Berkeley County School District has joined more than 40,000 schools, districts and organizations with the adoption of Standard Response Protocol (SRP) for communication of emergency situations.
Created by the “I Love U Guys” Foundation, SRP standardizes the vocabulary regarding crisis and potential crisis situations with the goal of all stakeholders being able to understand the response.
"For students, this provides continuity of expectations and actions throughout their educational career. For teachers, this becomes a simpler process to train and drill. For communities, it leverages the growing adoption of the protocols from residents of all ages. For first responders, the common vocabulary and protocols establish a greater predictability that persists through the duration of an incident.
People easily understand the practices and can reinforce the protocol. Additionally, this protocol enables rapid response determination when an unforeseen event occurs."
- “I Love U Guys” Foundation
SRP was developed hand-in-hand with school administrators, psychologists, public safety experts, families, and first responders. It is both research and experience-based.
Standard Response Protocol Common Language
HOLD
Hold is followed by the Directive: “In Your Room or Area” and is the protocol used when hallways need to kept clear of occupants.
SECURE
Secure is followed by the Directive: “Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors” and is the protocol used to safeguard people within the building.
LOCKDOWN
Lockdown is followed by “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight” and is the protocol used to secure individual rooms and keep occupants quiet and in place.
EVACUATE
Evacuate and may be followed by a location, and is used to move people from one location to a different location in or out of the building.
SHELTER
Shelter State the Hazard and Safety Strategy for group and self protection.
Additional Berkeley County School District security and emergency management information can be found in the Security & Emergency Management section of our website.