In this day and age, lockdown and hold & secure drills are a necessary evil. It makes my stomach churn to think of what the children, teachers, admin staff, parents, and the community in general went through in Newtown, CT, when Sandy Hook Elementary School came under fire back in December 2012. The same goes for the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Littleton, CO, and all the other situations similar to these. My heart goes out to all of them, it's all just so senseless.
As a mother whose oldest has recently entered the school system, lockdown and hold & secure drills are my new reality. And theirs! Fire drills and bus safety presentations are one thing, but lockdown practices are something that makes me feel uneasy. To think of something happening to my children, or to someone else's children is so hard to think about. These lockdown drills, as hard as they are to stomach & think about, are important. They are designed to keep everyone as safe as possible. To give the kids a chance to practice them, so that if, God forbid, the time came to put it in place for a real emergency, that they can do so as quickly and effectively as possible.
Since the Columbine massacre back in 1999, many things have changed with regards to emergency preparedness regarding an armed person or other serious threat to safety within schools. Lockdown drills, as well as Hold & Secure are two of them. To clarify, here is the difference between Lockdown Status and a Hold & Secure Status:
Hold & Secure: This is initiated when situations require the school to have all external doors locked to ensure that the threat police are dealing with in the area does not enter the school. There is no threat to anyone inside the school, they just want to make sure that the threat does not enter the school. Normal movement and activities go on inside the school while the external doors stay locked.
Lockdowns: These are when the external doors of the school are left unlocked as the threat is deemed to be immediately near or inside the school. All classroom and other internal doors are locked and the students and staff are contained inside the locked room that they are in, with all curtains/blinds closed with lights turned off. Students are instructed to shield themselves into a corner, underneath tables/desks, or in another area of the room that is deemed to be the safest that is away from windows & doors. They are also instructed to stay silent. Leaving the external doors open allows the threat to be able to leave the building.
There is also Shelter In Place, but that is typically used when there is a hazardous environmental issue going on in proximity to the school and they want staff and students to stay inside until they rectify the issue. It is not related at all to a threat to life by an armed person.
These drills can cause anxiety and confusion in both parents and children. Schools do try and make it more of a "game" with the youngest children, but even for them if can be a frightening experience.
Lockdown drills typically have the principal or other school administration making a brief announcement over the PA system ordering a lockdown. Staff corral the students and follow the lockdown procedures for their school, which is usually as described above. Once the announcement has been given, and the procedures initiated, a school administrator typically walks around the school and tries to "get in" the classroom by trying to open the door. They don't typically do anything overly frightening to "get in", it's usually a turn of the doorhandle to make sure the door is locked. This gives the kids a chance to practice what will hopefully never, ever happen.
Even though the chance that this would ever happen at your child(ren)'s school is very slim, in this day & age, it is so very important to practice these drills. As a young child, I can remember being nervous and a bit anxious when it was time for the fire drills. I can't imagine what it would have been like to have to do a drill where we were gently told that a bad guy might be in the school and that we would have to hide from him. After all, aren't kids supposed to feel safe at school? For some kids, these are drills just like no other. They have been learning them since they started school. But for some, it's very stressful. Worrying about a spelling bee or a test can wrack a child's brain. But worrying about a gunman can be much worse, and it's best to try and reduce and combat their fear and anxieties, as well as your own, wherever possible.
Here are some ways to prepare you and your child for lockdown practice and aid in reducing or eliminating the anxiety that can accompany this type of drill:
For Children:
- By explaining what will happen during a lockdown drill in an age appropriate way, they can go into it knowing what to expect. This can help alleviate their fear of the unknown. You don't have to get into specifics about a gunman, just use your common sense about how much and what your child specifically needs to know, and can handle.
- Remind them that they will probably never have to deal with this type of threat. You can use the example of fire drills. Even though we practice them, when was the last time there was a fire at a school?
- Most elementary schools are required to have locked exterior doors 24-7. Remind them that the school doors are locked and no one can get in without first being buzzed in by the receptionist.
- Kids pick up on things. Do your best to sound calm, cool, & collected when discussing this with your child. If you display even the slightest bit of anxiety or discomfort about this when talking to them, they might think that you are not confident about lockdown drills. And if you aren't confident, how can they be? Fake it, 'til you make it, even if you don't truly feel confident discussing it. Who would?
- Most elementary schools give advance notice when a lockdown drill is going to occur. If your school doesn't, ask them to start letting you know in advance. If you have an anxious child, or even if you don't, it helps to give them advance warning that it will take place.
- If they are nervous, ask them what specifically they are nervous about and address each of their concerns.
- If your child seems particularly nervous or anxious about the impending drill, be sure to let the teacher know so he/she can check in with them immediately afterwards and throughout the day.
- Remind your child that even though they might feel scared and not know what to do, the teacher will direct them what to do and where to go.
- Remind them that drills are just a chance to learn and practice how to react in certain emergency situations that will probably never happen.
- If a child is scared that no one will know where they are in the school when this happens, you can let them know in an age appropriate way that police (most do) have pictures, blueprints and aerial shots of the school. This way, they know where every single room in the school is, and will check them to make sure everyone is safe. That police will come and find them, as they know where all the rooms are in the school, even closets.
- Let your child know that the police might be there to make sure that it's all done correctly and to help kids learn on the day of the drill. Most schools will have police on site the day of their official drills.
- Role play it at home before they do their drill, so they can experience the drill with the person who they feel safest with. You can even swap roles and allow your child to be the teacher and you, the student. Check with your school on what their drill procedures are so you can make sure they are the same as described in this post, and then act it out.
- After discussing their school day upon their return home, try and have something special planned to take their mind off their stressful day.
For Parents:
- Know that you are not alone. Many parents, even seasoned ones, feel nervous and/or anxious about their child doing a lockdown drill. Even though we know they are a necessary evil, the thought of something happening at our child's school is not an easy pill to swallow. Even if the odds are minute that an active shooter incident would occur at their place of learning.
- Reach out to fellow parents and/or friends to share your concerns and talk about them amongst each other for support. This can be done in person, or within online mom/parent communities.
- If your child is taught in a portable, inquire with your school what their plan is for students and staff in portables that are not physically attached to the school.
- If you have concerns that can't be dealt with by the support of friends or other parents, have a chat with school administration, your child's teacher or the principal about your specific fears. This can help put your mind at ease.
- If you are finding that you and/or your child's fears or anxieties surrounding lockdown drills are not subsiding, or increase, seek professional help. You can do so by contacting the school to see if they have a social worker on staff who can speak to you, or who can point you in the right direction for resources in your community. If you do not feel comfortable contacting the school, call or visit www.211.ca here in Canada, or www.211US.org in the U.S. for free information and referral to counselling programs in your area.
Books on The Subject:
Lucy Practices a Lockdown - Gretchen Panicucci
Don't Laugh, Joe! - Keiko Kasza
Hang in there! Unfortunately, this is the new normal, and we will all get through it. Even though it is hard to believe, this will eventually become just another drill that our kids' schools do. As sad as that is! In the meantime, at least we are doing something that can help our kids be safe should this ever occur at your child(ren)'s school. And in that, we can find some comfort, as uncomfortable and strange as that may sound.
***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post.*****
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