President's Corner
Always Being Prepared
By Christopher O. Gaines/School Administrator, April 2019


AS A YOUTH, I worked as an aquatics instructor and lifeguard at Boy Scout Camp Lewallen outside St. Louis. As part of the job, I was taught how to maintain safety in and around the pool and how to respond appropriately to crisis situations.

Safety was the prime consideration. The most important aspects were ensuring qualified supervision, providing a safe area, supplying enough lifeguards with necessary equipment, designating a lookout, ensuring scouts were swimming in skill-appropriate areas and requiring that all swimmers have a buddy and follow the posted rules.

Taking scouts on canoe trips required a whole different set of safety rules. The one time I should have responded to a crisis situation was when I had let my guard down. It was the only time we had a significant challenge on the river.

I had let five canoes go around a corner linked together when I realized that it was a bad idea. Three of the canoes escaped to the right with no problems. One went left and stopped before hitting a tree. The last one hit the tree and immediately capsized toward the upstream side. The scouts escaped, but the canoe was stuck. As we worked to free the canoe, I kept thinking that I would leave it and come back later with some help to get it.

Although we did dislodge the canoe after a few minutes, my concentration had been so focused on rescuing the boat that I had forgotten about the scouts. I had not adequately prepared them for an emergency situation and instead of getting out of the water, they swam and floated down the river. Thankfully I got to them before our take-out point.

We always practiced crisis procedures in the pool and at the camp in general, but I hadn’t prepared the scouts for the crisis on the river that day.

In discussions with school leaders, I find that safety and security is on everyone’s mind. Facility surveys in my district put safety and security in the top four improvements our parents, staff and students want to see. Like many of you, we work with local law enforcement and other first responders to identify steps we can take to improve planning and training for crisis events.

We work in widely differing contexts across this great nation. Strategies that are acceptable in one community may not be appropriate in another. First responders may be minutes away in some areas, but hours away in others.

From reunification applications to blood kits to bullet-proof slate boards to bullet-proof window film, a multitude of companies offer products and services to enhance school safety and security, and to assist with crisis planning. The needs of your unique district determine what you need.

AASA has school safety and crisis planning resources available regardless of your situation. This includes a cadre of school leaders, led by Joseph Erardi, who have experience in floods, tornadoes, school shootings, hurricanes, FEMA, student suicide, mental health and fires. These leaders are only an e-mail or phone call away.

The association is here to provide assistance and support should a crisis of any kind arise in your schools. I encourage you to access the resources.


CHRIS GAINES is AASA president for 2018–19. Twitter: @paddlingsupt