Care Of School Children In Emergency

Northern Advocate, 28 May 1941, Page 3

Care Of School Children In Emergency

The school authorities in Whangarei are alive to the need for the organisation of effective measures for the protection of school children in the event of an emergency arising during school hours.

This is shown by a report presented to the meeting of the executive of the Emergency Precautions Scheme or ganisation at its meeting last night.

High School Arrangements

Regarding the High School, the secretary of the board wrote; “I have been directed by my board to inform you that the outline of a scheme for the evacuation of the children from the schools in an emergency, has been approved subject to alterations after trial. For your information I have to advise that all fire extinguishers at the schools and hostels are being recharged by- the P.W.D., and sand-boxes and suitable shovels are being placed throughout the schools at suitable places. “The general scheme will be submitted to your committee for its approval after trial.” Concerning schools generally, a committee of teachers has been set up and the following officers elected: Chairman, Mr. A. R. Ryder (Whangarei High School); secretary, Mr. A. O. Steventon (Whangarei Public School); liaison officer, Mr. H. H. Horner (Whangarei Public School); committee, Messrs. H. H. Horner. W. T. Teesdale, T. W. Bowman and Father Murphy.

Suggested Procedure This committee has the following recommendations to make: ' (1) That buildings should be evacuated. (2) Trenching and sandbagging buildings should not be carried out. (3) Organisation and disposal of classeg be left in the hands of individual headmasters. (4) Parents will not be allowed to assume -control of their children, and should not come to the school until the “all clear” signal has sounded. After the “all clear” signal, children should not congregate in large groups, and should not re-enter the school buildings to claim property, etc. (5) Headmasters will make every effort to ensure the safe arrival of children at their homes after “all clear.” Headmasters of schools where children use the same bus will cooperate concerning change of timetable. (6) Headmasters should confer with their committees concerning control of possible fires, incendiary bombs, etc. (fire extinguishers, supply of sand, etc.). (7) Headmasters should arrange for provision of, first-aid outfits and use of same. A first-aid post should be provided. If qualified first-aid workers are not available on the staff, outside help should be arranged for. (8) All teachers, other than territorials, should be available in their respective schools for above E.P.S. duties and the E.P.S. organisation take steps for the release of any teacher at present serving with the Home Guard.