During school year 2015-2016, each classroom unit was provided by the HSA with a new emergency backpack kit. These kits are to be stored in the classroom, near the door, and taken outside with staff during all drills. Each kit should be returned to the front office and checked in at the end of the school year.
Over the summer, any gear from the backpack that needs to be periodically replaced will be replaced. The backpacks will be redistributed when staff returns at the start of the next school year. An explanation of what to do with the backpacks that can be distributed to staff at the start of the year can be found here.
Summer 2016:
At the end of school year 2015-2016, the backpacks were checked, relabelled based on the next year’s school roster (in coordination with the Director of Strategy and Logistics), and packed for delivery to UDC. Backpacks for Ms. Heist and Ms. Grindrod were not turned in and were packed with their classroom materials.
Before storing, each staff member should add to the backpack:
- current class roster
- emergency contact information
- DCPS & Murch-specific emergency procedure materials
The outside pocket of each kit contains:
- battery powered flashlight (with 2 D-Cell batteries installed)
- whistle
- moist towelettes
- hand sanitizer packets
- scissors
The main compartment of the backpack contains:
- AM/FM Radio with 4 AA batteries
- first aid kit (see below for contents)
- 6’x8′ tarp
- duct tape
- breathing mask
- rain poncho
- water container
- 4 water rations
- 2400 calorie food bar
- hygiene kit (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, soap, deodorant, washcloth, comb, and mesh shower bag)
- toilet paper
- trash bags
- notepad
- ballpoint pens and markers
The first aid kit (listed above) contains:
- a variety of adhesive bandages
- rolled gauze
- BZK towelettes
- roll of first aid tape
- tweezers
- CPR barrier
- gauze pads
- pen light
- ball point pen
- emergency blanket
- gloves
- first aid guide
For school year 2016-2017 backpacks were distributed as follows:
- 3 PreK classrooms
- PreK Resource classroom
- 4 Kindergarten classrooms
- 4 First Grade classrooms
- 4 Second Grade classrooms
- 4 Third Grade classrooms
- 4 Fourth Grade classrooms
- 4 Fifth grade classrooms
- 1 SLS Classroom
- Art classroom
- Music classroom
- PE classroom (UDC Gym)
- Library
- ELL Office
- 2 for Special Education Teachers (Rooms C-100 and D-102)
- Room A-106 to be shared by OT/PT/Psychologist, etc.
- Room A-109 to be shared by Instructional Coaches and Specialists
- 2 Front Office
- Bubble
Note: World Language was not assigned a backpack because there is not a designated classroom.
Recommended replacement schedule for emergency backpacks
Each summer (beginning in 2017):
- 2 D-Cell batteries in flashlight
- 4 AA batteries for AM/FM radio
Start of each school year:
- current class roster
- emergency contact information
- DCPS & Murch emergency procedures information
Even number years beginning in summer 2018:
- moist towelettes (outer pocket)
- hand sanitizer (outer pocket)
- ballpoint pens and markers
- food and water rations (if deemed necessary)
Summer 2020:
- First aid kit
Future ideas:
- Consider purchasing decks of cards, UNO cards, crayons or other activities for kids to add to kits.
- Consider requiring backpacks to be stored in common location in each space (for example, providing hooks by the door or on back of doors)
The current backpacks are Red Cross Basic Emergency Preparedness Kits purchased from the online store and supplemented with additional items as outlined above.
If additional backpacks needed:
- There is a collection of old backpacks that have been cleaned and saved in the storage space, expecting that the staff will grow in the future.
- Also in storage with the extra backpacks are:
- some basic first aid kits that need only antiseptic and bandaids replaced
- flashlights (need batteries)
- whistles