SCHOOL CONTINGENCY PLAN MANUAL

ABNORMAL INCREASE OF THE HEAT INDEX IN SCHOOLS

Objectives
_ to ensure continuity and to protect the safety, health, and well-being of learners, teachers, and
Deped personnel amid the increase in the heat index of the environment in schools.
- to support schools in mitigating the impact of an emergency associated with the heat index
phenomenon.

Contents
_ General Guidelines for Initial Response
_ Response for Specific Scenarios
_ Strategies for Learning and Work Continuity
_ Recovery Process Flow

Contingency Plan Manual

Purpose of the Manual

This manual shall serve as a guide for schools in crafting and activating their contingency plan
to minimize the impact of the abnormal heat index on the school. This shall ensure continuity of
learning in the event that a member of the school community is injured or if a school suspension
is needed due to the impact of the abnormal heat index within or outside the school. The
manual contains case scenarios that may affect the school operations, and the necessary
response of each stakeholder to prevent the injuries that may harm the school community. It
also contains strategies to reintegrate school operations to ensure a safe learning environment
in the schools. The response and strategies in this manual are the minimum requirements for
each school but may be enhanced to be culturally and geographically responsive to the needs
of the community. It is recommended to review and update the contingency plan regularly and
as the need arises.

General Guidelines for Initial Response

In the event that an individual in the school shows symptoms of heat exhaustion/ heat stroke, it
is critical to have a timely initial response to ensure little to prevent injury among other members
of the school community.

1. Coordinate Tasks
Other members of the school community may feel worried and become uneasy if any
situation related to heat exhaustion or heat stroke arises in the school. As a means of
preparation, the school head must clearly identify the role of each teaching and non-
teaching personnel and provide the necessary training for their actions to be well-
coordinated. The following are the tasks for the response that must be delegated by the
school head;

a. Maintaining safety and health protocols and order in the classrooms

b. Engaging the parent/ guardian on the home-school agreements, including the
designated time of pick-up of their children, if a need arises
c. Coordinating with local health authorities
d. Preparing the needed resources (e.g. oxygen tank, etc) to conduct first aid

2. Collect Information
 To assist health authorities and the local government unit, the immediate responding
personnel or designated clinic teacher must collect the following information about the
individual who shows symptoms.

a. Who: Name of the individual, gender, age, grade level or occupation, section
b. When: Date
c. Where: School name, school address, home address of the individual
d. What: Symptoms experienced by the individual
e. How: Details on where or how the individual was injured

3. Contact authorities, other school personnel, families

All concerned stakeholders must be well-informed to avoid possible injuries and to guide
the school community in the necessary actions. In case there will be a need to transition
to an alternative learning modality.

a. Contact the identified health authority to cooperate regarding the appropriate action
measures or referral to the hospital if needed.
b. Contact other school personnel in case there will be a need to shift to an alternative
learning modality. A teacher must also be informed and guided.
c. Contact the family of the individual who showed symptoms. The family must also be
informed the regarding the actions that will be undertaken by the school.
d. Contact the families of all individuals in the school and inform them of the incident
and informed them the actions undertaken by the school.

Specific Scenarios
The scenarios specify those that may affect the school setting. Recognizing the shared
responsibility of each stakeholder in preventing injury caused by an abnormal increase in heat
index, the action that must be undertaken by the school to coordinate with each stakeholder is
listed in each scenario.

Scenario 1 Shortness of breath

Scenario 2 Nose bleeding
Scenario 3 Hysterical/Hyperventilation
Scenario 4 Unconscious

Scenario 1. SHORTNESS OF BREATH

Involved Required Action
School Head Call the clinic teacher to manage
School DRRM Coordinator Collect information and contact concerned individuals
Parent Report to school
Barangay Alert
LGU Alert
Health Unit/ Hospital NA
Scenario 2. NOSE BLEEDING
Involved Required Action
School Head Call the clinic teacher or School DRRM Coordinator to manage
and provide incident report to be submitted to the Division
DRRM Coordinator
School DRRM Coordinator Collect information and contact concerned individuals
Parent Report to school
Barangay Alert
LGU Alert
Health Unit/ Hospital NA

Scenario 3. HYSTERICAL/HYPERVENTILATION
Involved Required Action
School Head Call the clinic teacher or School DRRM Coordinator to manage
and provide incident report to be submitted to the Division
DRRM Coordinator
School DRRM Coordinator Collect information and contact concerned individuals
Parent Report to school
Barangay Provide Emergency Transport Vehicle
LGU Provide Emergency Transport Vehicle
Health Unit/ Hospital Alert

Scenario 4. UNCONSCIOUS
Involved Required Action
School Head Call the clinic teacher or School DRRM Coordinator to manage
and provide incident report to be submitted to the Division
DRRM Coordinator
School DRRM Coordinator Conduct CPR for negative pulse and breathing
Parent Must report to school and accompany the child
Barangay Provide Emergency Transport Vehicle
LGU Provide Emergency Transport Vehicle
Health Unit/ Hospital Alert

Strategies to Transition Back to Regular Learning Modality

It is important to continue engaging learners in meaningful activities to ensure the continuity of
learning.

1. The school’s local hotline/help desk shall remain open for parents/guardians in need of
assistance in the distance learning of their child. Teachers may utilize this platform to
encourage parents/guardians in their role as learning facilitators at home and to provide
additional support to learners in their independent study.
2. The school shall establish a cleaning and maintenance routine to ensure that all school
facilities are organized and functional with good ventilation of rooms and offices.
3. The school shall procure additional health equipment necessary to provide first aid to an
individual getting symptoms of heat exhaustion/ heat stroke.
4. For the first five school days, the first hour shall be devoted to the discussion/ facilitation
of modules related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, weather disturbances,
and disaster risk reduction and management by their respective classroom advisers or
designated teachers.
Recovery Process Flow

School Head report Inform the

the incident to RHU parent/guardian of
for Emergency the learner.
Assistance
Individual/s Injured
from Heat Index

The School DRRM The School DRRM TEAM conducts

Apply First Aid if
somebody is trained.
Coordinator collect Safety Assessment and submits a
information, alert report to the School Head and
authorities and recommend for safety measures.
submit report to the
Division DRRM
Coordinator

Communication Process Channel

District Division DRRM

School Head
Supervisor Coordinator

DRRM DRRM Communication

Team Coordinator Officer

Teachers Stakeholders Parents

Students