Lockdowns due to a school threat are now an alarming reality. During lock-downs, students are often stuck in classrooms for a few hours at a time with no access to food, water, or bathrooms. As a former teacher, I know this is not a good situation for kids and educators alike, but you can equip your child’s teacher with a survival kit. Follow this step-by-step guide to create an classroom emergency bucket.
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Common Causes of School Lockdowns
There are plenty of reasons why a school might order a lockdown, and it’s not just the threat of violence that might cause kids to be stuck in a classroom. Natural disasters or a catastrophic weather event would also force the same scenario. This can also apply to churches with Sunday school rooms, places where scouts meet, homeschool co-op meeting facilities, along with any class or activity your child attends.
The Role of Emergency Buckets
The concept is simply to have vital, necessary supplies all together in one place for general emergencies that might require kids to stay put for a period of time. These kits offer a sense of security, reducing stress and anxiety for both students and teachers.
Creating Your Emergency Bucket
Choosing the Right Container
For most situations, you’ll begin with an inexpensive 5-gallon bucket with a lid. Purchase one at Lowe’s or Home Depot for about five dollars. A plastic bin with a tightly fitted lid works just as well, and since this will be for classroom use, choose your container based on the amount of storage space available. These are low-cost items, but if you’re on a tight budget, spread the word that you need a bucket or a bin (with lids), and you’re sure to get free donations.
Essential Supplies
The items put in the bucket would vary some depending on your location, but overall, the thought is to prepare for several people being in the same space for several hours.
Food and Water
The first items I would choose to put in the bucket would be food and water. An entire case of water may actually not fit in the bucket, but could be stored nearby in the classroom.
I personally love mylar water pouches. The mylar is heavy-duty, so not prone to puncture or tear, and a lot of them can fit in a smaller space. Note: These are heavy if you have a lot of them! Along with these, I recommend storing a case of water and/or gallon jugs of water.
A couple boxes of sports bars or these high-calorie survival bars would help stave off hunger, and I’d recommend a small bag of candy as well, especially if there’s a diabetic student in the classroom. Be aware of food allergies, and take that into consideration when adding any foods to the Emergency Bucket.
Hygiene and Sanitation
One word of caution about food and kids, and you probably know what that is — feed them too much and that emergency toilet is going to get a lot of use. So, be sure to add a roll of toilet paper to the bucket, a non-see-through shower curtain, and be prepared to turn that bucket into a makeshift toilet if necessary. Depending on the layout of the classroom, the shower curtain could be stapled to two adjoining walls, creating a corner “bathroom”.
Having been a classroom teacher for several years, I can’t emphasize enough the need to plan for an emergency toilet!
Power Sources and Lighting
A shelter-in-place, lockdown emergency may happen during a power outage, and in that case, expect the lights to be out and, possibly, no communication from the school office.
In a worst-worst-case scenario where an active shooter is on campus, school administrators may not be able to communicate on the advice of police. Still, you’ll want to know what’s going on. Here are some smartphone emergency alerts and apps you can add to your phone.
With a cellphone, you have:
- An emergency flashlight
- A way to text via a phone texting app, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and so on
- A way to document events
- Helpful apps with first aid information, weather updates, etc.
With that in mind, add a couple of charging cords to the bucket for both Android and iPhones. For a power outage, go ahead and add a good-sized power bank to at least keep the teacher’s phone charged. Look for one that is “fast charging” and with the highest milliampere-hour (mAh) rating. The mAh rating indicates the capacity of the power bank. Higher mAh means more charge storage.
Most modern classrooms are windowless, and I can’t imagine a worse scenario than being trapped in one with 25 panicked young children, no toilet, no water, no comfort items, and totally in the dark. Maybe a couple dozen inexpensive light sticks (usually a dollar a piece) would be a good idea, too.
A crank radio is a little antiquated, but it will help keep the class informed if the emergency was due to weather. I would caution a teacher to carefully monitor any information coming in. Tornado warnings are scary enough without hysterical storm chasers giving blow-by-blow reports. You want the information, yes, but not hyped up emotion.
Customizations
Depending on where you’re located and what types of emergencies you think are most likely, your emergency bucket will be customized to those needs. Preparing for a live-shooter event, a fire, and a power outage should be included in your plans.
Items to add to the emergency bucket regardless of where you live are:
- A blanket or two — Helpful if someone goes into shock. I’m not a fan of “emergency blankets”. In this case two yards of inexpensive fleece will be a lot more comforting and warming. Store them in vacuum-sealed bags like this one, and they’ll take up a fraction of the space.
- Basic first aid kit, including supplies to treat a gunshot or stab wound (heavy bandages, Quick Clot, a tourniquet). While you’re at it, encourage your child’s school to go through StopTheBleed training, or, at least, have some of their informational materials on hand.
- Nitrile gloves — So important for keeping injuries free from any debris or bacteria.
- Face masks — One per student to protect against smoke inhalation
- Hand sanitizer
- A few heavy duty plastic bags to act as liners for the bucket toilet
- A battery powered fan with extra batteries
- A box of hand-warmers for cold weather
Your local police or sheriff’s department might have suggestions for ways to stop an intruder from entering a classroom, but a few things that might come in handy are door belts, door stoppers, lock down shades and duct tape. If the classroom door has a window, think about what you could use to make sure an intruder cannot see inside.
Finally, it may be necessary for the group of students to exit the classroom through a window, so a tool that could be used to break windows would be a handy addition, and an emergency ladder if they is more than one story to climb down.
Tips for Creating Your Classroom Emergency Bucket
- Collaborate with local businesses: Reach out to local businesses for donations of supplies or financial support.
- Partner with community organizations: Work with local organizations, such as the Red Cross or the Salvation Army, to access resources and expertise.
- Involve parents and volunteers: Encourage parents and volunteers to contribute to the emergency bucket project and help with maintenance.
- Cultural sensitivity: Consider cultural factors and sensitivities when selecting items for the emergency bucket.
Implementing Emergency Buckets in Your School
It might feel strange to bring up the subject of an emergency bucket to your child’s teacher or the principal, but it’s such a practical and simple step toward being prepared that it’s just common sense. They should be able to answer any questions about school safety, anyway. You can start by approaching your child’s teacher and see if the teacher would be willing to have an emergency supply bucket in the classroom, and if it would be allowed.
I would suggest that the topic of bathroom access start the conversation. Almost everyone can relate to a time when they needed to use the bathroom and one wasn’t nearby or accessible. If he or she agrees, donations could be sought from the other parents in the class.
However, knowing that students move around in a school during the day, it might be better to approach the school principal or school board and try to have buckets put in every room in the school. For a project of that magnitude, local businesses could be asked to donate or hold a fundraiser to buy supplies. The school PTO/PTA might be willing to help, too.
For churches, scouting groups, and homeschool co-ops, talk with the person in charge and have a written copy of your emergency bucket checklist. Include a price list, so they can see the bottom line at a glance. Do not forget about the other places your child might go that could possibly be locked down due to a threat or weather. These may include dance class, karate studio, gymnastics or indoor swim lessons.
In the event that you cannot get the teacher, school, or leader on board with the idea of emergency buckets, try getting more parents together who want them and ask again. Even if those in charge do agree, it may take a while to get the bucket together and put in place.
Make Sure Your Child is Prepared, Regardless
In the meantime, you can put together an individual kit for your child to have while you wait for approval. I have put a few items in my children’s backpacks every year to make sure they are set if they happen to be stuck at school for a while. They always take a reusable water bottle to school with them, but I put an extra plastic water bottle in their backpack along with two power or granola bars. I also include a family photo, a letter from mom and dad, a glow stick, a notebook and pencil, a small blanket for the younger ones (comfort item) and a small first aid kit. I feel better knowing they have these items and they do, too. They don’t worry as much about emergency scenarios because they know they are prepared.
Maintenance and Updates
Once the emergency buckets are in place, don’t forget about them! Keep a list of what is in the buckets and expiration dates of any food or first aid supplies. Replace those before the expiration dates. It would be good to have one person assigned to an annual check-up of the emergency buckets, and if the buckets are used during the school year, they will need to be re-stocked.
Ready-made classroom emergency buckets can be purchased on Amazon (see this one, for example), but they can be pricey. As well, they won’t be customized to the climate, potential weather events, the ages of students, or any special needs a classroom might have, but they might be a good starting point if money is easier to get than time and/or help from other parents. EmergencyKits.com has an excellent selection of pre-packaged lockdown kits in the price range of $400-500 each.
FAQ
Practice emergency drills with your child, discuss safety plans, and provide them with information about what to do during a lockdown. Also, teach them what gunfire sounds like.
If there is a school lockdown, follow the instructions of school officials and remain calm. If your child is involved in a lockdown, stay in contact with the school and be prepared to provide support.
When creating your emergency bucket, consider the specific needs of students with disabilities. Include items such as medications, specialized equipment, or sensory tools.
Related Student Preparedness Content
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Final Thoughts
School lockdowns are an unfortunate reality that no parent wants to face. By equipping your child’s classroom with an emergency bucket, you can provide a sense of security and preparedness during these unsettling events. Remember, the most effective emergency kit is one that is tailored to your specific needs and circumstances. My recommendation is to tackle this project on your own and customize it to the age of children, any special needs you know of, climate, and the most likely emergencies. Your efforts can make a significant difference in ensuring the safety and well-being of your loved ones.
Have you thought of what your child’s classroom might need in the case of a lockdown or other shelter-in-place emergency? Do you know if their classroom is equipped for such an event?
