The realistic drill of how to act during a school shooting 2:55
(CNN) –– A leading group of pediatricians noted that realistic active shooting drills can unnecessarily traumatize children, and schools should stop implementing them.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) detailed this week, in a policy statement, the risks posed by shooting trainings that simulate an attack and drills that students believe are real crises. Both types of exercises can cause psychological harm to students and even hinder the decision-making of teachers in real crisis, the AAP noted.
More research is needed on how to better prepare students and teachers to deal with a school shooting, the association said. Children and teens should participate in some crisis-training drills, the AAP said, but not when those drills could do more harm than good.
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Typical shooting drills may involve students hiding in one part of their classroom and keeping quiet. The most intense variations can represent a shooting, and some exercises can even be performed without warning to students and parents.
In its policy statement, published in the journal Pediatrics , the AAP warned against "high intensity" shooting drills, which can use live weapons, gunshots and makeup to depict bullet wounds or blood.
Active shooting drills are often planned without the involvement of experts who can address the needs of young children, those who have suffered trauma, and children with disabilities. Students should only be included in drills designed for their benefit, the AAP insisted, not just for the benefit of teachers.
Intense drills could hamper judgment, according to AAP
Shooting drills seek to prepare teachers and students for the potential shooting scenario at school, but some of the tactics they teach can be dangerous. According to the AAP, such training can give children and adults the "illusion of control" if they face crises, which could put them in danger or hurt others.
There's also evidence that intense training could even hinder decision-making by adult staff: The AAP cited a study by a nonprofit school safety organization that conducted more than 8,000 video and audio drills. The organization found that school personnel who completed shooting training designed to make decisions on the spot were nearly twice as likely to make the wrong decisions in a crisis compared to untrained staff who relied on the sense. common.
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"It is possible, and even likely, that other well-intentioned preparedness efforts could inadvertently put children and adults in additional danger in a crisis situation," said the AAP. "Children (and adults) could be taught to fight a heavily armed intruder, when fleeing or hiding would be a more appropriate response."
Then there is the drill that the students are not prepared for. The AAP described an experience at a high school that "tricked" its students into thinking they were in the middle of a shooting. Students vomited, passed out and even wrote "goodbye notes" to their parents when they believed they were being attacked. The children escaped by jumping fences and stampeding down the hallways.
These high intensity crises can cause students to view adults and peers as "potential killers" and may increase their anxiety. The AAP recommended that schools eliminate drills that "fool" students and parents.
Future drills should incorporate student input, the association added, and students should be able to opt out of drills if they feel uncomfortable.
Gun safety activists condemn drills
Shooting drills have become an increasingly normal part of the school curriculum for Americans. During the 2015-2016 school year, about 95% of schools instructed students on lockdown procedures, according to a report from the US Department of Education.
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But both teachers and advocates of firearm safety have called them traumatic. In February, while face-to-face classes were still in progress, the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association teamed up with Everytown for Gun Safety, a coalition working to end gun violence, to publicly condemn mock shootings in schools. schools.
Everytown cited the lack of research into the effectiveness of active shooting drills and criticized school districts for paying thousands of dollars to for-profit companies promoting unproven techniques. The funds would be better spent on streamlined mental health programs, security updates and threat assessment programs, the coalition said.
Mental Health Drill School Shootings
