“The ALICE training method emphasizes that the best way to survive an active, violent situation is to evacuate when the opportunity exists rather than simply lockdown and hide. If students and staff cannot evacuate, then they should be educated about various options,” he said.
The ALICE Training Institute, located in Medina, Ohio, strives to change how schools, universities and businesses respond to armed intruders. The program, developed after Columbine, teaches school employees the necessary information to keep children safe.
“The new alert system is designed to inform as many people as possible about a dangerous situation. Under the old method we used code words and did not communicate about the specifics of the situation. With ALICE we are empowering people to make decisions based on various forms of communication. This has proven to be very effective and increases the opportunity to save lives,” said Waynesville High School Principal Randy Gebhardt.
According to the ALICE Institute website, most violent intruder situations last between five and seven minutes. “Typically, first responders take longer than that to enter a compromised building. Research has shown that civilians have stopped active shooter events twice as many times as police intervention. Why? Because they were already there. ALICE equips you with strategies to better prepare for life-and-death encounters. You cannot rely on law enforcement alone. Learning to save your own life is imperative.”
Alert focuses on simple, clear communication. Lockdown is used as a starting point to create a semi-secure situation before evacuating or countering the intruder. Inform uses any means necessary to pass on real-time information, including the intruder’s whereabouts. Counter focuses on actions that create noise, movement, distance and distraction with the intent of reducing the intruder’s ability to shoot accurately. Finally, ALICE training provides techniques for safer and more strategic evacuations.
Dubbs stressed that neither the program nor the district incorporates armed teachers or staff members.
Gebhardt and Coordinator of Student Services Tracy Poole have completed ALICE training. They are both certified and will train all district staff before starting actual practice activities with students during the 2014-15 school year.
“We are very excited about the ALICE program and feel the measures we are taking are putting our students and staff in the safest environment,” Gebhardt said.
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