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CISH Emergency Procedures

Emergency Preparedness

Procedures are in place for foreseeable emergencies that may affect the safety of students at CISH.  The school will be closed should there be an emergency that makes it unsafe to travel to school.  School buildings will be evacuated should there be a fire or other emergency which causes it to be unsafe to remain inside.  Additional procedures have been established to “lock-down” the campus in the event of an intruder or other outside dangers.

 

Every student should be aware of these procedures and carefully follow their teacher’s instructions should an emergency occur.

 

Note:  Each academic year has at least 180 planned school days for students.  If school should close due to emergency, teachers will provide lesson material electronically via Toddle, ManageBac or e-mail.  School days will not be made up if school is closed for less than five days per year due to emergency.  If school must be closed for more than five days in any given academic year, then additional school days may be added to the calendar.

 

Storm Day Procedures

During winter, Hefei may experience snow or ice storms. In the case of an extreme weather event that makes it unsafe to travel, school will be closed and all parents will be contacted about the Storm Day via Toddle or ManageBac and in the parent WeChat channels, if possible. Please make sure your contact information on Toddle or ManageBac is up-to-date.

 

Students who arrive at school on a Storm Day can stay in the classrooms with our teachers until transportation home is arranged.

 

Please never allow your child to go to the bus alone in bad weather since buses may be re-routed and not on time.

 


Inclement Weather Guidelines


Teachers and coaches will take immediate action to get students to a safe and sheltered area if inclement weather strikes while students are outdoors.  When possible, predictions of inclement weather will be acted upon to cancel activities in advance.

 


Lightning Safety


Flash-to Bang-Method: The National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) recommend the use of the flash to bang ratio to help determine when cover should be taken when no lightning detector is available. This method requires no equipment and is an easy way to determine the distance from the last lightning strike. To use the flash-to-bang method, begin counting on the lightning flash, and stop counting when the associated thunder is heard. Divide this number (in seconds) by 5 to determine the distance (in miles) to the lightning flash. 


For example, if the time in seconds between the lightning being spotted and the thunder being heard is equal to 30, divide that by 5, and you get 6 (30/5=6). Therefore, that lightning flash was approximately 6 miles away from the observer. The rule of thumb used for safety is a 6 mile/9.6km distance. Thus, seeking shelter is recommended if lightning is 6 miles/9.6 km away or less.

 

Actions to take for lightning strikes during an outdoor activity:

  • Students should be instructed to report lightning to their coach/supervisor immediately if they see it.

  • If the risk (as described above) is high, immediate suspension of outdoor activities should occur.  Do not collect equipment.

  • Shelter should be sought in a fully enclosed building when possible.  If suitable safe shelter is not available, then avoid trees, light poles, etc.

  • Wait a minimum of 30 minutes from the last observed lightning or thunder before resuming activities.


If a person is struck by lightning, administer first aid or CPR immediately, if you are qualified, and call for emergency help.

 


Heat, Cold and Poor Air Quality

Outdoor activities will be modified or postponed when temperatures or the air quality index (AQI) are above or below normal safe limits.  Principals will post a message to their teams to let them know when the temperature is extreme or AQI is high and activities need to be altered. If the temperature is above 35 degrees or below –3 degrees, students will be kept indoors.  When the AQI is at 175 (150 for EYs) or above, students are not allowed out for recess, outside play, physical education classes or for sporting events. When the AQI is at 150+, windows and outside doors must be closed.   The official site used for checking air quality is: https://aqicn.org/city/china/hefei/gaoxinqu/

 


Emergency Evacuation Procedures

In the event of an emergency that requires evacuation, such as a fire, an alarm will sound with a repeating announcement requesting that everyone evacuate the building.

Upon hearing the alarm, students should:

  • Quickly fall in line and prepare to exit.

  • Exit the building in a calm, quiet, and orderly manner.  Wherever students are in the building, they are to go out of the closest exit.  Evacuation route maps have been posted on the door of every classroom in the building. If the closest exit is blocked, students should move to a different exit.  Green lighted signs in the hallways indicate where all exits are located.

  • It is important for everyone to stay calm during an emergency, as this protects everyone.

  • Once outside of the building, students need to walk in a calm, quiet, orderly fashion to the Muster Station (outside staff apartments for the main building or the SCCSH track for EY). 

  • Note: Students should not try to find their homeroom teacher in the building.  They should exit with the teacher conducting the lesson at the time.  They should locate their homeroom teacher in the designated line at the muster station. 

  • Once students and staff arrive at the muster station, they need to line up at their designated homeroom location, regardless of what class they were in at the time.  Attendance will be taken at the Muster Station according to homeroom.

  • Students should remain silent and cooperate with all instructions given at the muster station until the “all-clear” is given.

  • School leaders will take action if any student is missing.

  • Note:  For students who have crutches or are in wheelchairs, we will allow them to take the elevator during a drill.  During a real emergency, any adults in the area will assist these students, helping to carry them if necessary.

 

Earthquake

The procedures for an Earthquake are identical to that of a Fire Evacuation apart from the following:

  • Everyone should "duck and cover" with their hands/arms protecting their head under a table, desk or chair, if possible, for the duration of the shaking.  (During the drill - we will pretend that the shaking lasts for 1 minute.) 

  • After the shaking stops, everyone should wait for 10 seconds, check to see that the area is clear, and then evacuate following the procedures described above. 

The alarm will sound different from a fire alarm and will say “earthquake” in English and Mandarin.  The alarm will sound until the “all-clear” is given at the Muster Station.

 

Campus Lock-Down Procedures

Lock-down will be called for in the event of an intruder on campus, nearby protests/demonstrations, or extreme natural disasters such as typhoons.  Anyone who notices an intruder on campus, or any other reason for the school to go into lock-down, should notify the Security Guards immediately, who will be the ones to activate the alarm.  You may also notify the Administrative Office, the EY Reception Desk or the Head of School.


The procedures for securing students during lock-down are not made public in order to ensure the safety of students. If a parent would like to know the procedures, they may meet with the Head of School.

 

Following any drill, the Head of School will keep a log of the event which includes the time that everyone was out of the building and accounted for. Feedback will be gathered from all staff members with the goal of improving future evacuation drills.  This feedback will be recorded in the log.