How Safe Do Students Feel During Lock-Down Drills? By: Manuel Colorado

Many schools around the world have certain procedures in case of an emergency. However, these procedures can have a negative effect on students and cause them more stress. According to Make Our Schools Safe, “mental health professionals and parents on the topic that children are being traumatized by lockdown drills, active shooter drills, evacuation drills and of course, school shootings.” Molly Dunleavy, a Junior at Hillgrove High School said, “The most stressful part is when we’re all tucked away in the dark, trying not to make a sound. The silence feels so heavy like even breathing too loud might give something away. That’s when everything gets real in your mind.” 

Most schools tend to just turn on an alarm for the code red drills, while some give an announcement. According the NIH, “The committee was tasked with examining the potential short- and long-term mental, emotional, and behavioral health effects of school active shooter and lockdown drills, as well as other school security measures (e.g., metal detectors, police presence, locked doors/controlled access) on students and school staff. Given that both the nature and volume of empirical evidence on school active shooter drills differ significantly from what is available for other school security measures.”  Kennedy Ryans a Junior at Hillgrove High School, “Explaining the purpose of each step in the drill would help. Also, giving us a quick chance to ask questions afterward would make it feel less like something we just have to get through.” 

While code red drills are different for each school level, some students still have fear of them. According to Wiley, “Lockdown drills are widely implemented in U.S. public K-12 schools, yet little is known about their impacts on school employees. This study examines how participation in lockdown drills and emergency response training impact faculty, staff, and administrators' fear of harm (both personal and altruistic) and their perceived risk of a school shooting.” Tiara Lance a Junior at Hillgrove High School stated, “For younger kids, explaining things in simpler, less scary terms. For high schoolers, more straightforward communication without sugarcoating, but still focusing on calm rather than fear."