In a school in New Jersey, the worst-case scenario unfolds: an active shooter is on the loose. School officials and police units prepare for this nightmare they never want to experience. These drills, called Code Red, are now being expanded nationwide with funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Realistic drills: What is Code Red?
Code Red drills are designed to be as realistic as possible to test the response capacity of police and school officials. In these drills:
- Students take on the role of the injured with fake blood poured on them.
- The scenario is not limited to a shooting; a vehicle bomb scenario was included in the New Jersey drill.
- Police, school administration, and security personnel act in a coordinated manner.
Survival techniques from Los Angeles
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department prepared an educational video explaining survival techniques during a shooting. The main steps recommended in the video are:
- Barricade the door: If you are in a room, pile desks or anything you can find in front of the door.
- Turn off the lights.
- Silence your cell phone.
- Use improvised weapons as a last resort: Any object that can disrupt the attacker’s ability to see, breathe, or control their weapon can be used for this purpose.
Armed teachers: Practice from New Mexico
In a parochial school in New Mexico, teachers and school administrators carry firearms against a possible attack. Many staff members, including the security director and the school principal, are part of this practice.
A striking detail is that the school’s pastor carries his .45 caliber pistol in a bag that looks like a Bible. The school principal uses a .38 caliber semi-automatic pistol. When students were asked, “Does knowing your teacher carries a gun make you feel safer?” all students responded positively.
Dogs in action: Expert opinion
Security expert Bill Stanton suggests assigning trained dogs to schools. According to Stanton, having 80 pounds of muscle and nerve lunging at an attacker is enough to create fear in them. Even this short amount of time can provide the window needed to get children to a safe area or evacuate them completely.
Threat assessment teams: Before attack happens
Psychiatrist Jonathan Sharon, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, states that many schools now form “threat assessment” teams to detect potential threats before incidents occur. According to Sharon, warning signs to watch for include:
- Disturbing comments made in class.
- Threatening statements directed at other students.
- Abnormal behavior changes.
- Social isolation.
Conclusion
The school massacre in Florida and many subsequent tragic events once again demonstrated how necessary these measures have become. These precautions, which may seem extreme, have now become an inevitable reality of the world we live in.