How to Help Your Child Before Tragedy Strikes at School

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You first read this piece on February 15, 2018. Since then it has been one of the most read on YourSurvivalGuy.com. If you have children in school, take a moment to read through the information here that could prepare them for the worst. Be sure to also read Part II.

UPDATE 12.1.21: The recent school shooting in Michigan is a reminder to prepare your children against such tragedies. Take a moment to read through this piece I wrote after the Parkland, Florida shooting, and act on it today.

Tragedy struck yesterday in Parkland, Florida when 17 people were murdered by a psychopath as they attempted to enjoy their school day. As a parent hearing stories like this, it can be hard to send your child in to school the next day. The best we can do for our kids is to prepare for the sad reality that someday they may experience a situation like this.

It isn’t easy to imagine that the school your child attends every day could turn into a dangerous place. No parent wants to imagine willingly sending their children into harm’s way. But reality is harsh. Children face a wide variety of violence at school. The gamut runs from teasing to bullying to physical abuse and occasionally even violence perpetrated with bombs or firearms.

The question every time America is faced with violence at schools is, “what should be done about it?” There are myriad ways schools, police forces, and governments can better protect children, but it’s up to parents to talk to their kids about violence at school.

Your child or grandchild shouldn’t have to face any abuse or violence at school, and the first step to saving them from abuse is letting them know it’s not OK, and that, even as small as they are, they can have an impact on their own safety. Teach your child to think and act for themselves.

But how do you prepare your child for a shooter? The Department of Homeland Security recommends the Run, Hide, Fight strategy. The plan has many critics, but despite that, it’s easy for kids to remember and it’s a great place to start. The plan breaks down like this:

1. RUN
   • Have an escape route and plan in mind
   • Leave your belongings behind
   • Keep your hands visible
2. HIDE
   • Hide in an area out of the shooter’s view
   • Block entry to your hiding place and lock
     the doors
   • Silence your cell phone and/or pager
3. FIGHT
   • As a last resort and only when your life is
     in imminent danger
   • Attempt to incapacitate the shooter
   • Act with physical aggression and throw
     items at the active shooter

The same plan is also recommended for adults who could find themselves facing a shooter at the office or in a public place. Here’s an explanation video created by the city of Houston in 2012.

Despite some flaws, the Run, Hide, Fight plan is a simple way to focus kids and adults on protecting themselves in the face of violence, not just at school, but anywhere.

Most importantly, Run, Hide, Fight is a way to get a conversation started about your own situation. If the plan doesn’t work for your circumstance, at least you have established that and can work toward a plan that does. Don’t let inertia prevent you and your family from thinking about your own safety BEFORE tragedy strikes.

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E.J. Smith - Your Survival Guy

E.J. Smith is Founder of YourSurvivalGuy.com, Managing Director at Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd., a Managing Editor of Richardcyoung.com, and Editor-in-Chief of Youngresearch.com. His focus at all times is on preparing clients and readers for “Times Like These.” E.J. graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with a B.S. in finance and investments. In 1995, E.J. began his investment career at Fidelity Investments in Boston before joining Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd. in 1998. E.J. has trained at Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, NH. His first drum set was a 5-piece Slingerland with Zildjians. He grew-up worshiping Neil Peart (RIP) of the band Rush, and loves the song Tom Sawyer—the name of his family’s boat, a Grady-White Canyon 306. He grew up in Mattapoisett, MA, an idyllic small town on the water near Cape Cod. He spends time in Newport, RI and Bartlett, NH—both as far away from Wall Street as one could mentally get. The Newport office is on a quiet, tree lined street not far from the harbor and the log cabin in Bartlett, NH, the “Live Free or Die” state, sits on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest. He enjoys spending time in Key West (RIP JB) and Paris. Please get in touch with E.J. at ejsmith@yoursurvivalguy.com To sign up for my free monthly Survive & Thrive letter, click here.

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