School Safety Drills - Best Practices and Procedures for 2025

Does running a drill mean students know what to do in a real emergency? Not always. The gap between practice and real response is wider than most think – and often overlooked.

This article shows how to close that gap. You’ll learn how to make school drills more useful, less confusing, and easier to manage for everyone involved.

What’s inside:

• Types of school drills and how they work
• Best practices for running drills that improve response
• How to reduce panic and support students during each phase of a drill

Why Schools Need Safety Drills

Emergencies don’t send invites. Fires, lockdowns, intruders, medical incidents, weather threats show up without warning. Each demands a specific response, often under pressure and with little time to think. In that moment, your response time becomes your survival rate. 

School safety drills prepare students and staff to respond before panic takes over. Instead of guessing what to do, people follow steps they’ve already practiced. Drills help everyone know where to go, who to follow, and how to act; not just in theory, but in real time.

This matters because emergencies don’t leave time for hesitation. And in schools, where large groups are involved, confusion can turn a minor incident into something worse.

When drills are built into school routines, they help:

• Reduce delays during real emergencies
• Prevent injuries caused by crowding or disorganized movement
• Reinforce trust in staff and emergency responders
• Lower the emotional impact of unexpected situations

Skipping drills doesn't just mean less preparation. It increases risk – for students, staff, and responders.

Benefits of Regular School Safety Drills

Emergency response isn’t something people can memorize once and remember forever. It has to be practiced regularly to work when it counts.

Here’s why repeating drills matters:

1. It builds automatic response

During a real emergency, the brain can freeze. Stress blocks decision-making. But if the steps are practiced often enough, the body knows what to do. This muscle memory helps students and staff act quickly – even under pressure.

2. It exposes blind spots in your plan

On paper, most safety plans look complete. Drills test how they actually play out. You might discover:

• Exit routes that aren’t accessible
• Roles that aren’t clearly assigned
• Gaps in how messages are shared across the building

Finding those issues during a drill gives you time to fix them before a real emergency exposes them the hard way.

3. It checks equipment and systems

Every drill gives you a chance to confirm that doors, intercoms, alarms, and emergency exits work as expected. Small failures during a drill could mean major problems in a real event.

4. It improves coordination with responders

Schools that invite local police, fire, or EMS teams to drills get more than just outside input – they build familiarity. Responders learn the school layout. Staff learn what to expect. That coordination reduces delays and confusion in real scenarios.

5. It lowers anxiety through routine

Unexpected emergencies are scary, especially for younger students. But when drills become familiar, the fear goes down. Students know what to do. Teachers know how to lead. And that predictability can help everyone stay calm.

Types of School Safety Drills

Every emergency isn’t the same. That’s why schools need different drills for different scenarios. Each drill teaches a specific response not just to protect students physically, but to keep the response calm, fast, and structured.

Here’s what each type of drill focuses on and why it matters.

Fire Drills

Fire drills are the most familiar – and for good reason. Fires move fast, and even small ones can lead to smoke, blocked exits, and panic.

The goal is to practice quick, orderly evacuation. Students and staff learn:

• The closest exits from their current location
• Where to meet outside the building
• How to move without pushing, backtracking, or stopping

These drills also test fire alarm systems, emergency lighting, and whether exits are clear. Timing matters too – most schools aim to evacuate in under 3 minutes.

Lockdown Drills

Lockdowns are used when there’s a threat inside or near the school. These drills focus on staying in place rather than evacuating.

During a lockdown drill, students and staff practice:

• Getting out of sight
• Locking doors and windows
• Turning off lights
• Staying silent

Teachers are trained to secure their classrooms and account for every student. Some schools also run lockout drills, where the threat is outside the building and movement inside can continue.

Severe Weather Drills

Tornadoes, hurricanes, or earthquakes don’t give much warning. Severe weather drills focus on moving to interior areas and staying low.

What students and staff learn:

• Where the safest areas of the building are
• How to protect their heads and necks
• How to stay away from windows and large open spaces

These drills may vary depending on your region – coastal schools may practice hurricane prep; schools in the Midwest may focus on tornado response.

Active Shooter Drills

These drills prepare schools for an armed threat on campus. They're among the most sensitive and the most debated.

What they cover depends on the school’s approach. Some focus solely on lockdown and silence. Others include options to evacuate, lock down, or counter, depending on the threat’s location.

Drills should never include simulated violence or surprise scenarios. That can cause trauma, especially for younger students or anyone with past experiences of violence.

Instead, drills should be clearly announced in advance and focus on:

• Teaching students how to react without fear
• Practicing lockdown steps calmly
• Clarifying who gives the all-clear

Medical Emergency and First Aid Drills

Not every emergency is about an external threat. Some happen inside a classroom: asthma attacks, allergic reactions, sudden injuries.

Medical drills teach staff how to:

• Recognize signs of a medical emergency
• Alert the right people fast
• Use tools like EpiPens, defibrillators, or first aid kits
• Keep students calm and safe until help arrives

Some schools involve nurses or local EMTs for training. Others run tabletop exercises to rehearse different situations step by step.

Best Practices for Conducting School Safety Drills

Drills aren’t just about compliance; they’re about preparation that actually works in real life. A fire drill done just to check a box won’t help anyone when the alarm goes off for real.

Here’s how to run safety drills that teach, test, and improve.

1. Vary the timing and location

Emergencies don’t wait for a convenient moment. Practice during different parts of the school day – mornings, lunch, dismissal so students and staff learn what to do in different scenarios.

Don’t run every drill from the same classroom. Try starting one when students are in the hallways, outside, or in bathrooms. This forces staff and students to solve problems in real time, which builds confidence and response memory.

2. Announce drills ahead of time

Surprise doesn’t teach safety – it triggers panic. Let everyone know it’s a drill. Use clear language: “This is a drill, not a real emergency.”

Announcing drills doesn’t reduce their value. It creates a controlled environment where people can practice steps calmly, especially students who may have anxiety or past trauma.

Some schools schedule drills days in advance and remind everyone shortly before it starts. This helps everyone participate fully without fear.

That said, unannounced drills can still have value when used sparingly; especially for training staff decision-making in unpredictable conditions. These should always include a loud, clear message immediately that it's a drill.

3. Use different drill formats

Drills shouldn’t all look the same. Mix in formats that offer different types of learning:

• Walkthroughs – slower drills with step-by-step instruction, ideal for younger students or early-year refreshers
• Tabletop exercises – small groups talk through scenarios to clarify roles and responsibilities
• Simulations – practiced with emergency responders to test more complex scenarios
• Reunification drills – test how quickly and securely students can be reunited with parents or guardians

Each format teaches something different either awareness, speed, communication, or recovery. A good yearly plan includes more than just fire drills.

4. Involve every staff member

Emergencies don’t care who’s on lunch duty. Every adult in the building be it teachers, aides, office staff, cafeteria workers, bus drivers – all should be part of drills.

Why? 

Because students are everywhere. A lockdown won’t always happen while a teacher is in the room. A medical emergency could happen near the gym or cafeteria. Everyone needs to know the steps, because anyone might need to lead.

Give staff clear checklists and regular training refreshers. Their confidence shapes how students respond.

5. Include first responders in the process

Police, EMS, and fire teams should know your school layout and your drill schedule. Invite them to observe or join drills, especially ones involving lockdowns or reunification.

Their feedback helps catch gaps you may miss like radio issues, blocked exits, or unclear communication during the drill. It also makes them familiar faces, which reduces stress during a real emergency.

6. Adjust drills for different age groups

Younger students need different instructions than older ones. A kindergartener doesn't need a speech on threat assessment; they need a calm adult to follow. High schoolers, on the other hand, can take more responsibility and understand why drills matter.

Break your school safety training into clear age bands:

• Pre-K to 2nd grade – focus on staying quiet, following their teacher, and moving to a safe spot
• 3rd to 5th grade – begin teaching why drills happen and how to spot safe exits or danger signs
• Middle and high school – include discussion, critical thinking, and what-if scenarios

Matching the drill to the student’s developmental stage avoids confusion and minimizes fear.

7. Review what happened after each drill

A drill’s value comes from what you learn afterward. Schedule time for staff to review how things went. 

Where did students get confused? 

Was the PA system loud enough? 

Did teachers know what to do when a door was jammed?

Use these reviews to adjust your emergency plans not just the drills, but the real response procedures. Add what worked, remove what didn’t.

Consider anonymous student feedback, too. Sometimes, kids notice things adults miss.

8. Track performance over time

Keep a record of every drill:

• Date, time, and type
• Who participated
• What went well
• What needs work
• Changes made afterward

Digital drill tracking tools can simplify this. You’ll be able to prove compliance with state regulations and show progress year-over-year. More importantly, you’ll have evidence that your plans are working – or signals that something needs to change.

Supporting Students During School Safety Drills

Drills aren’t just logistical; they’re emotional. What might feel routine to staff can feel overwhelming to students, especially the younger ones. How we prepare, guide, and follow up makes the difference between panic and calm.

Before the Drill

Start with context. Students need to know why drills happen. Not to scare them – but to teach them how to stay safe. The messaging matters here. Keep it age-appropriate, factual, and focused on safety.

Use short classroom discussions to explain:

• What kind of drill it is
• What they’ll be expected to do
• That it’s only practice, not a real emergency

You can also let students ask questions beforehand. This helps reduce unknowns and gives them some control in the process.

During the Drill

Calm energy spreads. Students often mirror adult behavior. If staff stay clear and steady, most students will too.

During drills:

• Use calm, clear instructions
• Move deliberately, not hurriedly
• Validate any visible distress quietly but confidently

For younger kids or students with special needs, assign familiar adults who can walk them through it step-by-step.

Avoid overcomplicated language. “Stay quiet and follow me” often does more than a full explanation in the moment.

After the Drill

Debrief the experience. Give students time to reflect, especially if the drill was intense or different than usual.

You don’t need a full class period. A few minutes can go a long way:

• Ask if anything felt confusing or hard
• Reaffirm that they’re safe
• Normalize any nervousness they felt

This is also a chance to build trust. If students know they can talk about what bothered them, they’re more likely to engage the next time.

Younger grades may benefit from a follow-up story, activity, or simple drawing exercise to help process the event.

Ensuring Psychological Safety During Drills

Balancing Realism and Emotional Well-being

Realism makes drills more useful; but it has limits. Simulations that involve aggressive shouting, loud noises, or visual effects like fake blood or smoke can cause long-term fear, especially for students with trauma histories.

Instead of pushing realism, focus on clarity and consistency:

• Let students know it’s a drill (say it more than once)
• Use the same signals and routines each time
• Save higher-intensity scenarios for staff or first responder training

Real doesn’t always mean better. Calm drills create stronger habits.

Addressing Anxiety and Fear in Students

Some students will freeze. Others might cry, ask to call home, or shut down. That’s normal. Reactions vary depending on age, past experiences, and emotional development.

Here’s how schools can reduce fear:

• Avoid surprise drills for young or anxious students
• Give students a way to ask for help discreetly
• Offer opt-out options for students who need it, but follow up later with one-on-one practice
• Normalize nervousness: “It’s okay to feel weird or scared. We’re all learning together.”

You’re not just teaching procedures; you’re teaching emotional regulation under pressure.

Training Staff to Handle Emotional Responses

Every adult in the building should know what to do if a student panics during a drill. That starts with training.

Build staff awareness around:

• Common stress reactions (freezing, crying, hyperactivity)
• Verbal reassurances to use in the moment
• Knowing which students may need extra support based on IEPs, past trauma, or developmental needs
• How and when to follow up afterward

You can’t prevent every meltdown. But you can train your team to respond without making it worse.

FAQs

What are 3 important drills practiced in schools?

Most schools run several types of drills throughout the year, but these three are considered standard across districts:

• Fire drills – to practice safe and quick evacuation
• Lockdown drills – to prepare for threats inside or near the building
• Severe weather drills – for events like tornadoes, earthquakes, or hurricanes

Each drill teaches a different response and helps students and staff act faster and more confidently if something actually happen

What to do during school safety drills?

What you do depends on the type of drill, but there are a few basics that apply to all:

• Stay quiet and listen to the adult in charge
• Follow the routine – whether that’s lining up, locking doors, or sheltering in place
• Avoid distractions so you can move quickly and safely

The goal isn’t to test anyone; it’s to practice until the response feels automatic.

Are school safety drills required?

Yes, in most U.S. states, school safety drills are required by law. The type, frequency, and reporting process can vary by district or state, but schools are usually expected to conduct multiple types of drills throughout the year.

Many states mandate:

• A minimum number of fire drills
• At least one lockdown or active threat drill
• Seasonal weather-related drills

Some states also require documentation and coordination with local emergency services. Check your state’s Department of Education website for specific rules.

Final Takeaway

Planning drills is only part of the work, doing them well is what makes the difference. From reducing panic to improving response times, school safety drills only work when they’re practiced with purpose and care.

Key takeaways from this article:

• Safety drills build quick thinking and calm under pressure
• Every drill type covers a different kind of emergency
• Supporting students emotionally is just as important as training them
• Staff participation, feedback, and review help improve every drill
• Drills should be age-appropriate, predictable, and regularly updated

If you're looking for a smarter way to manage your school’s safety protocols, Coram’s tools can help. From drill scheduling and alerts to real-time tracking and reporting it gives you everything needed to run safety drills that are clear, consistent, and easier for everyone involved.