The Thoughts and Perspectives of Dominican University of California's Students, Faculty and Staff Regarding an Active Shooter Drill
Location
Guzman 111, Dominican University of California
Start Date
4-17-2019 3:40 PM
Student Type
Undergraduate
Faculty Mentor(s)
Michaela George, PhD, MPH
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
Research regarding the effectiveness of lockdowns and active shooter drills is severely inadequate but when reflecting back on the past school shootings, some evidence can be found from the different responses student had. The students at Sandy Hook had a passive response to the shooter which resulted in majority of the fatalities; they huddled in corners and hide under the tables when the shooter entered the room and when there were opportunities to run, evacuation did not occur.In comparison, the students at Virginia Tech had a more aggressive response. Students barricaded the door with their hands, feet or bodies. One professor created a barrier with his body to allow his students to escape from the windows. Of the 44 students present, only seven were killed and nine injured.These tragic instances illustrate that the difference between survival and death is taking an active response towards an active shooter.
Dominican University of California has emergency drills in place with fire and earthquakes evacuation drills.These drills occur around three to four times throughout an academic semester for the campus’s academic buildings and at least one that is unannounced for the residence halls.In addition to these drills, the school requires students to complete a sexual assault and safe drinking online course when they begin their first year at the school to increase safe student behaviors. While the university has emergency plans in place, it does not have an active shooting drill implemented nor does it have any student trainings on how they should respond. It would be beneficial to the school to investigate the measures they can take to increase the safety of their students and faculty. The amount of potential harm may be decreased in the case that a school shooting were to every occur if active shooter drills were carried out and students, faculty and staff were informed on how to behave during the emergency. This study seeks to the fulfill the gap in Dominican University of California’s emergency preparedness by examining the thoughts and perspectives of undergraduate students, faculty and staff regarding an active shooter drill.
The Thoughts and Perspectives of Dominican University of California's Students, Faculty and Staff Regarding an Active Shooter Drill
Guzman 111, Dominican University of California
Research regarding the effectiveness of lockdowns and active shooter drills is severely inadequate but when reflecting back on the past school shootings, some evidence can be found from the different responses student had. The students at Sandy Hook had a passive response to the shooter which resulted in majority of the fatalities; they huddled in corners and hide under the tables when the shooter entered the room and when there were opportunities to run, evacuation did not occur.In comparison, the students at Virginia Tech had a more aggressive response. Students barricaded the door with their hands, feet or bodies. One professor created a barrier with his body to allow his students to escape from the windows. Of the 44 students present, only seven were killed and nine injured.These tragic instances illustrate that the difference between survival and death is taking an active response towards an active shooter.
Dominican University of California has emergency drills in place with fire and earthquakes evacuation drills.These drills occur around three to four times throughout an academic semester for the campus’s academic buildings and at least one that is unannounced for the residence halls.In addition to these drills, the school requires students to complete a sexual assault and safe drinking online course when they begin their first year at the school to increase safe student behaviors. While the university has emergency plans in place, it does not have an active shooting drill implemented nor does it have any student trainings on how they should respond. It would be beneficial to the school to investigate the measures they can take to increase the safety of their students and faculty. The amount of potential harm may be decreased in the case that a school shooting were to every occur if active shooter drills were carried out and students, faculty and staff were informed on how to behave during the emergency. This study seeks to the fulfill the gap in Dominican University of California’s emergency preparedness by examining the thoughts and perspectives of undergraduate students, faculty and staff regarding an active shooter drill.