How Imagining Emergencies Can Help Improve Safety

For a minute, I want you to close your eyes. I am going to ask you to go to a place that is difficult to go to for all of us.

Parents, I want you to imagine what it would be like to get a phone call from your child’s school informing you that there has been a shooting and that the children are currently in lockdown. School facility members, imagine the sounds you might hear the moment you realize that an intruder has entered your school to do harm.

Police officers, superintendents, school board members, etc…, imagine that you all get that same horrific call. What does your heart feel like? Where does your mind go? Do you know the flaws and vulnerabilities of your school? Is your school ready for this? Are you ready? Do you know what you are supposed to do? Do you feel confident the school is prepared to respond?

Now I want you to make a list for me. Make a list of all the things you know in your heart haven’t been addressed or prepared for an emergency situation like this. Then I want you to look at your list and tell me how you feel.

It is a hard place to go, believe me, I have experienced it firsthand. I relive it every time I see news coverage after another school shooting (29 and counting since Sandy Hook) and how their community never thought something that horrible could happen to them. It is hard to really open yourself up to seeing the world you live in as a dangerous place. No one wants to feel like they are sending their children somewhere where they may be vulnerable. No one wants to work in a place they feel is dangerous. So if we all know we don’t want this problem… why do we avoid fixing the problem? When we refrain from asking the tough questions, we prevent ourselves from ever finding solutions.

Start today to help your schools improve safety. How do you begin? Our toolkits can help inform you of the steps you need to take and the resources available. Start by getting an assessment done for your school. Did you know there are free assessments and resources out there? FREE!

We invite you to read through our site and get inspired to make your school safer today! If there is something you would like to see and don’t, we love feedback! We are here to help you. Contact us at info@safeandsoundschools.org and challenge yourselves to ask those tough questions.

AP

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