INTRODUCING ALICE: THE 'ALICE IN WONDERLAND' APPROACH TO SCHOOL SAFETY
In a world where school shootings have sadly become all too common, the School District of Philadelphia has decided to take a unique and whimsical approach to ensure the safety of their students and staff. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you ALICE training – an acronym that stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. But don't worry, this isn't your typical run-of-the-mill safety drill. Oh no, this is something straight out of Wonderland!
Picture this: a classroom full of students, anxiously awaiting the start of their ALICE training session. Suddenly, the door bursts open and in walks Alice herself, complete with her signature blue dress and white apron. The students' jaws drop in astonishment as they realize that their safety instructor for the day is none other than the adventurous girl who fell down the rabbit hole.
"Good morning, my dear students!" Alice exclaims with a mischievous grin. "Today, we shall embark on a journey like no other – a journey to learn how to avoid getting killed at school!"
The students exchange bewildered glances, unsure of what to expect. But Alice is undeterred. She takes out a deck of cards and begins shuffling them with expert precision.
"Now, my dear friends, the first step in our ALICE training is to be alert," Alice explains. "Just like how I had to be alert in Wonderland to avoid the Queen of Hearts and her army of playing cards."
As Alice continues her explanation, the students can't help but feel a sense of excitement. This isn't your typical boring safety lecture – this is an adventure! And Alice is the perfect guide to lead them through it.
"Next, we have lockdown," Alice declares dramatically. "Just like how I had to lock myself in that tiny room to escape the Jabberwocky!"
The students nod eagerly, imagining themselves in Alice's shoes, hiding from a fearsome creature. This is way more fun than cowering under desks!
"But wait, there's more!" Alice exclaims, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "We have inform – because knowledge is power! And counter – where we'll learn how to outsmart even the craftiest of shooters!"
The students can't help but giggle at the thought of using their wits to outmaneuver a potential threat. Who knew school safety could be this entertaining?
"And finally," Alice concludes, "we have evacuate – because sometimes, my dear friends, running away is the smartest thing we can do!"
The students cheer, imagining themselves sprinting through the hallways with Alice by their side. This is definitely not your average fire drill!
Of course, it's important to remember that ALICE training is not just about having fun and games. It's about equipping teachers and students with the necessary skills to survive in case of a school shooting. And while some may argue that the intensity of the drills can be stressful for participants, there's no denying the effectiveness of a training program that captures the imagination and engages students in such a unique way.
So, if you ever find yourself in the School District of Philadelphia, don't be surprised if you see a group of students running through the halls with Alice in tow. They're not just playing make-believe – they're learning valuable life-saving skills in the most whimsical way possible.
And who knows? Maybe one day, thanks to ALICE training and the power of imagination, we'll live in a world where school shootings are nothing more than a distant memory. Until then, let's keep embracing new ways to dodge bullets while we work towards a society with common-sense gun laws.
Because if there's one thing we've learned from Alice and her adventures, it's that sometimes, all it takes is a little bit of madness to change the world.
Philly students are being taught to ‘counter’ shooters in new school shooting drills https://billypenn.com/2023/09/18/philadelphia-school-shooting-drills-alice-training-students-counter-attacks/ via @billy_penn
ALICE Training | The ALICE Acronym & Protocol for Active Shooter Response - ALICE Training https://www.alicetraining.com/our-program/alice-training/
THE DEFT DIVE
A - Alert
Alert is your first notification of danger.
ALERT is when you first become aware of a threat. The sooner you understand that you’re in danger, the sooner you can save yourself. A speedy response is critical. Seconds count.
Alert is overcoming denial, recognizing the signs of danger and receiving notifications about the danger from others. Alerts should be accepted, taken seriously, and should help you make survival decisions based on your circumstances.
L - Lockdown
Barricade the room. Prepare to EVACUATE or COUNTER if needed.
If EVACUATION is not a safe option, barricade entry points into your room in an effort to create a semi-secure starting point.
Our training explains scenarios where Lockdown may be the preferable option and dispels myths about passive, traditional ‘lockdown only’ procedures that create readily identifiable targets and makes a shooter’s mission easier. ALICE trainers instruct on practical techniques for how to better barricade a room, what to do with mobile and electronic devices, how and when to communicate with police, and how to use your time in lockdown to prepare to use other strategies (i.e. Counter or Evacuate) that might come into play should the active shooter gain entry.
I - Inform
Communicate the violent intruder’s location and direction in real time.
The purpose of INFORM is to continue to communicate information in as real time as possible, if it is safe to do so. Armed intruder situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly, which means that ongoing, real time information is key to making effective survival decisions. Information should always be clear, direct and in plain language, not using codes. If the shooter is known to be in an isolated section of a building, occupants in other wards can safely evacuate while those in direct danger can perform enhanced lockdown and prepare to counter.
Video surveillance, 911 calls and PA announcements are just a few of the channels that may be used by employees, safety officers, and other personnel to inform others. An emergency response plan should have clear methods outlined for informing school employees, hospital workers, or any other employees of the location of a violent intruder.
C - Counter
Create Noise, Movement, Distance and Distraction with the intent of reducing the shooter’s ability to shoot accurately. Counter is NOT fighting.
ALICE Training does not believe that actively confronting a violent intruder is the best method for ensuring the safety of those involved. Counter is a strategy of last resort. Counter focuses on actions that create noise, movement, distance and distraction with the intent of reducing the shooter’s ability to shoot accurately. Creating a dynamic environment decreases the shooter’s chance of hitting a target and can provide the precious seconds needed in order to evacuate.
E - Evacuate
When safe to do so, remove yourself from the danger zone.
ALICE provides techniques for safer and more strategic evacuations. Evacuating to a safe area takes people out of harm’s way and hopefully prevents civilians from having to come into any contact with the shooter.
Did you know that you should break a window from the top corner as opposed to the center? Many useful techniques that civilians do not know exist and can save your life. ALICE trainers teach strategies for evacuating through windows, from higher floors and under extreme duress.
ALICE Training | The ALICE Acronym & Protocol for Active Shooter Response - ALICE Training https://www.alicetraining.com/our-program/alice-training/
FROM BING AI
ALICE training is an acronym for **Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate**⁴. It is a comprehensive program that prepares schools and individuals to respond effectively to active shooter situations. The training offers realistic drills and adheres to the latest U.S. Department of Education guidelines for school shooter response⁴.
ALICE training has gained attention and sparked discussions about its effectiveness and potential impact on participants. Some teachers have expressed concerns about the intensity of the drills, citing instances where they were hit with airsoft gun pellets during the training¹. However, it is important to note that ALICE training aims to equip teachers and students with the necessary skills to survive in case of a school shooting³.
To learn more about ALICE training and its implementation in K-12 schools, you can visit their official website ⁴. Additionally, there are several news videos available that provide insights into ALICE training sessions and how they are conducted¹²³.
Please note that while ALICE training is designed to enhance safety measures in schools, its effectiveness and impact may vary depending on various factors. It is crucial for schools and communities to evaluate and adapt their safety protocols based on their specific needs and circumstances.
Bing, 9/18/2023
- (1) K-12 ALICE School Safety Training. https://www.alicetraining.com/our-program/alice-training/k12-education/.
- (2) Did School Shooter Training Session Go Too Far?. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA0M6RbFSLk.
- (3) How children are taught to survive school shootings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xLA7EYkEtk.
- (4) Area Schools Practise Active Shooter Drill. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN0oVKFTfH4.
- (5) Philadelphia students are being taught to ‘counter’ shooters. https://billypenn.com/2023/09/18/philadelphia-school-shooting-drills-alice-training-students-counter-attacks/.
- (6) A look inside the ALICE active shooter training taken by Pittsburgh .... https://www.publicsource.org/a-look-inside-the-alice-active-shooter-training-taken-by-pittsburgh-public-schools-administrators/.
- (7) Is the trauma of training for a school shooter worth it?. https://hechingerreport.org/is-the-trauma-of-training-for-a-school-shooter-worth-it/.