Violent Events and Odds of Survival: How ALICE Training Saves Lives

As violent encounters become more common and active shootings start appearing in news headlines more frequently than ever before, more schools, colleges, and other educational facilities are in need of a clear active shooter situation protocol. One of these protocols that is being increasingly implemented across the schools in the U.S. is the ALICE training. The easy-to-remember acronym stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate, and involves a series of steps which ought to be taken in case of an emergency such as an active shooter situation.

With more schools taking steps to ensure safety of students and school staff through programs such as these, there’s been an increased interest in learning what this program is, how it works, and what it involves. With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about ALICE training and how it can help save lives.

What is ALICE training?

Used in active shooter emergencies in schools, business premises, and public spaces, ALICE training is a protocol that refers to a list of options that the participants have in case of a critical situation. It’s a training program whose implementation can make a difference between life and death in moments where seconds count and acting quickly is vital.

In cases where there is an active shooter on certain premises, everyone involved has to know what they need to do in order to maximize their chances of survival. This is what ALICE training drills aim to achieve.

What does ALICE training involve?

We already mentioned what the acronym ALICE stands for, but what actions does it actually involve? For starters, it’s vital that everyone is aware of the danger, which is achieved by alerting everyone the moment it becomes obvious that there’s an active shooter threat. The next step on the list involves locking the shooter out so they can’t get in. Many agree that this is by far the most effective step participants can take to increase their chances of survival.

As soon as it is safe to do so, you should inform others about the location of the intruder as well as the direction in which they’re headed. Use direct language to communicate the information in real time. Contrary to popular belief, the next step (Counter) doesn’t encourage active confrontation of the intruder as the first choice but rather as a last resort. It’s more about creating distraction to confuse the shooter through movement and noise. Finally, the last step involves evacuating by getting yourself out of the danger zone when it’s safe.

How does ALICE training help save lives?

An active shooter situation is a rather loud, hectic, and stressful one. During such moments, it can be easy to become paralyzed by fear and mishandle the situation that you’re in. Training programs such as ALICE drills are there to provide the knowledge and steps needed to ensure the best possible outcome for everyone involved. The way this is achieved is through assessment of the situation after which you make a decision about the best possible option for the particular situation. It’s not about taking action by following the order of words, but selecting the optimal response for a particular situation.

ALICE training provides options, and what’s important is that the steps are chosen according to the scenario. This is the only way to properly manage an active school shooting event and save lives in the process.

Why is ALICE training important?

Ever since the Columbine High School shooting that took place back in 1999, schools and other educational institutions have been implementing protocols such as ALICE as a way to prepare students and school staff for a potentially life-threatening situation.

The reality is, the frequency of active shooter events has increased significantly over the past two decades, with a total of 277 of them taking place between 2000 and 2018 in the U.S. alone. As such, implementing programs such as ALICE in schools, businesses, and similar facilities and public spaces is not a choice but a necessity. In doing so, everyone involved in the critical situation will be better equipped to react to the best of their abilities and keep the situation under control as much as possible before the law enforcement arrives.

ALICE training as a key to ensuring overall sense of security

Unpredictable, traumatic, and potentially life-threatening – active shooter events are instances in which every move is of crucial importance, and each second that passes is vital. Being trained in protocols such as ALICE means being prepared to respond quickly and efficiently, thus navigating the complex situation that is an active shooting incident.

Educational facilities along with business premises and public spaces can largely benefit from incorporating programs such as ALICE. Investing in these training means investing in the safety of building occupants and contributing to the overall sense of security.