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Earthquake prevention drill

  • Cyprus

    Earthquake drills at Gymnasio Makedonitissas in Cyprus

    Earthquake drills take place at schools in Cyprus twice a year according to the safety policy of the Ministry of Education and Culture. This year the earthquake drill took place at our school on 10 December 2020. Due to the circumstances caused by the pandemic only first grade students and their teachers participated. Normally, all the students, teachers and staff of the school participate. When the alarm rings three times the students take shelter under their desks and make sure that their bags do not obstruct the isles between the desks. When the bell rings again they evacuate their classes and go to an open air area designated, far away from all buildings, following a specified route for each class. The students evacuate their classrooms with their hands on their head. The students whose classrooms are on the first floor take the stairs on the side of the wall. The route is shown on a map on the notice board of every classroom. At the open air area the form teacher of each class checks the list of students to make sure that no one has been left behind. An assigned team goes around the buildings and checks whether there are any people trapped inside. If there are any casualties the first aid team carries them to the open air area and gives the first aid. One of the deputy heads makes announcements and gives instructions. At the end of the drill the Ministry of Education and Culture is informed that the drill has been successfully carried out.  

     

    Portugal

    Drill held on AE Gil Eanes - Lagos, concerning earthquakes prevention

     

    Italy

    In our school drills are carried out twice a year, but without the knowledge of students and school staff. 
    There are six assembly points in the large atrium. Everyone is informed about the location of their assembly point. 
    Students who open and close rows are trained in what to do in case of danger.
    If the evacuation test is not satisfactory, it is cancelled and repeated after a few days.
    This year, the first test was repeated because some teachers had filled in the forms incorrectly.
    This is the scheme used:
      

    EVACUATION TEST PREPARATION SCHEME
    1) PREPARATION OF THE INTERVENTION

    - Present the School's Emergency and Evacuation Plan to all school staff and students.
    - Identify (by the Class Coordinator), for each class, the row-opener and row-closer pupil, including any substitutes, and write them down in the class register.
    - Read the Safety Instructions (for workers and students). The class coordinator will be responsible for explaining this to the students.

    2. CARRYING OUT THE EXERCISE

    - Check the presence of the designated fire-fighting and emergency personnel.
    - Spread the evacuation order by the following means:

    IN CASE OF AN EARTHQUAKE
    o prolonged sound (20 sec.): take cover in structurally safe places or under desks, for about 1 minute (end of tremor);
    o intermittent sound (20 sec.): prepare to evacuate the school building.
    IN CASE OF FIRE OR OTHER EVENT
    o intermittent sound (20 seconds): prepare to evacuate the school building.

    - Prompt (by the Emergency and Evacuation Officers) the exit of the classes.
    - Carry out the provisions of the Emergency and Evacuation Plan.
    - Leave the classrooms silently and orderly, respecting those who precede us in leaving the school building. The teacher must leave last, taking the class register with him/her and closing the door; if the teacher is absent, the student in charge must close the door and take the class register.
    - Check (by the members of the Prevention and Protection Service) that all the pupils and workers have carried out the exercise.
     
    - Fill in (by the teachers) at the assembly point, the evacuation form contained in the class register and give it to the person in charge of the assembly point. If the teacher is absent, the student who opens the line will carry out this task.
    - Fill in (by the person in charge of the Gathering Point) the Data Collection Form placed near the School Emergency Exits, based on the data reported in the Evacuation Form of each class and of any other person present there. In the event of the absence of the Collecting Point Manager and his substitute, the Emergency and Evacuation Officers will carry out the aforementioned task.

    3) AFTER THE DRILL

    - Return to the school entrances.
    - Check (by the Emergency and Evacuation Officers) that the emergency exit doors have been closed again.
    - Hand in the forms mentioned above to the secretary's office (by the Gathering Point Managers or, in their absence, by the Emergency and Evacuation Officers).
    - Draw up (by the members of the Prevention and Protection Service) a report on the progress of the exercise and on the indications and information obtained.