Key Points When Speaking With School Leaders About Active Shooter Protection

Key Points When Speaking With School Leaders About Active Shooter Protection

Hundreds of thousands of students have been exposed to gun violence since Columbine and it is getting worse, not better – the five deadliest shootings in the U.S. have occurred in roughly the past 10 years. Moreover, 7 in 10 mass shootings have occurred in schools and businesses.

While implementing long-lasting solutions is needed, eradicating gun violence in America will take time. But implementing defensive measures such as Emergency Response Shields can protect teachers and students immediately.

An Emergency Response Shield is armor designed to be hung on the wall in an easily accessible location, much like a fire extinguisher. The shield is the fire extinguisher for gunfire, and should be placed with other emergency tools for ease of access.

The recommendation to follow fire code in terms of shield quantity, installation, and training makes the Emergency Response Shields easy to implement. Installation of the same number of shields as fire extinguishers mean the tool will be easily accessible approximately every 75 feet within the building.

In the event of an active shooter situation, able-bodied faculty, staff, and students can protect and defend themselves using the shield. It provides a critical layer of protection when escape is not an option and first responders have not yet arrived. Additionally, the shields are a critical tool for first responders who may or may not have ballistic shields available upon their arrival at the active shooter event.

The shields stop ammunition from assault rifles (including green tip rounds), shotguns, and handguns, and will also protect against blades and blunt force weapons.

These defensive measures work with the Department of Homeland Security’s Active Shooter Preparedness Program recommendations to “Run, Hide, Fight” and the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) to “Avoid, Deny, Defend.”

In school lockdown or evacuation situations, armor products – coupled with training – empower able-bodied faculty, staff, and students to defend themselves from a threat with added confidence and a greater chance of survival. Armor stops bullets and saves lives.

The technology used in these bulletproof measures is derived from armor technologies developed for Department of Defense Programs and fielded on United States military vehicles and used in federal law enforcement body armor.

Years of implementation in schools and other public facilities have shown the shields provide significant benefits to mental health, as students and staff feel empowered and protected. Armor can also deter an attack. Predators prefer to attack soft targets and will shy away from a well protected and armored school. Products such as this create a renewed sense of security and confidence in both our teachers and students that they can be safe in school.

More information is available at www.hardwirellc.com or feel free to contact us at 1.800.HARDWIRE.

TALKING POINTS | When talking to SCHOOL LEADERS