Once a lockdown begins and a room is secured, the door should remain closed until the lockdown has been officially ended or staff receive verified direction from authorized personnel.

Knocking, voices in the hallway, or someone calling a staff member by name can create pressure to open the door. During a lockdown, staff should follow the school’s established procedure rather than relying on assumptions about who may be outside.

Opening a secured door too early can expose everyone inside the room.

Once the door is secured, keep it secured until the all clear is verified.

What should you do if someone knocks on the door during a lockdown?

Suggested response:

Do not automatically open the door.

Staff should:

• Keep the door secured
• Maintain silence
• Follow the school’s lockdown procedure
• Wait for the established all clear or verified direction
• Avoid relying only on a familiar voice or appearance

The school’s procedure should determine when the door is opened, not the person standing outside it.

Pay particular attention to:

• Staff uncertainty about when a lockdown officially ends
• Confusion about how the all clear is communicated
• Doors that cannot be secured properly
• Staff relying on knocking or verbal requests as verification
• Students who may instinctively move toward the door
• Emergency instructions that are outdated or unclear
• Substitute staff who may not know the all clear procedure

Everyone should understand how the lockdown ends before one ever begins.

ake a few minutes this week to review exactly how your school communicates and verifies the end of a lockdown.

Ask yourself:

• What does the official all clear sound or look like?
• Who is authorized to give it?
• Would I recognize it immediately?
• What would I do if someone knocked before the all clear?
• Would a substitute know the same procedure?

A secured door should remain secured until the all clear is verified.