Emergency Evacuation Plans

An Emergency Evacuation Plan is in place both for the International School of Iceland and Sjálandsskóli where some of the classes are held. Each area has a plan displayed. There is a yearly fire drill to practice the Emergency Evacuation Plan.

When the Fire Alarm sounds, students should proceed in homeroom groups with their teacher to the assigned place outside, following the safest and traditional route (exits). If the traditional route cannot safely be used, they should proceed to use the Emergency Exits. Each homeroom class follows their homeroom teacher to a predetermined gathering area on the school grounds. Teachers make sure every student is outside and notify the school administrators. The principal is the contact person for the fire department.

In case of an emergency, evacuating the school may become necessary. It is essential that the staff and students have practiced their responses so it has become automatic when it is needed.

​In an emergency situation, there is no room for centralized directions. Each employee needs to know how to respond and use his or her judgment to evaluate circumstances:for example, where students are and whether to take students out via the normal exit or use the emergency exits.

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Emergency Evacuation Plan Drill - Teachers​

Explain the purpose of the fire drill to students:​

• For safety and to know the sound of the alarm.

• Be able to respond correctly and proceed safely

• To prevent accidents while evacuating the premises and to know the best ways to exit the building.

• It is important to stress and discuss with your students the serious nature of the drill – it is absolutely not a game.

• It is important to explain to your students that if the alarm sounds and is soon thereafter turned off, it is malfunction or a false alarm. With the sound of the alarm, teachers and students know there may be an emergency, but will not proceed with the Emergency Evacuation Plan, unless the alarm continues to sound. On the other hand, if the alarm sounds and continues to sound, there is an emergency and the building needs to be evacuated.

• Teachers direct their students to the exit.

• Each teacher instructs students where to gather for roll call and further instructions (gathering point)

• From homeroom areas, those who are closest to the exit points will go out first

• If it is safe to do so, students put on their jackets and shoes (do not tie your shoes, tuck laces into your shoe), for we do not send the children out in poor weather conditions unless there is an extreme emergency.

• Each student group gathers at a predetermined gathering point on the synthetic grass soccer field. The gathering points are selected so that it will not interfere with emergency response team access to the building.

Emergency Evacuation Plan (School Drill – Emergency)

The alarm control alerts administrators and the building supervisor to the origin of the alarm.

The source of the alarm is investigated as quickly as possible. The alarm is turned off while the source is investigated; If there is an emergency the alarm is activated again. Then and only then is the building to be evacuated. The building is evacuated according to Emergency Evacuation Plan (see Emergency Evacuation drill - teachers). Once everyone has evacuated the building it is essential that staff ensure that no one reenters the building until the drill is completed or the Emergency is over. Teacher ensures that all of the students are at the gathering point. Teacher will immediately notify the principal, who is on school grounds, if a student is missing from a gathering point. The principal will ensure that emergency response team receives this information so they may immediately begin searching the building. All staff must work together so that the building evacuation proceeds calmly and orderly (no running). Groups stay together at the gathering point until notified that the drill or emergency is over.

The Staff's Role

• The teacher is responsible for his group of students.

• Administrator oversees and informs the emergency response team when they arrive.

• School administrative assistant ensures that the fire department is notified and brings student/parent contact information.

• Teacher's assistants, custodial staff and building supervisor assist with the evacuation, hold doors open, check bathrooms, etc.

Everyone use their own best judgment!