To ensure the safety and well-being of all students, staff, and visitors in the event of an emergency or critical incident, this policy outlines the procedures to be followed during emergencies.

The greatest mistake staff make in crisis situations come from not knowing what steps to take, and in what order to implement them. Planning, training and drills will help prevent mistakes. This document provides specific sequential steps to take and how to access emergency resources when needed. These actions are guidelines to inform personnel of the most likely steps that will need to be taken. It is critical that personnel be trained to evaluate rapidly the circumstances of an actual event and determine the most appropriate course of action. Some common incidents have been addressed below to help in an emergency.

• For effective handling an Emergency Response Team must be organized before an emergency occurs. All staff members must be properly trained in order to prepare effectively for maximum safety, efficiency, and communication in the event of an emergency. The emergency response team will comprise of the building principals, building managers, and school director.

• Students and parents must also understand that contingency preparation and procedures are necessary and are conducted for their safety and well-being. Planning, preparation, and training will help staff personnel learn the proper course of action in an emergency. This manual will provide guidelines to help deal with emergencies that may occur. This manual cannot foresee all possible circumstances of an emergency. Staff must be prepared to evaluate all the circumstances and make sound judgments based on the situation.

• This plan shall be reviewed annually by the Emergency Response Team and updated to maintain current procedures.

• Drills will be conducted periodically to test the effectiveness of the plan. A debriefing shall be conducted after each drill to receive feedback from all participants on the effectiveness of the plan. Identified weaknesses will be addressed to strengthen the plan.

• Each classroom will be supplied with a Classroom Emergency Response Guide that provides instructions on how to respond to specific events as determined by the site Emergency Response Team.

When an emergency condition exists, the Administrator in Charge (or designee) will notify the necessary personnel to respond to their area of assignment. Notifications will be given in plain language. Code words shall not be used. Internal communication will occur using Viber. School administration will use its established communication systems (e.g., text messages, email, phone calls) to notify parents and guardians of emergencies as soon as it is safe to do so.

Evacuation is the orderly exit of all students, faculty, staff, and visitors from the affected building(s) or facility. This is isolated to the campus under threat and may not be executed at all three campuses unless necessary. It is activated by a steady bell ringing in the hallways with a verbal statement and Viber statement.

In the event of an evacuation, the following shall be executed:

• During an evacuation, all students, and staff will leave the building according to the evacuation map in their area.

• Close all windows.

• Turn off lights, electrical equipment, gas, water faucets, air conditioning, and heating system.

• Close all doors upon leaving, DO NOT LOCK.

• Teachers will take their emergency packet before leaving the building, which includes a student roster.

• Designated school staff will conduct a sweep of each floor in each building checking bathrooms and empty rooms. These will be assigned by the building administrator.

• Attendance must be taken immediately upon reaching the muster point by the classroom teacher. If the evacuation order is given during school break, students will orderly evacuate the building congregating in their assigned spots in the muster area.

• Non-faculty and visitors will congregate in the muster point in the staff section.

• Administrative Assistants will take a folder with all class rosters.

• Medical staff will take an emergency first aid kit (wheel chair) to the muster point in case of medical emergencies.

• Drivers will transport all available school vehicles to outside the gates of the campus under threat in case it is necessary to move students and staff to a different location.

• If the cause of the emergency is not known, school administration will try to determine the nature of the emergency, without putting anyone in danger, in order to decide on the next course of action.

The Shelter-in-Place protocol is designed to protect students, staff, and visitors by keeping them indoors during an emergency where leaving the building may pose a greater risk than staying inside. This protocol will be used in situations such as severe weather, environmental hazards, civil unrest, or nearby external threats.

The decision to initiate Shelter-in-Place will be made by the school administration or local emergency authorities based on the nature of the emergency and communicated to faculty and staff by a paused bell ringing in the hallways with a verbal statement and Viber message.

Sample Message “Attention: Due to [emergency situation], we are initiating Shelter-in-Place procedures. Please remain in your classrooms or move to the nearest safe area. Ensure all doors and windows are closed. Stay away from windows. More information will follow shortly.”

• Individuals in restrooms or other isolated areas should move to their regular class.

• Any visitors inside the building at the time of the emergency will be directed by staff to the nearest safe area. They must comply with all Shelter-in-Place procedures until the “all-clear” signal is given.

• Individuals will remain in the designated shelter areas until notified by the administration or emergency personnel that the situation has been resolved and it is safe to resume normal activities.

• School gates will be locked with no one coming or going except emergency responders until all-clear is declared.

The Lockdown Protocol is designed to protect students, staff, and visitors from potential threats inside or near the school. Lockdown procedures are implemented when there is an immediate or imminent threat to the safety and security of individuals on school premises, such as an intruder, active shooter, or other dangers. When one campus initiates lockdown protocol, the other two campuses will initiate shelter in place protocols.

A lockdown will be initiated by the school administration in response to an imminent threat. An announcement will be made by a paused bell ringing in the hallways with a verbal statement and Viber message signaling the start of the lockdown.

Sample announcement: “Attention: We are initiating a lockdown. Lock your doors, turn off lights, and remain silent. Stay away from windows. More information will follow shortly.”

• Teachers and staff must immediately lock all doors to classrooms or offices after checking the hallway for individuals and bringing them into their room. Ensure that the door cannot be opened from the outside.

• Lights should be turned off to make the room appear unoccupied from the outside.

• Students and staff must move away from doors and windows, taking shelter in a part of the room that is not visible from hallways or outside.

• All individuals must remain silent and avoid making noise that could attract attention.

• Unless communicating with emergency services, cell phones should not be used to avoid alerting intruders to your location. However, teachers should ensure that they can receive emergency communications. Under no circumstances should students be using cell phones.

• If possible, cover any windows in doors to prevent an intruder from seeing inside the room.

• Individuals in hallways, cafeterias, gymnasiums, or other common areas should move to the nearest classroom or secure location immediately and follow lockdown procedures.

• Students and staff who are outside when a lockdown is initiated should proceed to a pre-designated safe location or follow instructions from staff.

• Individuals in restrooms or other isolated areas should remain in place, lock doors if possible, and remain silent. If it is safe, they may move to a nearby classroom or secure area.

• Visitors on campus will be directed by staff to follow lockdown procedures. They must remain in place until the “all-clear” signal is given.

• Faculty will send a list of missing students and/or extra students to their building administrator via Viber.

• School gates will be locked with no one coming or going except emergency responders until all-clear is declared.

The earthquake protocol is to ensure the safety of students, staff, and visitors by providing clear guidelines for actions to be taken during and after the event.

An earthquake is a sudden and violent shaking of the ground as a result of movements within the earth’s crust or volcanic activity.

Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes that follow the main event, potentially causing further damage. Myanmar is at moderate to very high risk for earthquakes.

As soon as shaking begins, the following steps must be followed:

Classroom Procedures

• Teachers should instruct students to immediately “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” under desks or tables, keeping away from windows, shelves, and heavy objects.

• If there is no furniture to get under, students and staff should crouch against an interior wall and cover their head and neck with their arms.

• Remain in place until the shaking stops and it is safe to evacuate.

Hallway or Common Area Procedures

• Move away from doors, windows, and heavy objects.

• Crouch down, cover your head and neck, and hold onto any stable objects if available.

• If in a gymnasium or large open space, move to an interior wall away from windows and drop, cover, and hold on.

Outdoor Areas

• Move to an open space away from buildings, power lines, trees, and other hazards.

• Drop to the ground and cover your head and neck with your arms.

• Remain in place until the shaking stops.

Restrooms and Isolated Areas

• If inside a restroom, move against an interior wall, drop to the ground, cover your head and neck, and hold on.

Post Earthquake

• After the shaking has stopped, the school administration will initiate the evacuation if deemed safe to do so according to the evacuation protocols (see above).

• Teachers will check for injuries before preparing students for evacuation. Injured individuals who cannot move should remain in place, and help will be sent. If possible, a staff member will stay with the injured individual.

• Evacuate the building in an orderly manner using predetermined evacuation routes. Do not use elevators.

• Assemble at the muster point, away from buildings, power lines, and other potential hazards.

• Aftershocks may follow the initial earthquake. If an aftershock occurs, repeat the “Drop, Cover, and Hold”.

This protocol provides a clear procedure for staff members to follow if they receive a bomb threat via phone. The objective is to gather as much information as possible while ensuring the safety of students, staff, and visitors.

Remain Calm and Professional

• Stay calm and do not panic. Keeping a clear head will help you gather critical information.

• Listen carefully to the caller and do not interrupt.

Keep the Caller on the Line

• Try to prolong the conversation as much as possible to gather detailed information.

• If possible, signal another staff member to notify the school administration or law enforcement immediately.

Ask Key Questions

Use the following questions to gather crucial information from the caller. If possible, write down the responses word-for-word:

• When is the bomb going to explode?

• Where is the bomb located? (Building, floor, room, etc.)

• What does the bomb look like?

• What kind of bomb is it?

• Why did you place the bomb?

• Who are you? (Try to keep the caller talking without being confrontational.)

Document the Caller’s Responses

• Write down every detail from the conversation, including the caller’s exact words, tone of voice, and any background noises you hear.

• Pay attention to specific details, such as:

• Voice characteristics (male/female, young/old, accent, speech patterns)

• Background sounds (traffic, machinery, people talking)

• Emotional state (calm, angry, nervous)

Observe Caller ID

• If your phone has caller ID, note down the number and any other identifying information about the caller.

Keep the Line Open

• After the caller hangs up, do not hang up the phone if possible. Keeping the line open may assist law enforcement in tracing the call.

Notify School Administration and Authorities

• Immediately alert school administration who will take further action.

• The administration will contact law enforcement

Evacuation Decision

• School administration, in consultation with law enforcement, will decide whether an evacuation is necessary based on the details of the threat.

• If an evacuation is ordered, follow the school’s evacuation protocol (stated above) to safely and calmly escort students and staff to a designated safe area.

• Only trained professionals or law enforcement should conduct searches for suspicious devices. Do not attempt to locate the bomb or tamper with any suspicious objects.

The safety and well-being of faculty members are of paramount importance, especially in the context of ISM, where diverse cultural, political, and social dynamics can create unique challenges. During periods of civil unrest or political instability, our obligation is to protect staff.

This section provides guidelines designed to ensure the safety of faculty members during civil unrest. These protocols emphasize clear communication, crisis management, and precautionary measures to safeguard the ISM faculty and staff.

The Shelter-in-Place protocol is designed to protect staff at the school residences due to environmental hazards, civil unrest, or nearby external threats.

The decision to initiate Shelter-in-Place will be made by the school administration or local emergency authorities based on the nature of the emergency and communicated to faculty using the Emergency phone tree and may not affect both residences. The message will be conveyed that it is recommended that staff stay in the residence with the reason for the action. Staff can make their own decision on whether or not they will follow this advice. If it is for multiple days, ISM will make every effort to have supplies delivered to the apartments using school transport or other methods.

Evacuation Decision and Communication Protocol

The decision to evacuate staff members will be based on several critical factors, including:

• Government Advisories: Official recommendations from the host country’s government or home country embassies advising evacuation due to escalating civil unrest.

• Security Assessments: Input from local authorities, international organizations, and private security services regarding the safety situation.

• School Administration Evaluation: A comprehensive evaluation by school administration in consultation with local embassy officials or consular services to assess the overall threat to staff safety.

Upon reaching a decision, the Emergency Communication Plan will be activated. This includes utilizing the emergency phone tree to ensure all staff are promptly informed.

Any staff members who are not reached during the initial round of calls will continue to be contacted through alternative methods until communication is confirmed.

Staff Preparedness and Personal Emergency Kits

All staff members should maintain a personal emergency kit containing the following essential items:

• Important documents: Passport, visa, work permits, and copies of these documents.

• Emergency contact information: Up-to-date contact details for family members, embassies, and school administration.

• Cash: It is strongly recommended that overseas staff maintain at least $2,000 USD in cash for emergency use.

• Medications: Any essential prescription medications or medical supplies.

Additionally, all staff must register with their home country’s embassy or consulate upon arrival in Myanmar to facilitate support and evacuation if necessary.