Do Your Kids Have An Escape Plan At School?

One of the things my ALICE trainer said during our instructor certification that stuck with me was "I'd rather spend twelve hours looking for lost kids than two hours identifying the bodies of kids."  Did you know there was an exit door in the Columbine Library and that many, if not all, of the students and staff killed could have evacuated and returned home to their families and friends safe and sound?  Why didn't they evacuate you ask?  They didn't evacuate because Columbine's protocol at that time was only traditional lockdown. What is traditional lockdown?  It's when your child(ren) crawl under a table or desk and sit and wait for trouble to arrive.

How can you help?  Find out your child(ren) school's disaster preparedness protocol.  Ask if the school has a specific place where your child(ren) should go in case of a disaster?  Ask if the school has coordinated a disaster preparedness command center with local law enforcement in case of a disaster.  Ask your kids what type of disaster preparedness drills they participate in at school.  Asking these types of questions will help you determine your next course of action to ensure your children are empowered and prepared in case a disaster takes place at their school. 

Here are a few tips that will also help:

• Make sure your child(ren) knows their home address and at least one telephone number to reach you at in case they have to evacuate
• Make sure you update your child(ren) emergency contact information annually or more frequent if it changes
• Prepare and practice an emergency disaster plan at home because armed home invasions are on the rise.
• Talk with your child(ren) about disaster preparedness - be open and honest
• Listen to what your child(ren) are afraid of and help them find ways to cope with their fears
• Teach older children not to fight back or counter unless they have no other option
• Teach younger children how to be a distraction (make noise and run) 

As a mother I will never forget December 14, 2012.  When the breaking news started to come across my computer screen that a madman had took a gun to an elementary school and killed students and staff, I was beyond horrified.  I couldn't stop the tears from flowing. I cried myself to sleep for several nights because just imagining the anguish those parents felt was overwhelming to say the least.  My child at that time was a full grown adult but my motherly instincts would not allow me not to hurt for those families.  I wanted to do anything I could to help them and all I knew to do at that time was make a monetary donation.

Fast forward five years.  When I sat in my ALICE Active Shooter instructor training class and my instructor began to talk about Sandy Hook, my eyes started to leak all over again.  I still have the names of all the Sandy Hook victims posted on my desk because that school shooting changed me at my core.  ALICE Active Shooter training was just the thing I had been looking for because now I could help make our schools and communities safer for our children and for us.  So for Tucker Consulting and Training Services, ALICE is more than just an added service we offer.  ALICE for us is one of the many ways we give back to our community by helping to keep it safe.  

For more information about our Disaster Preparedness Training which includes ALICE Active Shooter training, CPR and First Aid Training.  Please visit our cyberspace at www.tuckercts.com or call us at (904) 469-6741 for more information.

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