Tips to prepare for, respond to school shootings

The Associated Press Published:

Ohio is using regional events over the next few weeks to train educators about preparing for and responding to school shooting situations. The training includes these suggestions:


-- Develop safety plans for responding to various threats, including an active shooter.

-- Test safety plans in a realistic environment with sensory overload to mimic the stress of a real emergency.

-- Incorporate law enforcement in training sessions and drills to ensure educators and police are on the same page.

-- Plan gathering spots outside the building and parking lot in case of evacuation.

-- Do not ignore troublesome behaviors that could be warning signs of potential violence.


-- Communicate information about the threat and its location in plain language and update continuously.

-- Quickly determine the most reasonable way to protect lives, such as to run or to hide quietly.

-- Secure the immediate area. In lockdown, lock doors and then barricade them.

-- Position people behind extra protection, such as walls or desks.

-- Silence cell phones and close blinds or block windows.

-- Create a plan to fight back using any items on hand if necessary.

-- If attacked, do not remain stationary. Use distraction techniques and try to escape or swarm attacker.

-- If you seize attacker's weapon, carry it in a trash can or other container to avoid perception that you are a threat.


Source: Instructor James Burke of Ohio Police Officer Training Academy