"I think that's very important for me as a parent and a childcare provider that I know what is the best plan of action." Which is why Amanda Simmons attended a forum to learn about the A.L.I.C.E. Violent Intruder Program.
Simmons wanted more information as a parent and as a professional. "My kids did say they had a drill, but is that the most effective drill?"
She wasn't the only one asking that question. It was standing room only at the presentation lead by A.L.I.C.E. trainer, Mike Clark. The name A.L.I.C.E. is an acronym.
"It's alert, lock down, inform, counter, evacuate," says Clark.
The program teaches people how to respond when they encounter an active shooter. Clark says the strategies aren't just for schools, workplaces can use them. "If you get the information out and they have the knowledge to safely escape the situation, that's what we're hoping for."
He walked through the options in Tuesday's forum. Be aware of your surroundings, stay in one place, communicate with co-workers, escape. All are common tactics, but he says they don't always work. "If he gains access to your room and you have no other choice, it's time to fight back because if you don't, you're just going to become another statistic."
And that's part of the program that really enlightened the crowd. Clark said, many schools train teachers to go into lock down, but that isn't always the best option. "To us that's a bad thing because if that shooter gains access to their room and kids are lined up on the wall, they're just static targets."
Valuable information participants say they'll pass along because they all have the same objective.
"We want to make sure we're doing everything possible to make sure that children are safe," says Deborah Chubb.
The forum was hosted by the Indiana Youth Institute, for more information click here.
