Home Supplied Emergency Kits Program

In the event of an emergency, students could be at school for many hours before an authorized emergency contact (photo ID required) is able to pick them up.  While the PTSA does fund and maintain emergency supplies for the campus, we also request support with the following items from home.

Beginning in December 2015, our PTSA implemented an Emergency Kit program where each student is asked to bring a gallon size (or smaller) ziploc bag from home containing emergency supplies listed below.   Kits can be delivered at any time to their teacher, and will be stored in the classroom at room temperature.  Kits will be sent home with each student at the end of the school year.

Emergency Kit in Gallon Ziploc Bag Inventory List

1. 1 disposable water bottle or 2 small juice cans.  Please be sure sealed for no leaks, and be sure that the expiration date is beyond June of the current school year. 
2. 4 nut-free granola bars, protein bars, or other small non-perishable snacks.  Please be sure that the expiration date is beyond June of the current school year.
3. Comfort letter from home, including emergency contacts and phone numbers 
4. Optional: Small picture of family (4x6) 
5. Write the student's full name in permanent marker on the outside of the bag 
6. Bag should be sealed (and easy to re-seal) 
7. If your student has allergies, please note in permanent marker on the outside of the bag 
8. Please do not include nuts (tree nuts or peanuts) for the safety of students

We will request a new kit to be supplied when school begins again each fall.

Additionally, if you are able to make a few extras or are willing to supply a box of granola bars, protein bars or juice boxes, we welcome your contributions to help others.  If you have any questions, please contact the Dickinson/Explorer PTSA EPREP team, eprep@dickinsonptsa.org.

PTSA Emergency Supplies and Resources Program

The Emily Dickinson and Explorer PTSA provides funding each year for our emergency preparedness program.  This program ensures we have necessary supplies and rations should we require them in an emergency.
Such supplies include: water, food, rain ponchos, tents, mylar blankets, porta-potties, toilet paper, flashlights, medical supplies, and search & rescue supplies.  
Additionally, the Dickinson/Explorer PTSA provides financial support for staff training on emergency processes and procedures.
By joining the PTSA and donating financially, your contributions help us to keep these supplies current and assure that our kids are provided for until we can pick them up.  If you wish to make a dedicated contribution specifically for emergency supplies or training, we would be glad to coordinate this for you.  Please contact eprep@dickinsonptsa.org.

Other Important Safety Notes For Your Family!

District-Wide Student Release Procedures  [Elementary/Middle]

In a disaster, school is the safest place for students until they are with their parents.  Student release procedures were created with your child’s safety in mind.

• Remember to listen to communications from the District office.
• Your child will only be released to an authorized emergency contact; photo ID is required.  Students cannot self-dismiss (walk home by themselves) and shouldn’t leave until their parents or emergency contact sign them out.  The release procedures can take time, please remain patient.
• Reduce traffic congestion – carpool or walk if you can. 

Winter Weather

Safety Tips

• Stay home and avoid traveling during the storm
• Be cautious when walking under trees, near roofs, eaves and awnings
• Safely clear debris from storm water drains to help avoid flooding from snow melt
• Clear sidewalks and watch for black ice on walkways and in parking lots
• Never use a generator, charcoal or gas grill indoors to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning

Parents can visit https://www.ready.gov/winter-toolkit for more information on preparing for the winter weather.

Kids can visit https://www.ready.gov/kids/know-the-facts/winter-storms-extreme-cold to learn more about how to stay safe from the extreme cold weather. 

LWSD school closures & late start policy: https://www.lwsd.org/programs-and-services/safety/school-closures-and-late-starts

LWSD snow / bad weather bus routes: http://busroutes.lwsd.org/elinkER/search.aspx 

City of Redmond’s snow and ice response routes: www.redmond.gov/snowice.

Prepare at Home! Make emergency preparedness your family’s New Year’s resolution!

Now is a good time to review your emergency plan with your family such as:

• Fire escape routes in your home
• Fire extinguisher locations
• Demonstrate what the smoke alarm sounds like for your children
• How you will communicate in an emergency

Need help making a plan?  Use this template from FEMA. 

Some disasters strike without any warning, and family members may not all be in the same place. How will you get in touch with each other? Where will you meet? How will you get out of your house in case of a fire? What if your neighborhood is being evacuated? It's important to make a plan now so that you will know what to do, how to find each other, and how to communicate in an emergency. http://www.ready.gov/kids/make-a-plan

Home Emergency Supplies

• Water is the most important emergency supply.  Recommendation: 1 gallon per person per day for at least 3 days.  A family of 4 should have 12 gallons of water on hand.
• Food is also important, but you don’t need to buy anything special.  Canned goods, unopened boxes of cereal and crackers keep for a long time and are probably in your pantry already.
• A flashlight, battery-powered radio, and extra batteries are also good to have on hand.

Visit http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit for more information on emergency supplies.

Safety Tips

Keep emergency information in your student's wallet or backpack - We give our children cell phones at younger and younger ages. But not all of us do, and cell phones may be locked, turned off, or the battery may be need to be recharged.  And so what happens if they are injured, are not responsive and cannot communicate?  The next step for emergency responders will be to check their backpack for contact and medical information. 

You can help by preparing a simple emergency card for your student in their backpack that includes: Their name, month/year of birth (for medication dispensing), address, parent’s name/phone (home/cell), allergies, medical conditions, and if he or she wears contact lenses.  For the student’s own benefit, you may wish to include your cell and work phone numbers, as well as your family’s out-of-state contact person’s name and phone numbers. 

Understanding the ALICE Safety Protocol - ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate.  It is a training to prepare individuals of all ages to handle the threat of an active intruder.  ALICE teaches individuals to participate in their own survival, while leading others to safety.  For more information on ALICE please check out the following sites: http://www.alicetraining.com/our-program/alice/  and http://www.alicetraining.com/our-program/alice/k12-education/age-appropriate/. 

Wear a Bike Helmet! "… Bike helmets provide a 63-88% reduction in the risk of head, brain, and severe brain injury…” For more information, including how to obtain a free or reduced cost helmet, visit: http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/injury/traffic/bicycles.aspx.

Practice Water Safety! Keep safe in the water this year.  Please read the article “Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning” – even if you have read it before.  Your knowledge just might save someone’s life.  Article link: http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154.

Helpful Resources:

• Lake Washington School District Safety and Security:  http://www.lwsd.org/Parents/Safety-Security/Pages/default.aspx

• Earthquake Safety – Drop, Cover, Hold On:  http://www.shakeout.org/washington/dropcoverholdon

• ALICE Protocol - Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate:  www.alicetraining.com

• Lake Washington PTSA Council Emergency Preparedness: http://www.lwptsa.net/emergency-prep

• United States Office of Homeland Security Survival Kit:  http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit

• American Red Cross Home/Family Survival Kit:  http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family/get-kit

• American Red Cross Home/Family Plan: http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family