School safety drills are a chance for staff to practice safety protocols and familiarize themselves with emergency response technology in a safe, controlled environment. Hands-on experience is crucial for building confidence, finding knowledge and safety gaps, and improving training and safety response.
That’s why it’s vital to build the right tools and technology into your safety drill management plans and incorporate them at every phase of every drill.
When to Implement Technology During School Safety Drills
School safety drills are not single events. They’re part of an ongoing cycle that includes preparation, execution, and follow-through. K-12 schools that run the most successful drills think in terms of a drill lifecycle, made up of three distinct phases.
- Pre-drill. This is the planning phase; it’s an opportunity to set goals, train, and prepare, setting staff up for success before the drill ever happens.
- Drill event. This is the execution phase, where staff get that vital hands-on experience. It’s also an opportunity to observe and collect data for the next phase.
- Post-drill. This is the learning phase. It’s time to debrief, review, and document what to improve for the next drill or real scenario.
Looking at drill management from this lifecycle perspective can help schools use their tools and technology more effectively, instead of relying on clipboards and cell phones.
8 Physical Tools and Gear for Effective Safety Drills
Emotionally safe, “no drama” school drills aim to be as realistic as possible without introducing fear or trauma. Instead of creating high intensity, hyper realistic scenarios, focus on practicing with the tools and software your school would use in a real emergency. “Pull out all of your toys, use your technology, use it full throttle,” says Katelyn Warnock, Vice President of Professional Services at Raptor Technologies. “This is your opportunity to play with those things and make sure you’re comfortable using them.”
Depending on the kind of drill you’re running, there are a variety of physical tools and equipment needed to create a realistic scenario and practice response protocol.
1. Clipboards With Paper and Pens
Staff should have an easy way to document observations, accountability statuses, and unexpected issues during the drill. If you have a digital drill management system that supports notes and observations, that may be preferred, but sometimes it’s faster during a high-intensity drill to quickly jot down a note then transcribe it later.
2. Door Keys or Access Cards
Lockdown release during real incidents is typically door-to-door. Staff need to practice this exact process, so make sure that appropriate door keys and access cards are available for admin and law enforcement participating in the drill with a clear process in place for how to retrieve those keys.
3. Evacuation Route Maps and Assembly Area Signage
Having accurate, up-to-date, and clearly visible maps and signage reduces confusion and guides staff and students during school evacuations. During safety drills that involve evacuation procedures, like a fire drill or earthquake drill, take the opportunity to evaluate your signage and maps.
- Are they out of date?
- Are they obscured behind something?
- Are they easy to read?
4. High-Visibility Vests
High-vis vests are often used during drills and real emergencies to identify key leaders, responders, and team members, reducing confusion and improving outcomes.
It’s important for staff to wear vests during a drill to help ensure that they are easily accessible and that there are enough vests for everyone who needs one.
5. Megaphone or Whistle
During drills and scenarios that take place outdoors where the PA system might be ineffective, it’s important to be able to communicate clearly and loudly. Take the opportunity to check that the gear works, the batteries are charged, and that it’s easily accessible.
6. Printed Class Rosters and Attendance Sheets
While not as down-to-the-minute accurate as a regularly updated digital roster, paper attendance sheets and rosters provide a reliable backup for accountability if systems are unavailable. Have staff practice the “take attendance and note the time” protocol necessary in any drill or real scenario where reunification is required (e.g., fire drill, lockdown drill, etc.).
7. Reunification Kit
Reunification drills require the largest and most specialized set of physical resources, which should be kept together in a reunification kit, sometimes called a go kit or bag, rock box, or trailer, depending on your district.
An effective reunification kit typically includes
- Reunification cards: Matches students with authorized adults and documents the process.
- Clipboards and forms: Supports documentation at each reunification station.
- High-visibility vests: Identifies staff roles (e.g., student runner, verifier, gatekeeper).
- Signage: Directs guardians through the process and reduces confusion under stress.
- Caution tape or cones: Establishes controlled movement paths and secure areas.
- Water and basic sustenance supplies: Supports staff, students, and families during extended reunification events.
8. Walkie-Talkies (or Two-Way Radios)
Walkie-talkies enable real-time coordination among administrators, safety teams, and observers without relying on PA systems or cell reception.
During a drill, check that all radios are in working condition and have fully charged batteries. It’s also a good opportunity to remind staff which radio channels to use.
10 Essential Technological Tools and Software for School Safety Drills
Unlike physical gear, which is typically used only during the actual drill, technology tools and software should be incorporated into every phase of school safety drills, from planning to debriefing.
1. Drill Management Software
During the planning phase of a safety drill, drill management software helps schools define and track
- the type of drill being conducted (fire, lockdown, evacuation, reunification)
- the scope of the drill and which parts of the response are being tested
- who is participating in the drill and what roles they play
- what “success” looks like for this specific drill
During an active drill, drill management software is helpful for recording observations and referencing compliance and learning goals. The ideal drill management software, like Raptor’s Drill Manager, also integrates with other systems, like emergency management software and school event safety software, allowing you to run drills with all the same systems and integrations you would use in an active scenario.
Drill management systems also support compliance requirements by tracking when drills are due and documenting each phase to completion.
After a school safety drill, after-action reviews and reports can be created within the drill management software, using the observations and data recorded during the drill. After-action reviews improve school readiness by documenting lessons learned, centralizing feedback, and clarifying corrective actions and improvements for future drills.
When to implement
- Phases: Before, during, and after the drill
- Which drills: All drill types
2. 911 Connectivity Software
The ability to connect quickly and securely with a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) is one of the key factors to consider when choosing an emergency response system. Direct 911 connectivity routes alerts to local emergency services with enriched incident and location data.
During drills that involve law enforcement, testing your 911 connectivity with software like Raptor Alert is key to practicing how staff will respond in an actual event and identifying any gaps in your response routing. This is why it’s important to coordinate with law enforcement and first responders during the planning phase, so they can adequately respond and participate with your school.
When to implement
- Phases: Before and during the drill
- Which drills: Any drills involving a 911 response
3. Wearable Panic Alert Badges
Wearable panic badges allow staff to trigger immediate emergency alerts without reaching for a phone or mountain panic button. Schools that use Raptor Badge Alert receive training for staff, so they know how to use their badges to the school’s specific alert responses. Panic alert training reinforces immediate response habits that become muscle memory in a real crisis.
When to implement
- Phase: During the drill
- Which drills: Lockdown drills, active threat drills, staff safety scenarios
4. Digital Signage Systems
Digital signage systems display emergency messages in hallways, cafeterias, and common areas on campus. During a drill these signs deliver clear, non-tactical guidance to anyone outside of a classroom, reinforcing protocol.
As with classroom displays, safety drills are a good time to check that all digital signage is working correctly and that the instructions displayed are clear and easy to follow.
When to implement
- Phase: During the drill
- Which drills: Evacuation drills, reunification drills, other campus-wide drills
5. Classroom Display Panels or Smart Boards
Classroom display panels can be programed to show visual alerts or instructions during drills and active scenarios, integrating with your general emergency communications. These tools reinforce audio announcements and support individuals with accessibility needs when audio alerts are insufficient.
Use the safety drill as an opportunity to verify that all screens are connected to the system and displaying alerts and instructions properly.
When to implement
- Phase: During the drill
- Which drills: Lockdown drills, evacuation drills, reunification drills
6. Mapping and Location-Awareness Software
Mapping tools show the location of an alert, responders, or affected areas within a school campus. During drills, these systems help teams practice situational awareness and coordinated response.
It’s also an opportunity to verify that map data is up to date and integrating properly with other tech, like panic badges, 911 connectivity, etc.
When to implement
- Phase: During the drill
- Which drills: Lockdown drills, active threat scenarios
7. Accountability Software
Accountability is critical for any scenario where reunification occurs. Accountability software acts as a digital roll call, allowing teachers and staff to mark students and adults as present, missing, or safe in real time. Practice using accountability software during drills to familiarize staff with the interface and identify any gaps.
When to implement
- Phase: During the drill
- Which drills: Lockdown drills, evacuation drills, reunification drills
8. Reunification Management Software
Reunification software supports the controlled release of students to authorized caregivers. K-12 parent-student reunification carries inherent security risk and is often logistically complex and emotionally intense. It’s vital that staff practice using reunification software in a controlled, lower-stakes environment like a safety drill.
When to implement
- Phase: During the drill
- Which drills: Reunification drills, post-evacuation scenarios
9. Safety and Compliance Training
While safety drills are an opportunity to practice and learn, they still assume baseline knowledge on the part of your staff. “We don’t want these drills to feel like a pop quiz,” says Pat Hamilton, Alliance Director at the “I Love U Guys” Foundation, encouraging administrators to set their staff up for success with pre-drill training.
Whether you’re running a fire drill or a reunification drill, having a centralized safety and compliance training system that prepares staff for what they’ll be expected to know during the drill is vital. Training establishes shared language, sets expectations, and reduces anxiety.
Pre-drill training can be as simple as an hour-long course they need to take, or it can be its own program. For example, Raptor offers the Together Reunification Exercise (T-REx) in collaboration with the “I Love U Guys” Foundation, as two-day exercise to help familiarize schools with how to run the Standard Reunification Method using the Raptor Reunification Software.
When to implement
- Phase: Before the drill
- Which drills: All drill types
10. School Communication App or Channel
Clear, proactive communication is particularly important for drills that involve students. “Always give your parents some notification ahead of time, at least a day or two before, to tell them, ‘We’re going to have this drill,’” says Hamilton.
It’s also recommended to include talking points in that notification to help facilitate the conversations they may have when their children come home from school. For example, in the case of a lockdown drill, it’s important that parents can explain why we have these drills using emotionally safe, age-appropriate language. Providing talking points helps both reinforce lessons learned during the drill and soothe anxiety.
With these needs in mind, a school communication app like Raptor Alert becomes a critical tool for planning and executing safety drills so that schools can provide updates and talking points to parents.
When to implement
- Phases: Before and during the drill
- Which drills: Lockdown drills, evacuation drills, hold drills
Continuous Improvement Through Technology and Practice
School staff need access to many tools and tech to practice with during even a simple, run-of-the-mill fire drill, so administrators are encouraged to brief staff prior to the drill. “This is the first time [some] people have used that technology,” says Katelyn Warnock. “Sometimes that has a little bit of a negative connotation, and we quickly try to pivot that to say, ‘No, this is exactly why we are here.’”
If staff find a certain process or tool unfamiliar or difficult to use during a drill, that’s not a failure. It’s valuable feedback on how intuitive a tool is, which can inform future drills and training. That feedback loop is incredibly important for continuous improvement and better emergency preparedness.
Truly effective drills benefit from safety management systems that work together across the entire drill lifecycle, from preparation to execution to debriefing. This synchronized approach provides opportunities to stress test tools and systems, practice realistic scenarios, and create that necessary feedback loop. Raptor Drill Manager helps schools bring together the critical tools, software, and planning required to prepare for real-world scenarios.
See how Raptor Drill Manager can help your schools run more successful safety drills.
Related Resource
Discover how Roanoke County Public Schools improved drill accountability with Raptor in this case study.
