Arlington students present emergency action plans to school board

Students in the Arlington High School sports medicine class presented emergency action plans to the Arlington School Board on a class project that mapped evacuation routes, first-aid and AED locations, and chains of command for multiple district sites.

The students said the EAPs — emergency action plans — included CPR, bleeding control, choking response and AED use, plus color-coded floor maps marking AEDs, fire extinguishers and first-aid kits. They described site-specific scenarios they researched, including a gym fire at President's Elementary, an incident at John C. Larson Field and incidents during community youth football and middle-school athletic events. A student presenter said the posters list “the chain of command, role, and how to contact” responsible staff and first responders.

Board members asked whether the scenarios were school- or site-specific and whether the work was intended for school leaders; students said the work was part of class assignments and that they had met with district staff (they named Brian Lewis) to share details. Students explained that some projects were generic across multiple sites while others focused on specific events, such as evacuation routes for Arlington Youth Football Association events on outdoor fields.

Presenters described the project as both an educational exercise and a community service: students linked the unit to future careers in emergency medicine, nursing, ultrasound technology, teaching and coaching and said the class increased their confidence to take action in emergencies. Board members praised the work and invited the students to remain for the rest of the meeting.

The board took no formal action related to the presentations during the meeting.