Emergency drills successful

The code blue and red drills conducted to prepare students for emergency situations that took place on Tuesday, November 18 were an overall success, according to the Blair administration.

Assistant Principal Patricia Hurley said that the administration was pleased with the results of the drills. "[The drills] went very well," said Hurley. However, four classes "did not follow procedures," according to Hurley. Of those four, two had unlocked doors, and two had students making noise.

On Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., Principal Philip Gainous commenced the drills by announcing a code blue situation. Approximately ten minutes later, Gainous announced the switch to code red, clarifying that it was "only a drill." After the drill was over, Gainous reported on the success of the drills. "These are serious exercises folks," Gainous said. "We had three classes, about 85 students, that were casualties, because either the teachers or the students were not doing their jobs."

Gainous also commented on the reasoning behind the drill procedures. "All of the research has shown that in a Columbine-like situation, the perpetrators do no enter a locked room," Gainous said.

During code blue, or potentially dangerous situations, teachers are instructed to take attendance, check for IDs, and keep students in the classroom. During code red situations, where there is an imminent threat to Blair, teachers are to lock the doors, turn out the lights, and keep students quiet to maximize safety.