Emergency response training is a cornerstone of school safety, equipping staff and students with the skills needed to act effectively during crises. From fires to active shooter incidents, this training ensures that schools are prepared for any type of emergency. In a recent webinar, George Hunter, Director of Training at Navigate360, shared insights on how comprehensive emergency response training helps schools build a proactive and prepared community. As Hunter stated, “When it’s time to perform, the time to prepare has passed.” This blog will cover key points discussed in that webinar, highlighting the importance of emergency preparedness training for schools.
What Is Emergency Response Training?
Emergency response training refers to structured programs that teach school staff and students how to respond to various emergencies, such as natural disasters, medical crises, and security threats. While basic training across schools in the United States typically focuses on evacuation routes and lockdown protocols, advanced training integrates situational awareness, decision-making skills, and trauma-informed practices.
Hunter emphasizes, “We need to start that preparation for critical thinking—because once it’s time to perform, the time to prepare is past.” This approach helps staff and students move beyond basic drills and develop the ability to adapt under pressure, ensuring that training translates into effective real-world responses.
Why Schools Need Comprehensive Emergency Response Training
Comprehensive training goes beyond simply informing teachers of what to do during a crisis. It ensures that all staff members, including substitutes and support staff, are ready to take immediate, coordinated action. As Hunter explained, “True first responders are the people who find themselves in harm’s way for that initial five to nine minutes before law enforcement arrives. Their actions can significantly impact the outcome of an incident.”
Ensuring that everyone, from teachers to bus drivers, is trained fosters a unified response and builds confidence. Hunter stressed the importance of training across the board: “We need to train everybody in the protocols—not just classroom teachers but substitute staff, cafeteria workers, and front office personnel. Everyone needs to know what to do.”
Stopping a Threat Before It Starts: A Proactive Approach to School Safety
Essential Components of Effective Emergency Response Training
Initial & Ongoing Training
Initial training lays the foundation, but ongoing refresher courses are crucial to maintain readiness. Regular training updates help reinforce core skills and keep protocols fresh. Hunter emphasized, “The training we provide must be revisited to ensure everyone knows what to do, not just during drills, but when it truly counts.”
Age-Appropriate and Trauma-Informed Approaches
Emergency response training should be adapted to the age group of the students and conducted in a trauma-informed way. “I’m not teaching you anything if I’m scaring you to death,” Hunter said. This approach ensures that safety practices are taught in a supportive manner, helping to reduce anxiety while fostering preparedness.
Role-Specific Training
Training should also be customized for different roles within the school. Teachers, substitutes, cafeteria staff, and bus drivers each have unique responsibilities during emergencies. Hunter highlighted, “Substitute teachers and support staff need just as much training as permanent teachers to ensure everyone is on the same page.”
Steps to Implement Emergency Response Training in Schools
Partner with Experts
Collaborating with experienced training providers ensures that schools receive relevant and effective training programs. This partnership helps tailor the training to the specific needs of the school community.
Integrate Training into Professional Development
Incorporating emergency response training into regular professional development schedules ensures consistency. Hunter shared, “Training should be like running fire or tornado drills—standard, routine, and designed to build that ‘when-then’ mindset that prepares people to act.”
Involve School Resource Officers (SROs) & Local Emergency Services
Hunter emphasized the value of involving SROs and local emergency services: “Having input from law enforcement and emergency responders ensures that the training reflects real-world scenarios and strengthens partnerships between schools and first responders.”
Building a Culture of Preparedness Through Training
Prioritizing emergency response training is an investment in the safety and well-being of students and staff. Comprehensive training not only saves lives, but creates a culture of preparedness, ensuring that everyone in the school community is equipped to respond to and recover from instances. As Hunter reiterated, “The life lessons we teach through training stay with you. They’re the skills that make a difference when it truly counts.”
Schools should take the next step to evaluate their current training programs or develop new ones that align with best practices. The peace of mind and confidence these programs provide are invaluable.
For more insights, you can watch the webinar, “Stopping a Threat Before It Starts: A Proactive Approach to School Safety” featuring George Hunter here.
