When the fire alarm rings or a lockdown drill is announced over the intercom, it isn’t just a routine break from class—it is a carefully structured, research-backed exercise designed to protect Murray City School District students.

Across our district, keeping schools safe is a continuous, proactive effort rather than a reaction to an immediate threat. Utah state law establishes clear guidelines for school safety drills, and research in emergency preparedness explains why these regular practice sessions are so essential for keeping our classrooms secure and calm.

What Utah State Law Requires

UnderUtah Code 15A-5-202.5 (2)(d), public schools follow strict schedules to ensure emergency readiness throughout the academic year. Because learning environments differ between younger children and older students, state code outlines tailored requirements for elementary and secondary schools:

Elementary Schools

• Monthly Evacuations: Elementary schools conduct an emergency evacuation drill every month.

• Fast Start: The school year's first evacuation drill must occur within the first 10 school days after classes begin.

• Safety Drill Substitutions: Schools can substitute every other monthly evacuation drill with a specific safety or security drill—such as Shelter, Hold, Secure, or Lockdown. Evacuation drills must still occur at least every other month.

Secondary Schools

• Bi-Monthly Evacuations: Secondary schools conduct four emergency evacuation drills over the course of the nine-month school year (roughly once every two months).

• Beginning-of-Year Readiness: Like elementary schools, the first drill takes place within 10 school days of the start of the school year.

• Mid-Year Reset: The third evacuation drill occurs within 10 school days after the start of the new calendar year in January, weather permitting (or as soon as conditions allow).

• Flexible Substitutions: The second and fourth evacuation drills may be substituted with a targeted safety or security drill (Shelter, Hold, Secure, or Lockdown).

Why We Drill: Muscle Memory and Panic Reduction

Safety experts and emergency managers emphasize that emergency drills are about building muscle memory. During a high-stress event, the human brain’s prefrontal cortex—the area responsible for complex decision-making—can slow down due to fear. Practicing safety responses regularly transfers critical actions into automatic habits, drastically reducing panic and response times for students and staff alike.

National school safety studies show that routine drills ensure students instinctively know where to go, how to quietly follow instructions, and how to remain calm. Varying the types of drills—from fire evacuations to lockdowns and shelter-in-place scenarios—ensures that everyone in our buildings knows how to adapt quickly to different situations.

Keeping Track Behind the Scenes

Every drill conducted in Murray City School District is carefully documented. Following each exercise, school administrators log the date, specific drill type, and duration, reporting these details to district administration officials. These records are compiled and submitted to the state at the end of the school year to ensure full compliance with Utah safety standards.

By maintaining these regular routines, Murray schools foster safe, predictable environments where teachers can focus on teaching and students can focus on learning.