Classroom emergency kits get update with help of PTA, businesses


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PLEASANT GROVE — After a mother discovered items from 1996 in her child's classroom emergency backpacks, she and other Parent Teacher Association members are outfitting the school properly for an emergency.

Wendy Robinson organized the assembly of new emergency supplies at Grovecrest Elementary School after finding a backpack full of items more than a decade old: leaking batteries, broken flashlights, dried up hand sanitizer and expired granola bars made up the contents of the classroom's bag.

Recommended emergency supplies
  • List of classroom students (and photo)
  • List of students with special needs and description of needs, marked confidential
  • List of emergency procedures
  • Whistle & hat (or other identifier) for teacher
  • First aid supplies
  • First aid instruction manual
  • Medical gloves
  • Food
  • Water
  • Battery-powered flashlight
  • Batteries
  • Blankets
  • Bucket
  • Sanitary items (towelettes & toilet paper)
  • Work gloves
  • Breathing masks
  • Plastic sheeting
  • Duct tape
  • Can opener
  • Hard candies
  • Student activities

"I was shocked by all the recent incidents in schools lately and my thoughts were, ‘Is Grovecrest Elementary prepared for any such disaster?' " said organizer Wendy Robinson.

Parents and businesses have teamed up to refresh emergency backpacks throughout the school.

"This is what a community school is; it's parents working together, businesses working together, everybody for the good of the children in the community," said Grovecrest Principal Vicky Haws.

Classroom emergency kits, according to a New Jersey government checklist, should include things like a current list of students and their special needs, emergency procedures, first aid supplies, flashlight, food, and water, among other things.

"It gave me so much comfort to know that if I couldn't reach (my son) in an emergency situation, that his needs are being met and fulfilled by his teacher and by what she's put in this emergency supply stash," said mother Lindsay Scott.

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