> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.goguardian.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Use Emergency Mode

> Activate an emergency in GoGuardian Hall Pass to stop new passes, transition active passes to check-ins, and account for every student who is out of class.

GoGuardian Hall Pass emergency mode is a site-wide safety state that shifts the entire site from normal hallway operations to emergency procedures in seconds. Use it during safety incidents, lockdowns, or drills to quickly identify and account for students who are out of class.

## Understand What Emergency Mode Does

When you create an emergency, Hall Pass automatically:

1. Notifies staff and students of the emergency.

2. Transitions all active passes to emergency check-ins.

3. Prevents new passes from being created until the emergency is resolved.

While an emergency is active, the screen shows: "An emergency is currently active for your site. Hall passes are unavailable."

## Create an Emergency

1. In the sidebar, select **Emergency**.
2. On the **Create Emergency** screen, enter an optional message in the **Message for staff (Optional)** field. This message is sent to staff along with the emergency notification.
3. Select **Create Emergency**.
4. Verify the result: Hall Pass immediately notifies all staff and students, transitions active passes to check-ins, and locks new pass creation.

## Check In Students During an Emergency

After an emergency is created, the **Active Emergency** screen shows a table of students who had active passes at the time. The table columns are **Student**, **Route**, and **Status**.

A card on the screen reads: "The following students had active hall passes at the time of the emergency. If these students are with you, please check them in."

To check in a student:

1. Find the student in the table.
2. Select **Check in** to mark them as accounted for.
3. If you check in a student by mistake, select **Undo** to remove the check-in.

Any staff member with access to the emergency screen can check in students.

## End the Emergency

1. Select **End Emergency** in the **Active Emergency** banner.
2. If any students haven't been checked in, a warning appears: "You have students who have not been checked in."
3. Review the unchecked students, then select **End Emergency** in the confirmation dialog: "Are you sure you want to end the emergency?"
4. Verify the result: Hall Pass returns to normal operations and new passes can be created again.

## Apply Emergency Best Practices

* **Plan ahead**: Decide which staff roles can create an emergency and identify backups in case the primary contact isn't available.
* **Practice with drills**: Run at least 1 practice emergency so staff recognize how Hall Pass changes and know what to do without coaching.
* **Brief staff before you need it**: If staff aren't trained on the check-in workflow, an emergency can create confusion instead of clarity.
* **Remember to end it**: Leaving an emergency active after an incident ends blocks all new pass creation. Assign someone to confirm it's ended.
* **Verify access in advance**: Only admins and designated roles can create an emergency. Confirm who has access before an incident occurs.