Train Staff, Faculty and Students Frequently
Once lockdown and other emergency protocols have been completed and carefully vetted, staff and students should be trained appropriately in their implementation. There are a variety of available mechanisms to help campus officials, depending upon the organization’s situation, budget and internal resources.
For example, one large school system trained crisis team personnel from each school, provided them with a standardized power point presentation and required them to provide training for all employees at each site. Another district required a full day of training on the district’s safety policies, procedures and plans as part of new employee orientation after all current employees had received the same training.
More and more campus organizations are using online safety training programs for staff and students. One of the most cost effective ways to train large numbers of individuals is interactive training videos with decision making table top scenarios. This approach is particularly well suited for settings with high employee turnover, high student turnover, and large numbers of part time students and staff. Of course, it is important to document training effor
ts regardless of the mediums used.
Always Use Good Judgment During Drills
The use of lockdown drills to test plans, procedures and equipment while helping to prepare students and staff has resulted in much heated debate. This is particularly true when major mistakes have been made and national media exposure has resulted.
Some of the most controversial situations have involved the use of unannounced lockdown drills involving simulated weapons, explosions and/or the firing of blank rounds. Students have been burned by blank rounds, staff have been rushed to the hospital after complaining of chest pains and students, staff and parents have reported being terrified in some of these instances. More than a few campus organizations have found themselves criticized on the news after engaging in these types of simulations.
It is advisable to follow long established drill and exercise concepts, requiring that all drills and exercises be coordinated by properly trained personnel. Additionally, carefully considering when students need to be involved with drills and exercises will avert most of the problems occasionally encountered in the drill and exercise process.
