Coordinated Response to Multiple Deaths in a School Community Helps the Healing Begin   [open pdf - 224KB]

This lessons learned document details an school-community death incident that highlighted aspects of school emergency response that could have been strengthened if the school district had an emergency management plan in place prior to the incident. According to the document, the following works well when dealing with multiple deaths in a school and community: established crisis team; maintained structure and positive school environment; establishment of a short-term counseling center for students; resources for teachers; information and meetings for families; establishment of media-relations; develop a crisis handbook; schedule training for crisis team; and organize support for school personnel.