Category: Best Practices
What The Terrorist Attacks in India Mean to School Safety
The recent attacks in Mumbai, India illustrate that Islamic terrorists will implement previous attack strategies that assault civilian soft targets. The relevance to educational facilities is drawn from the September 1st, 2004 massacre at the Beslan Russia elementary school that left 330 people (most of whom were children) dead.
Defining "Securable" Locations for a Lockdown
Most schools have a lockdown plan. However, not many schools have a good lockdown plan. Just as every classroom should have an evacuation plan, every room needs a lockdown plan that meets the needs of that specific location. Keep in mind, there are numerous access control solutions that can enhance a school's ability to lockdown and no location can offer total protection from a hostile intruder. At a minimum, schools should identify locations that meet certain basic safety guidelines.
Case Study - Fighting Back Against a School Shooter
Lately it seems there has been a lot of interest in schools and colleges instructing teachers to fight back when confronted with an armed attacker. Certainly the thought of having teachers (and even students) being told to throw books and fight back against a gunman is incredible and counter-intuitive. Luckily no one ever told by Ryan Crowley, Jake Ryker, Josh Ryker, Douglas Ure, Davis Ure, Ada Walberger, Joshua Pearson and Travis Weaver not to fight back against a school shooter. In 1998, these seven students prevented an attacker from killing more of their schoolmates.
On May 20, 1998, 15year-old Kipland (Kip) Phillip Kinkel was expelled from school for possessing a loaded firearm. His father, Bill Kinkel, a 59 year-old Spanish teacher picked him up from the police station, where they stopped at a Burger King on the drive home.
Preventing Targeted School Violence
After the Columbine shooting, Secret Service researchers and the Department of Education implemented the Safe School Iniative and offered suggestions for schools and parents. "Because information about these attackers' intent and planning was potentially knowable before the incident, some attacks may be preventable," the Secret Service says.
"However, because the time span between the attacker's decision to mount an attack and the actual event may be short, quick responses are necessary."
• Understand that violence is the end result of a process, which is understandable and often discernable. Students don't snap.
• There are no accurate or useful profiles of school shooters. Focus on thinking and behavior, not traits.
• Targeted violence stems from an interaction among attacker, situation, setting, and target. Pay attention to the role of bystanders, people who know what is going to happen.
• Use an investigative mind-set. Rely on the facts of this specific case. Corroborate key information. Investigate communications. Talk to the circle of friends. Investigate weapon-seeking.
• Each case is different. Each requires an individual, fact-based approach.
• Reduce barriers to students telling what they know.
• Because many students brought in guns from home, consider issues of safe gun storage.
• Don't look only for threats. Many students who posed a threat did not threaten.
• Improve handling of grievances.
This post is provided by SafePlans (www.safeplans.com), an all-hazards preparedness solution including emergency plans, staff training, and detailed site mapping.
