A high school principal is informed by a clerk in the main office that moments earlier, an anonymous caller made a bomb threat against the school. In response to this situation, the principal's first course of action should be to

• A. Evacuate the school immediately and bring students to a secure location
• B. Notify local media
• C. Lock the doors and continue classes
• D. Call individual teachers to confirm attendance

Answer: (A)

When there’s a bomb threat, the priority is to get people away from potential danger. Evacuating immediately and moving students and staff to a prearranged outside location creates a safe distance from the building, makes it easier to account for everyone, and allows responders to assess the scene quickly. Staying inside, locking doors, or continuing classes keeps people at risk and can hinder the arrival and work of emergency crews. Telling individual teachers to confirm attendance wastes precious time, and involving the media can cause panic and distract from safety actions. By evacuating right away, you establish a clear, controlled procedure that protects lives and sets the stage for coordinated response.