This Week’s SafeSchools Minute

Medical Emergencies in the Classroom

Part of the Guided Weekly School Safety Program

How to Use This Week’s Reminder

Share this week's SafeSchools Minute with your staff through your school's usual communication channels.

Use the Ready-to-Send Email below to quickly copy and paste a message into your email, then attach the Reminder PDF before sending.

Each reminder takes about one minute to read and reinforces an important everyday school safety habit.

Included with this Reminder

📄Download Reminder PDF

  • Subject: This Week’s Safety Reminder: Keeping Emergency Equipment Accessible

    Staff,

    This week’s SafeSchools Minute™ focuses on Keeping Emergency Equipment Accessible.

    AEDs, fire extinguishers, first aid supplies, emergency bags, and other response equipment need to be easy to locate and reach immediately.

    Over time, boxes, furniture, decorations, carts, or stored materials can unintentionally block access or make equipment harder to see.

    This week, take a moment to identify the emergency equipment closest to your regular work area and make sure the path to it is completely clear.

    If you notice equipment that is blocked, moved, damaged, or difficult to access, please report it through our established process.

    Please take one minute to review the attached reminder.

    Emergency equipment should be ready before the emergency begins.

    Thank you for helping keep our emergency resources visible, accessible, and ready for use.

  • Emergency equipment is only useful if staff can reach it quickly.

    AEDs, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, emergency bags, radios, and other response equipment should remain visible, accessible, and free from clutter.

    Over time, boxes, furniture, decorations, carts, or stored materials can unintentionally block access. Even a short delay can matter during an emergency.

    Staff should know where the nearest emergency equipment is located and report anything that prevents quick access.

  • What emergency equipment is closest to your classroom or work area, and could you reach it immediately?

    Suggested response:

    Consider:

    • AEDs
    • Fire extinguishers
    • First aid supplies
    • Emergency bags or kits
    • Radios or communication devices
    • Evacuation equipment

    Staff should also know who to notify if equipment is missing, blocked, damaged, or inaccessible.

  • Pay particular attention to:

    • Boxes or furniture blocking emergency equipment
    • Decorations covering signs or equipment locations
    • Carts or stored materials narrowing access
    • AEDs or extinguishers that are difficult to see
    • Emergency bags that have been moved
    • Equipment that appears damaged or incomplete
    • Staff who are unsure where the nearest equipment is located

    Emergency equipment should be easy to find and easy to reach.

  • Take one minute this week to locate the emergency equipment closest to your regular work area.

    Ask yourself:

    • Can I reach it quickly?
    • Is the path completely clear?
    • Is the equipment easy to identify?
    • Has anything been placed in front of it?
    • Would a substitute or new staff member be able to find it?

    If something is blocked, moved, or damaged, report it through the appropriate school process.

    Emergency equipment should be ready before the emergency begins.

Back to dashboard