Best Practices for School Emergency Management
Successful response—and the number of lives saved—depends on two critical factors: how quickly everyone on campus is notified of an emergency, and how quickly emergency first responders receive accurate, specific information about the emergency.
A multi‑layered emergency alert approach to school emergency alerting ensures no critical message is missed. Best practice is for teachers and staff to have a blended approach of wearable panic alert and mobile school panic buttons that they can initiate from wherever they are on campus while also providing critical context to emergencies.
Real‑Time Communication for Effective Emergency Response
The most powerful school panic button systems are customized to your school’s emergency response protocols. They enable users to connect directly with or call / text 9-1-1 and automatically share critical details, such as caller name and precise location on campus, with dispatchers. The system should be customized to the school’s emergency response protocols, and allow staff, first responders, and incident commanders to communicate through group messaging and access your emergency operations plan.
With an integrated ecosystem of school safety technology, schools can rely on different types of visual alerts ranging from color changing strobes to visual displays that can instantly broadcast visual and text-based alerts across classroom and campus screens. The result is faster, clearer, and more contextual communication during critical incidents.
Secure In‑App Messaging Between Staff and First Responders
The best solutions have integrated in‑app messaging, which lets staff and public‑safety partners exchange secure, time‑stamped texts, images, and status checks—without switching applications or having to remember a phone number. This keeps every stakeholder on the same page, reduces radio traffic, and ensures all communications are logged for after‑action review.
TIP: Practice Response with Drills
We cannot predict emergencies, but the more your school community is trained to respond, the less chaotic and the more successful your school’s emergency response will be. Click here to read best practices for school safety drills.
Multi-Layered Emergency Notification
Many schools have invested in independent safety solutions that require separate activation. This disjointed process wastes valuable time and ultimately impedes response and recovery. Imagine if your school emergency management system, cameras, alarms, IoT devices, smart boards, and other peripherals could talk to one another without having to invest in all new systems.
What if your school safety devices and systems could talk to one another? Imagine having reliable, innovative technology that:
FEATURED RESOURCE
Learn more about the critical role of multi-layered emergency alert systems as school safety experts discuss how schools can strengthen crisis communication, enhance real-time coordination, and leverage new technologies like wearable alerts and 911-integrated platforms to improve emergency response.
Watch Now
Time and communication are critical when responding to a school emergency.
“We introduced this solution to give every employee across the district the power of being a part of safety and security. Collectively, when we are all part of the solution, it’s such a powerful approach for us. What’s even more helpful is that every Fairview Park Police officer’s phone and the fire chief has access to this app, too. We had a drill during our first week of school at our high school, and the officer who responded was here in less than one minute.” Mike Matthews, Director of Operations, Fairview Park City School District, OH
Automatically Share Details with 9-1-1
Your school’s panic button system should deliver critical, real-time data to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) through a system like RapidSOS, RapidDeploy or SaferWatch. This automatically connects the caller to 9-1-1 and instantly shares additional information with the dispatcher, including:
TIP:
When first responders can access school floor plans and maps–with buildings and doors clearly labeled–on the systems they use everyday, they can just go exactly where they are needed.
Real-Time Location Tracking During School Emergencies
If a first responder is unfamiliar with your campus, they must have detailed school maps to know how to navigate the hallways. These maps should be available in your school’s panic button system and combine floor plans, high-resolution imagery, and a gridded overlay. Having detailed maps like these (such as the ones created by Critical Response Group) will reduce response time and ultimately save lives.
FEATURED RESOURCE
A Conversation with Dr. Vincent Iturralde, Chief Operations Officer for North Chicago School District 187, on emergency response planning in schools.
Watch Now
Know How Everyone is Doing
The best solutions allow first responders to see details of each individual, including their location, status, medical conditions, and allergies. If they are students, it should also list their guardians’ contact information. Incident commanders also need a clear, real-time line of sight for every person on campus. By having this information readily available, incident commanders and law enforcement can quickly see what injuries people have and how critical their injuries are.
This level of transparency allows emergency personnel to deploy resources where they’re needed most.
FEATURED RESOURCE
Webinar
Former Santa Fe Superintendent Dr. Leigh Wall shares lessons learned from the tragedy at Santa Fe High School.
Watch Now
Make Sure Everyone is Safe
Schools are obligated to make sure visitors, contractors, guardians, and others on campus are also safe. Think about this common scenario: You invite your community to attend a pep rally at your school. Would you leave the gymnasium doors open so parents and visitors can easily access the area? How would you be able to account for everyone in an emergency if you do not know exactly who is attending? This is just one reason why it’s important to use an integrated visitor and emergency management system that can approve all entrants and help you account for everyone during incidents.
Everyday situations can quickly escalate without the presence of the appropriate personnel to identify and resolve the issue. Here are eight incidents most likely to occur in schools:
FEATURED RESOURCE
This white paper shares strategies for how schools can prepare for and address this increased violence and keep everyone safe.
Download Now
FEATURED RESOURCE
The Right Partners
“I can’t imagine how the implementation process could be any better! We have never had a partner that provided us with as much guidance, knowledge and professionalism as the entire team at Raptor. This is the best relationship with a partner in my 28 years with Roanoke County Public Schools! We will gladly be a reference for Raptor with any school district in Virginia or beyond. And the best part is that our district feels confident in the security tools that we are providing… and we feel safer with Raptor!” Jeff Terry, Director of Technology, Roanoke County Public Schools, VA
Addressing your complex school safety needs does not have to be daunting. You don’t have to—nor should you—do this alone. Knowledgeable and trustworthy partners make all the difference. When choosing a partner, consider the following:
You want a knowledgeable and proactive partner involved every step of the way. You should also seek partners already aligned with the best practices discussed here.
Copyright © 2025 Raptor Technologies | All rights reserved | Privacy Notice