In the coming days, students across Illinois will venture back into the classroom. That’s why this month, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS), along with local Emergency Management Agencies, are highlighting resources and tips to help students better prepare for their return to the classroom. Whether you have a new kindergartener, or are a 5th year super senior in college, there are helpful resources available for students of all ages to keep them safe in the classroom throughout the school year. “School safety includes being aware of on campus hazards, but we also need to utilize the digital resources available to us,” said Homeland Security Advisor to Governor J.B. Pritzker and IEMA-OHS Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau. “Safe2HelpIL is an outstanding start in providing a free resource to all students throughout the State of Illinois to help keep them safe.” There are several ways that students from elementary through high school can reach out to Safe2Help:

• Call 1-844-4SAFEIL (723345)

• Text SAFE2 (72332)

• Online at https://app.safe22helpil.com/

• Email HELP@Safe2HelpIL.com

• Download the Safe2HelpIL app (Android or iOS)

Here are some planning tips for parents to consider:

• Know how your school will contact parents/guardians in the event of an evacuation

• Ensure the school has all of your current emergency contact information on file

• Pre-authorize a friend or relative to pick up your children in an emergency

• Teach children with cell phones about ‘Text First, Talk Later.’ Short, simple text messages, such as “R U OK?,” and “I’m OK,” are more likely to get through than a phone call if phone service is disrupted during an emergency. As phone congestion eases, you can follow up with a phone call to relay more information.

For additional information, visit Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS): Ready.Illinois.Gov