Students from Laconia High School in New Hampshire are well on their way to the creation of a DVD that will contain blueprints and critical information to be used by emergency services. In addition to creating a new emergency brochure for parents, students are using state-of-the-art Computer Aided Drafting software and laser measuring tools to create detailed floor plans and 3-D views of each room in the high school. I

Information such as room location, size, hazardous material present, amount of doors and windows, location of emergency exits, and a video clip of the room will be compiled and converted to a DVD that fire, police and other emergency officials can review prior to, or during, an emergency event.

The project is expected to expand to other schools in the district and then to other public buildings in the city. Through several reflection activities, the students have noted the connections to their math, science, English, and technology classes, and they have enjoyed working with Sheriff Dan Collis of the Belknap County Sheriff's Department.

The students have also started to create a Web site to document their progress and describe the detailed procedures used to create a final product. The Web site will also be used to post the new emergency brochure with Web links to all state and local emergency contacts.

For more information about Project Extra! at Laconia High School, contact Paul Robdau, 345 Union Ave, Laconia, NH 03246, at probdau@laconia.k12.nh.us - http://www.projectextra.org.