Bavaria's schools ready for emergencies: security through crisis teams!

Bavaria's schools ready for emergencies: security through crisis teams!

After worrying incidents in Europe, including a school shooting in Graz, there is a debate in Bavaria about safety precautions at schools. The Willi-Graf-Gymnasium in Munich in particular became active in this context: During the Easter holidays, the police organized a large-scale exercise with around fifteen emergency vehicles. This exercise was intended to train operational tactics in life-threatening situations and was inspired by the events in Graz, where a former student tragically cost the lives of nine students and a teacher and then died himself. BR.de reports that The police in Graz were in the school building within eight minutes of the first radio message, which is due to years of training.

Christian Lindstedt, spokesman for the Swabia South/West Police Headquarters, emphasizes how important these exercises are for the emergency services. In Bavaria, around 4,600 state schools have detailed regulations and safety concepts that must be regularly updated and practiced. At the middle school in Munich-Moosach, for example, there is an emergency plan that informs all stakeholders - from the police to parents to students - in the event of an emergency.

Emergency plans and crisis teams

A central component of these emergency plans are checklists and special code words that are intended to enable teachers to react quickly. Since 2013, Bavarian schools have also been required to form crisis teams consisting, among other things, of school psychologists. In collaboration with the police and fire brigade, these teams develop security concepts that are adapted to the specific circumstances of the schools. This is particularly important for schools with students from migrant families who may have experienced trauma.

The emergency plans are not only intended to help teachers, but also to offer security to students and reduce fears by providing clear instructions for action. In the event of a crisis, the “Crisis Intervention and Management Team of Bavarian School Psychologists” is activated, which consists of 140 specialized professionals. These not only offer helpful support in crisis situations, but also further training for teachers. The ISB website also provides comprehensive information on the handouts that support school leaders in implementing an effective crisis team.

Prevention and aftercare

The “Crisis Intervention in Schools” handout aims to improve both prevention and aftercare in the event of crisis situations. It offers helpful guides and materials designed specifically for school leaders and those involved in crisis management. Support in the areas of acute cases and aftercare is essential in order to ensure the quality of school crisis intervention in the long term.

In view of current developments, it is obvious that safety at schools in Bavaria continues to have the highest priority. Regular training and well-thought-out emergency plans are indispensable steps in order to be able to react optimally to any dangers. The students and parents can therefore feel somewhat reassured that work is being done to ensure the safety of their educational institutions, and at the same time the schools are well prepared through close cooperation with the police and psychologists. Further information can be found here.