi PTSA  (Moorlands PTA)

• E-Prep Advocate: Organized parents and lead regular meetings with district Superintendent Dr. Reid to ensure the focus on E-Prep including funding for food and water supplies, continued staff focused support, and mental health of our students.

Robyn Sims (Bear Creek PTA & Timbercrest PTSA)

• E-Prep Leadership: Worked with PTA E-Prep chairs. Established feeder pattern working groups to share issues and resources to help each other. Helped identify common issues across feeder groups to focus efforts.

Many thanks to our NSD team that has supported every Emergency-Preparedness (E-Prep) monthly meeting with updates and for giving PTSA parents a forum to vocalize both suggestions and concerns. We would like to specifically thank Clark Combs E-Prep TOSA, Bill Brooks, Security, and Henry Simon, Director Safety and Security, for their continued focus on the safety of our students and staff, security, and preparedness. Here are a few of the key things achieved this school year:

• Tuff Shed for E-Prep supplies storage at Ruby Bridges elementary school will improve the storage environment for supplies.
  
• Plastic bins have been delivered to every school for use in e-prep containers to store supplies and keep them safe.
  
• 20% of the food and water emergency supplies has been delivered to each school. A five-year plan has been established to rotate the food and water supplies in the E-prep containers.
  
• Medical Emergency Trauma Kits went out to 21 sites, Pre-K to grade 5. All NSD sites have updated kits.
• Fernwood Elementary held a reunification drill with students and parents.  A large reunification with parents at an off-site location scheduled for the end of March had to be postponed due to COVID-19, hopefully it can be rescheduled for next year. 
  
• Each school now has a NSD-provided reunification kit that is customized by each school to fit their population needs.
  
• E-Prep items delivered to schools included:  hard hats, vests, safety glasses, gloves, solar chargers, bleed kits, large backpacks, headlamps, crowbars, knee pads, bull horns, and radios.
• Woodinville High School is offering a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) elective course starting next year which will give our students training in disaster preparedness, leadership, teamwork, safety, first aid, CPR/AED, search and rescue, fire suppression, psychology and team organization.
  
• Replaced existing mortise classroom locks with more secure functionality; installation of thumb turn locks with indicators in every classroom, is nearly complete.
  
• Five visitor management pilot systems were obtained and NSD legal is working to ensure security of personal information.
  
• Continuation of the NSD E-Prep TOSA position in 2020-21.
• ACT (Antidote, CPR/AED, Tourniquet) to save a life training was provided to our PTSA e-prep group. ACT To Save a Life is a one hour first aid class that focuses on three skills you can use to save a life in the first few minutes of an emergency: Antidote for suspected opiate overdoses, CPR and AED training for cardiac arrest, tourniquet for severe bleeding control. Clark Combs is now prepared to do on-line or live training for our teachers in August before start of school.
• During our COVID-19 event, NSD donated face masks, gloves, and gowns from school E-prep containers to a local hospital.  
• Northshore Council PTSA has donated funds towards 40 face shields for all NSD school nurses to use next year.

The Northshore Council PTSA E-Prep team is looking forward to next year’s opportunities to continue to help improve each school’s emergency preparedness and we will also be focusing on our family preparedness for emergencies and disasters. Next year you will also see an improved NS Council PTSA E-Prep webpage, on-line E-Prep meetings, meeting recordings and on-line training. One example is online CERT (Community Emergency Response Training), which will provide access to those who may have had trouble getting it and allow volunteers to acquire the CERT credential at their own pace. CLICK HERE for more info.

Have a wonderful and safe summer,

Robin McKenzie and Tracy Jokisch
Emergency Preparedness Co-chairs
Northshore Council PTSA 6.10
A Culture of Preparedness in our Community