The Norwalk Public Schools Emergency Planning Committee has recommended implementation of a district-wide Door Numbering System that will, once activated, provide a consistent means for reporting and response to emergency situations.
The Emergency Planning Committee meets biweekly to update the Norwalk Public Schools Emergency Plan which is an annex to the City of Norwalk Emergency Operations Plan. During this process the team will recommend interim improvements that can be accomplished while the planning process proceeds. The door numbering system recommended by the Norwalk Police Department representatives who just recently were trained and certified to perform school safety assessments, was proposed and endorsed by the committee for immediate implementation
The Door Numbering System is advanced by the Center for Safe Schools as a benchmark for emergency response to reports of emergency. The system works by sequentially identifying each exterior door at a school, beginning with the main public entrance and proceeding in a clockwise direction around the school. Identifying numbers will be placed at the top right of each exterior door beginning with Number 1 at the office entrance and proceeding around the school.
Interior access to rooms with exterior doors will be identified by the same number. Interior numbers will be place near the floor to assure emergency responders will have the most likely means to view the numbers in a smoky environment.
The consistent numbering system will allow schools to report emergency incidents in a manner that specifically identifies a location that will be understood by emergency responders without need to access a particular school design or layout. In the event of an emergency, this information could save important time in identifying an emergency location.
Superintendent of Schools Tony Daddona who Chairs the Emergency Planning Committee authorized immediate implementation of the Planning Committee recommendation. “As we proceed with improvements to the overall emergency planning process, it makes sense to quickly implement best practice courses of action. We will continue to execute tactical initiatives even as we look to improve the overall strategic plans for the school district.”
The recommendation of the Emergency Planning Committee will be placed before the Board of Education Facilities Committee at its next meeting.
