EMERGENCY SAFETY INTERVENTION (ESI):

WHAT ALL STAFF NEED TO KNOW AND DO

RESOURCES COMPILED FROM:

ALL-STAFF TRAINING OBJECTIVES

1. To define Emergency Safety Interventions (ESI): Seclusion Restraint History and Purpose

2. To identify the requirements of the ESI regulations and discuss basic prevention.

3. To discuss what to do if an ESI occurs.

DEFINE: EMERGENCY SAFETY INTERVENTION (ESI)

The use of seclusion or physical restraint when a student presents an immediate danger to self or others.

Violent action that is destructive of property may necessitate the use of an ESI.

BREAKDOWN: ESI

Emergency Safety Intervention (ESI) Emergency

Immediate danger Safety

Student harming self or others Intervention

Restraint or seclusion should only be used for limited periods of time and should cease immediately when the immediate danger of harm to self or others has dissipated

DEFINE SPECIFICALLY: SECLUSION

Seclusion is not a place, it is a process... Identifiable when three criteria are met:1. The student is placed in an enclosed area

by adults.2. The student is purposefully isolated from

adults and peers.3. The student is prevented from leaving, or

reasonably believes that the student will be prevented from leaving the enclosed area.

DEFINE SPECIFICALLY: RESTRAINT

Restraint can be… Chemical: Prohibited

The  use  of  medication  to  control  a  student’s  violent  physical   behavior  or  restrict  a  student’s  freedom  of  movement.  

Mechanical: Prohibited (Unless**) - Must Be Reported The use of any device or object used to limit a student’s

 movement. **Must be ordered by an appropriately licensed professional for

that particular student, for that particular purpose. Physical: Must Be Reported

The use of bodily force used to substantially limit a student’s  movement.  

DEFINE SPECIFICALLY: PROHIBITED RESTRAINTS

Face-down (prone) physical restraint Face-up (supine) physical restraint Physical restraint that obstructs airway Physical restraint that impacts student’s

primary mode of communication Restraining hands of student who signs Gagging a student Covering student mouth with tape

DEFINE: ESI IS…

NOT discipline: Restraint or seclusion should never be used as

punishment or discipline (e.g., placing in seclusion for out-of-seat behavior), as a means of coercion or retaliation, or as a convenience.

NOT part of behavior plan: Should not be included as a planned

intervention for a specific student under foreseeable circumstances.

NOT an acceptable alternative to prevention

HISTORY AND PURPOSE: FROM THEN…

In July of 2009, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan sent a letter to Chief State School Officers.

Stated that he was deeply troubled about the current use and effects of restraint and seclusion, which were the subject of testimony before the Education and Labor Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Recent hearings had examined the abusive and potentially deadly application of restraint and seclusion techniques in schools.

HISTORY AND PURPOSE: …TO NOW

The regulations on the use of Emergency Safety Interventions (ESI) with all students went into effect in Kansas on April 19, 2013.

The regulations do require training: All school personnel are required to be trained,

including administrative assistants, office personnel, bus drivers, lunch room staff, custodians, etc.

The regulations do not require that every staff member be trained in the most restrictive behavior intervention techniques, i.e. the use of restraint.

IDENTIFY: ESI REQUIREMENTS

Reporting and documentation will be required for all students: General Educational AND Special Education:

Student ID # Date of the incident Type and duration of the use of an Emergency Safety Intervention

in minutes School personnel who participated in or supervised the intervention

Any use of ESI should be reported: First: To School Administration

Copies of all documentation must be provided to superintendent on at least biannual basis.

Then: To Parents or Guardians within 2 school days Also: To KSDE via KAN-DIS**:

**Current Procedure…Subject to Change: Schools should report the use of ESI on all students quarterly even if there are zero (0) incidents to report.

IDENTIFY: ESI POLICY REQUIREMENTS

Each district must have a policy. Each district must have a local dispute

resolution policy: Policies must be available on district

website with links on all individual school pages AND one of the following: Each school’s code of conduct School safety plan Student handbook

IDENTIFY: ESI TRAINING REQUIREMENTS All school personnel should be aware of the requirements of

the regulations to report ESI’s to the administration.

Most school personnel will need a review of the requirements of the regulations and a more in-depth knowledge of prevention techniques, de-escalation techniques, and positive behavioral intervention strategies.

Few school personnel will need a review of the requirements, training on prevention, de-escalation, and positive behavior interventions strategies, and training in the most restrictive behavioral intervention techniques, i.e. restraint

WILL I GET INTO TROUBLE FOR USING AN ESI?

The intention of the regulation is to educate school personnel about the dangers of using an ESI with a student.

The use of an ESI should never be taken lightly and always be the last step taken.

There is no prohibition on the use of seclusion and physical restraint.

If an ESI is used with a student, school personnel must follow the documentation and reporting process set out in the regulations and in our district’s policies and procedures.

STUDENT BEHAVIOR HISTORY: ESI

In cases where a student has a history of dangerous behavior for which restraint or seclusion was considered or used, a school should have a plan for: (1) teaching and supporting more

appropriate behavior. (2) determining positive methods to prevent

behavioral escalations that have previously resulted in the use of restraint or seclusion.

NEXT STEPS: CONTINUOUS TRAINING OVER TIME

District policies must include school personnel training consistent with nationally recognized training programs on the use of ESIs.

Training must address: Prevention techniques De-escalation techniques Positive behavioral intervention strategies

Training must meet the needs of all, some, and few personnel as appropriate to their duties and potential need to use an ESI.

Schools and programs must maintain documentation on training provided and those who attended.

FINAL NOTES: ESI

Using an ESI is reactive: It is only used when a student places

themselves or others at risk of immediate harm.

ESI is outside a tiered intervention system: Not an planned intervention for Tier 2 or Tier 3

Any student can have a safety emergency: ESI applies to ALL students

If an ESI occurs: Document it: by informing your administration.