Why do New Zealand schools need civil defence supplies?

Schools have an important responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of students, staff and visitors.

The Ministry of Education states that every school must have an emergency management plan and that the school board is responsible for keeping it current. A school emergency plan should include roles and responsibilities, evacuation procedures, communication arrangements, medical assistance and procedures for contacting emergency services.

However, a written plan is only effective when it is supported by appropriate training, regular drills and accessible emergency supplies.

A well-prepared school should be ready for situations in which:

• Students and staff must shelter at school
• Buildings are unsafe to enter
• Electricity, water or communications are unavailable
• Parents and caregivers cannot reach the school
• The school must evacuate to an alternative location
• Staff need to provide first aid or support vulnerable students
• Roads and public transport are disrupted
• A tsunami or another local hazard requires rapid evacuation

Schools should base their preparations on their roll, staffing levels, location, buildings and local hazards.

Civil defence supplies checklist for schools

There is no single emergency kit that will suit every New Zealand school. Supplies should be sufficient for the number and ages of students and adults who may be present, including students with disabilities, medical conditions, allergies or additional support needs.

The following checklist provides a practical starting point.

1. Emergency drinking water

A safe water supply is one of the most important parts of school emergency preparedness.

New Zealand’s Get Ready guidance recommends planning for at least three litres of water per person per day for three days or more in workplace settings. Schools should assess whether additional water will be needed for food preparation, first aid, hygiene and sanitation.

Consider:

• Sealed drinking-water containers
• Multiple smaller containers that staff can safely move
• Disposable cups
• Water Filtration Sysyem
• Water purification tablets or an approved treatment method
• Clearly marked storage and opening dates
• Water stored across more than one secure location

Stored water should be protected from sunlight, chemicals, pests and accidental damage. Schools should establish a documented schedule for checking containers and replacing or treating water when required.

2. Long-life emergency food

Emergency food for schools should be easy to distribute, simple to prepare and suitable for the expected length of an emergency.

Suitable options can include:

• Emergency ration bars
• Long-life meal pouches
• Freeze-dried emergency meals
• Canned food
• Crackers and shelf-stable spreads
• Dried fruit
• Allergy-aware snacks
• Food suitable for younger children

Select food that requires little or no cooking, particularly if electricity and water are unavailable. Schools should also record dietary requirements, allergies and culturally appropriate food needs.

Check expiry and best-before dates at least every six months. A stock-rotation system can reduce waste by moving suitable items into normal school use before they expire.

3. School first aid supplies

Every school should have first aid supplies appropriate for its roll, activities and identified risks. During a significant emergency, more than one person may require treatment at the same time.

Supplies may include:

• Comprehensive first aid kits
• Portable first aid kits for evacuation
• Civil Defence Cabinets
• Disposable gloves
• Sterile dressings and bandages
• Antiseptic products
• Saline solution
• Emergency blankets
• Scissors and medical tape
• Instant cold packs
• CPR face shields
• Face masks
• First aid instruction cards
• Notebooks and casualty-record forms

Any student medication must be stored and managed in accordance with the school’s established medical procedures. Schools should consider how essential medication will remain accessible during an evacuation or lockdown.

4. Emergency lighting and communication equipment

Schools should not rely entirely on mains electricity, mobile phones or internet access.

Useful communication and lighting equipment includes:

• Battery-powered or wind-up radios
• LED torches
• Headlamps for key staff
• Spare batteries
• Charged power banks
• Charging cables
• Portable radios or walkie-talkies
• Whistles
• Megaphones
• Laminated emergency contact lists
• Printed student and staff rolls
• Maps showing evacuation and assembly areas

Assign responsibility for checking batteries, charging power banks and testing communication equipment regularly.

5. Shelter and warmth

Students and staff may need to remain outside or in an alternative shelter following an earthquake, fire or building evacuation.

Emergency shelter supplies may include:

• Tarpaulins
• Ropes and fastening equipment
• Emergency blankets
• Woollen blankets
• Rain ponchos
• Ground sheets
• Warm clothing
• Sun hats and sunscreen
• Work gloves
• Dust masks
• High-visibility vests

Requirements will differ between regions. A South Island school preparing for winter conditions may have different needs from a coastal North Island school in a tsunami evacuation zone.

6. Emergency sanitation and hygiene supplies

Damage to water and wastewater systems can quickly create hygiene problems, particularly when large numbers of children are involved.

Consider storing:

• Emergency toilet buckets with secure lids
• Heavy-duty rubbish bags
• Toilet paper
• Hand sanitiser
• Soap
• Disposable gloves
• Disinfectant
• Paper towels
• Wet wipes
• Menstrual products
• Nappies and infant supplies where appropriate
• Privacy screens or temporary shelter materials

Sanitation supplies should be accompanied by clear instructions so staff know how to establish and safely manage emergency toilet facilities.

7. Evacuation and rescue equipment

Depending on the school’s size, layout and identified risks, additional equipment may be needed to support an evacuation.

This may include:

• Class or area grab bags
• High-visibility vests for emergency leaders
• Rescue stretcher
• Wheelchair evacuation equipment
• Traffic-control cones
• Barrier tape
• Crowbars or basic tools
• Fire extinguishers
• Utility shut-off tools
• Waterproof document containers
• Student identification or reunification materials

Specialist rescue equipment should only be used by people who have received appropriate training.

8. Classroom emergency grab bags

A portable grab bag for each classroom or learning area helps teachers quickly take essential supplies during an evacuation.

A classroom grab bag could contain:

• Current class roll
• Emergency contact information
• Basic first aid supplies
• Torch and spare batteries
• Whistle
• High-visibility vest
• Emergency blankets
• Water and compact emergency food
• Face masks and disposable gloves
• Hand sanitiser
• Notepad and permanent markers
• Age-appropriate activities
• Supplies required by particular students

Grab bags should be clearly labelled, easy to carry and stored near an exit where they remain accessible.

9. Student wellbeing and reunification resources

Emergencies can be frightening and confusing for children. Familiar activities and clear communication can help students remain calm while they wait for further information or collection.

Useful supplies include:

• Books, games and activity materials
• Comfort items for younger children
• Sensory resources
• Visual communication cards
• Printed instructions in relevant languages
• Student release forms
• Signs for parent collection points
• Pens, clipboards and permanent markers
• Portable shelter for the reunification area

Schools should have a controlled process for releasing students only to authorised people. Parents and caregivers should know the school’s collection location and procedures before an emergency occurs.

The official Get Ready guidance recommends that families provide schools with current contact details and a list of people authorised to collect their children. Families should also plan to travel on foot or by bicycle if damaged or congested roads prevent vehicle access.

Where should school emergency supplies be stored?

Civil defence supplies need to remain accessible after an emergency. Storing everything inside one building creates a risk that the entire supply could become unreachable.

Consider distributing supplies between:

• A secure outdoor emergency container
• Administration areas
• Classrooms
• Assembly points
• School vehicles
• Alternative evacuation locations

Storage areas should be weatherproof, secure and clearly marked. Heavy items should be stored low, while equipment that may be needed immediately should be positioned near the front.

Staff must know where supplies are located, who can access them and who is responsible for bringing them to the emergency assembly area.

How often should supplies be checked?

Schools should inspect civil defence supplies at least every six months and after every drill or emergency activation.

A supply check should include:

• Replacing expired food and medical products
• Checking stored water
• Testing torches and radios
• Recharging power banks
• Replacing damaged containers
• Updating student rolls and contact lists
• Reviewing allergy and medical requirements
• Checking clothing and child-specific supplies
• Confirming equipment remains accessible
• Recording completed inspections

It is also sensible to review supplies whenever the school roll, site layout or identified risks change.

Connect supplies with the school emergency plan

Purchasing emergency equipment is only one part of being prepared. Staff must understand how, when and where each item will be used.

A strong school emergency programme should include:

• An up-to-date emergency management plan
• Clearly assigned staff responsibilities
• Evacuation, earthquake, lockdown and shelter-in-place procedures
• Regular drills and realistic practice scenarios
• A parent and caregiver communication plan
• Student collection and reunification procedures
• Arrangements for students with additional needs
• Coordination with emergency services
• Procedures for reviewing incidents and improving the plan

Schools can access official planning guidance and an emergency management plan template from the New Zealand Ministry of Education. Educational resources for teaching students about emergency preparedness are also available through Get Ready.

Choosing civil defence supplies for your school

Before ordering supplies, confirm:

1. The maximum number of students, staff and visitors you may need to support.
2. How long people could realistically remain at the school.
3. The natural hazards and other emergencies relevant to your location.
4. Whether the school may need to evacuate on foot.
5. The medical, mobility, communication and dietary needs of students.
6. Where supplies can be safely stored and accessed.
7. Who will inspect and maintain each item.
8. How equipment will be incorporated into staff training and drills.

This assessment will help your school avoid buying unnecessary products while ensuring essential gaps are addressed.

Prepare your school before an emergency

Effective emergency preparation gives staff the resources and confidence to care for students when normal services and routines are disrupted.

Bunkerbox supplies civil defence supplies for New Zealand schools, including emergency kits, classroom grab bags, long-life emergency food, water-storage products, first aid kits, emergency blankets, sanitation equipment, lighting, radios, stretchers and civil defence cabinets.

Schools can purchase standard emergency products or contact Bunkerbox to discuss supplies suited to their roll, location, budget and emergency management plan.

Preparing now can make a significant difference when students and staff need support, reassurance and practical help the most.