What to Put in a Classroom Lockdown Kit: A Checklist for Schools
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Short answer: a classroom lockdown kit holds what a teacher and up to 30 students need to stay in the room safely until the all-clear. The core is a bucket toilet with sanitation supplies and a privacy screen, a HELP/OK sign for the window or door, and basic light and first aid. If a lockdown at your school could run long, add food and drinking water. Plan one kit for every classroom or instructional space. The checklist below covers what to include and what teachers should add themselves.
Why classrooms need a lockdown kit
During a lockdown, students and staff stay in the room with the door secured until responders give the all-clear. That can take minutes or several hours. Nobody can leave to use the restroom or get supplies, so the supplies have to be in the room already. A kit stored in every classroom means each teacher has the same supplies in the same place.
The classroom lockdown kit checklist
1. Sanitation (the most important part)
Restroom access is the first problem in a long lockdown. A sanitation setup includes:
- A 5-gallon bucket that doubles as the kit's container
- A snap-on toilet seat and lid
- Toilet or biohazard bags to line the bucket
- Toilet paper
- A toilet deodorizer or chemical pack to control odor
- Disposable gloves
- Moist towelettes for hand cleaning
2. Privacy
- A tarp and duct tape to hang a privacy screen in a corner of the room
3. Communication with responders
- A HELP/OK sign: red "HELP" on one side and green "OK" on the other, placed in a window or on the door so responders can see each room's status
- A whistle to signal for help
4. Light and comfort
- A flashlight that doesn't depend on batteries, in case the power goes out
- An emergency thermal blanket for a student who is cold or in shock
5. Food and water (for lockdowns that may run long)
- Long-shelf-life food bars and sealed drinking water pouches, enough for each person in the room
Not every lockdown kit needs food and water. See "Do lockdown kits need food and water?" below.
6. What teachers add themselves
Some items are specific to each class and are best added by the teacher or the school. State school safety guidance, such as this suggested classroom supply list from Colorado's school safety resources, includes items like these:
- A current class roster and a confidential list of students with medical or special needs
- A copy of your school's emergency procedures
- Students' prescription medications, where your school's policy allows
- A first aid kit
- Quiet activities such as cards or paper and pencils to keep students calm
Standard vs Premium: what's in our classroom lockdown kits
Our classroom lockdown kits come in two versions. Both are packed in a 5-gallon red bucket that becomes the toilet.
| Standard kit | Premium kit | |
|---|---|---|
| 5-gallon bucket, snap-on toilet seat and lid | Yes | Yes |
| Toilet paper, 6 biohazard bags, toilet deodorizer | Yes | Yes |
| 2 pairs of vinyl gloves, 30 moist towelettes | Yes | Yes |
| Blue tarp (5' x 7') and duct tape (10 yd) for privacy | Yes | Yes |
| HELP/OK placard | Yes | Yes |
| Pump LED flashlight (no batteries needed), safety whistle, thermal blanket | No | Yes |
| Food: five 2,400-calorie food bars | No | Yes |
| Water: 30 drinking water pouches (4.2 oz each) | No | Yes |
If you only need the toilet setup, the Classroom Emergency Toilet Bucket Kit includes a 5-gallon pail, snap-on seat, toilet paper, 6 toilet bags, 10 moist wipes and a toilet chemical pack. Extra HELP/OK signs are also sold singly or in a pack of 50 for a whole school.
Do lockdown kits need food and water?
It depends on how long a lockdown at your school could last. Many lockdowns are short, and a Standard kit covers the most urgent need, which is a toilet. If your campus is remote, large, or likely to wait a long time for an all-clear, the Premium kit adds food and water for up to 30 people in the room.
The Premium kit is designed for a single lockdown that runs longer than expected, not for a 72-hour emergency. It provides about one 4.2-oz water pouch and 400 calories per person for 30 people. The food bars are divided into wrapped 400-calorie portions, so they're easy to hand out. For earthquakes or other events where students may need to stay on campus for days, plan separate school emergency kits with a 72-hour supply.
What about door security devices?
Some schools add a door barricade or latch so a classroom door can be secured quickly from inside. See our door security and barricade devices, such as the 123 Lock Down Latch. Door-blocking devices can be regulated by fire and building codes, so check with your local fire marshal or building authority before installing one.
Where to keep the kit
- Keep one kit in every classroom and instructional space, including portables, the library, the gym and offices where students may shelter.
- Store it in the same spot in every room, such as a closet or cabinet away from the door, so substitutes can find it too.
- Label it clearly and make sure every teacher knows where it is.
- The lockdown kit is made for staying in place. For evacuations, teachers usually grab a classroom go bag instead.
Checking and refreshing kits
Check each kit at the start of every school year. Restock anything that was used during a drill or a real lockdown, update the class roster, and check the expiration dates printed on the food bars and water pouches if your kits include them. Replace food and water before they expire.
Frequently asked questions
How many lockdown kits does a school need?
One for every room where students may be during a lockdown, including classrooms, portables, the library, the gym and the cafeteria. See our guide to how many emergency kits a school needs for help counting rooms.
How many students does one kit serve?
One kit is meant for one room. The Premium kit's food and water are sized for up to 30 people for a single lockdown event.
Is a lockdown kit the same as a classroom emergency kit?
No. A lockdown kit is for staying in the room for hours. A classroom emergency kit or go bag covers evacuations, earthquakes and longer emergencies. Many schools have both. See the top 10 items every classroom emergency kit should have.
Can lockdown kits be customized for our district?
Yes. For district and volume orders, contents and labeling can be customized. We accept purchase orders and tax-exempt orders.
Quick checklist
- Bucket toilet with seat, bags, toilet paper and deodorizer
- Gloves and moist towelettes
- Tarp and duct tape for a privacy screen
- HELP/OK sign
- Flashlight, whistle and thermal blanket
- Food and water, if lockdowns could run long
- Class roster, emergency procedures, medications, first aid and quiet activities (added by the teacher)
- One kit per room, in the same place in every room
- Check and restock every school year
Equipping a whole school or district? Request a quote with your number of classrooms, and we'll recommend a setup. You can also browse all our classroom lockdown kits and buckets.
Written by Mina Arnao, More Prepared. Last reviewed: October 2026.