Comparison of Safety and Emergency Preparedness Procedures and Policies in US and Turkish K-12 Schools*

Abstract

KEYWORDS Safety. Emergency Preparadness. Kindergarten. Higher Grade. Turkey. USA ABSTRACT Safety and emergency preparedness in U.S. and Turkey Kindergarten thru 12 th grade public school system that are potentially applicable to other educational systems arediscussed first within the context of the laws that set the legal ground for safety issues.The main purpose of this study is to develop a clear understanding regarding issues surrounding Safety and Emergency Preparadness Procedures and Policies in the USA and Turkey. The main question of this study is how similar or dissimilar the two cases are. The similarities and differences are examined within the following contexts:1)accidents,injuries and illnesses, 2) utility problems, 3) health security, 4) mental health crisis, suicide threat, and death, 5) custody procedures, 6) fire safety procedures, 7) possession of prohibited substances (drugs etc.) and weapons, 8) searches and seizures, 9) secret organizations (Gangs etc.), 10) field Trips, 11) security personnel, 12) threats from outside the school, 13) disappearance of children,hostage- taking or kidnapping, 14) protection from inbound threats from their parents and relatives of the students, 15) physical and psychological violence towards students a nd teachers, and 16) traffic rules on school grounds. According to the results of content analysis, the guidelines for some safety issues are more formally structured and explained in a more detailed manner in US public schools than it is in the Turkish public schools.