Yesterday, 12-09-09 there was a fire alarm at my daughter's middle school,

Alarm sounded at 1:30 pm. Understandably they evacuated the school without the students being able to grab their jackets. According to a voice mail from the school the fire department arrived 20 minutes later at 1:50. School was cleared to resume at 2:15.

For 45 minutes the students were in extreme freezing temperatures, no buses or other measures were taken to protect children from the elements.

There are 2 fire departments within 1/2 mile of the school - yet it took 20 minutes for them to arrive?

There is an elementary school within visual and walking distance from the evacuated school. The elementary school is within the same school district.

The ultimate cause of the alarm was a water pipe break. If the temperatures are extreme enough to cause a pipe break why couldn't they protect the kids by walking them to another school?

If I allowed my children to play outside without jackets for 45 minutes in the weather social services would have been called.

The above was what I sent to one of the news channels here. The temp in Denver was in single digits all day with wind chill going to -32.

I understand not allowing to get coats but not to move the kids, supply blankets, nothing!! I am angry. What you guys have done?

I totally agree with you.

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Most schools have a plan to move students to a safe place. I would call the principal to find out where it is and why it was not done. I teach in a Catholic school so it was a situation like you mentioned we would go to the church. But if the church was not safe we would go to the public elementary school behind the school. We could even go to the public high school across the street from us (but it is across a busy 6 lane street). The public schools can come to us in an emergency. It happened once in my 22 years that we went to the elementary school.

Ridiculous! I'd be angry too.

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I work in a preschool. Our emergency plan goes something like this....

When we hear the fire alarm, we get to the outside playground. It is across the parking lot and fenced in. The administrater of our school would then go through the building, call fire dept, whatever needed to be done. Once we are outside for more than 5-10 minutes, we would get the kids to our safe place, which is an elementary school a block away. We would stay there until it is either safe to return, or until we can safely get the children and their parents reunited. In our plyground area, we have a shed that houses a pretty big emergency kit. It has water, snacks, flashlights & batteries, and emergency blankets. We would take this kit with us to the elemntary school or use on the playground if necessary.

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Nah, I wouldn't be mad. Kindergartners, maybe... middle schoolers, not at all.

I *would* think, "That was a bad plan," and would call the office and say, "Hi, I just wanted to let someone know that I think it would be a good idea to make sure kids have a warm place to wait out the situation when an alarm goes off. My understanding is that the kids were out in the cold for about 45 minutes, and if that's correct, I think that's too long in such frigid temps. Is this the official school plan? If it is, I really think it should be re-visited."

Sometimes you just roll with it. Heads don't need to roll every single time something isn't done perfectly. I assume all the kids are warm by now and it didn't kill anybody.

Don't get me wrong - I certainly don't think it was *good* that it happened. I just wouldn't be *angry*.

Do you have your facts from a reliable source, or just from your child? I know my children's perception of time - even my two high schooler's - is often way, way off. What felt like 45 minutes might have been 20... kwim?

what she said!

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I'd be angry. Maybe no one was injured this time, but at extreme freezing temperatures and no warm clothing, frostbite is very possible. I wouldn't have called the new channels though. I'd call the superintendent and tell them my concerns. I'd expect to hear what the plan is for the next time it happens and if there is no plan, insist one be devised. I would be calm, but I would make it clear that I expect a change.

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Good advice! That really is too long to be outside if they were out that long.

The length of time they were outside, the time the alarm sounded and when the fire department arrived were left in a voice mail left at our home from the principal. I asked my daughter what happened, she was off on the time frame since it seemed like hours, but I am holding more value on the school's time line.

45 minutes in sub-zero wind chill without jackets? I wonder how the teachers were able to tolerate it. That's just unbearable (...or did the teachers have theirs' because they keep their jackets on the back of their chairs?) I would definitely be upset, that's just plain dangerous.



Ditto

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Same Yup!!!
I' m angry tooooo..

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Wonderbra

I would be upset too. Sounds like they were unprepared for an emergency situation. I guess you can be glad it was not something more serious. Calling the principal and complaining is in order. He will have to work a little harder on his emergency evacuation plan, and if he is unable to do it correctly perhaps the school board can help him. My guess is the teachers had their jackets!
I guess if it would have been a fast spreading fire you could have been thankful he got the kids out as quickly as he did, and you would not have been too worried that they were cold.
Voicing your displeasure is certainly in line!!

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Maybe, maybe not. We had a fire alarm go off this week and while it was not as cold as this, it was mighty cold for New Orleans and none of us, even teachers had jackets. You really just grab kids and go...never even thought of grabbing a jacket. I had a horrible ear ache all week from the cold wind, luckily none of my kids did.

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John Lennon

I'd be upset about this too. 45 minutes in winter temperatures is a very long time. However, I don't think I'd alert the TV news without talking to the principal or superintendent first and allowing them a chance to responsd and explain.

I know my teenagers (boys) could be a real PITA about wearing jackets and sweaters, etc at the middle and high school age. And don't even get me started on the attire that some of the girls wear that would really be chilly without a jacket! This event could be a good education for some of them on how to dress for the weather.

cj/

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