Safety Solutions

    Lockdown... don't SIT DOWN. All would agree that lockdown is an important tool to have in a school’s response to a violent intruder but sitting down while in the room makes little sense. If we really think about a typical classroom door, complete with a glass window in, or near, the doorway and the fact that the door knob works inside the room even though it’s locked on the outside, we shouldn’t take too much comfort in the security of the classroom doorway. So what do we do?

1. Barricade or engage a secondary locking device. In other words, enhance your fortification. Just don’t shut the door and stop. A locked door definitely helps, but it’s not the best solution.
2. Find a second way out of the room. Not every room provides this opportunity but windows can become viable exits and the outdoors provides a much greater opportunity to disperse and get to a safe place than remaining inside.
3. Find things to throw. Nobody likes to consider the horror of a violent intruder invading a locked down room of students and assaulting those inside... but it can happen. Gather items that can be thrown at the intruder's face to reduce their ability to hurt others. While engaging the intruder attempt to maneuver past him and flee the room. Don’t be a sitting duck.

   These same concepts work equally well at home, the mall or work. Empower yourself and those around you to be actively involved in maximizing your chance of survival. Sitting down and hoping evil passes you by is never a good strategy.

   This is John Baker with safetysolutions4schools.com

   Image courtesy of www.furytalk.com