What are lockdown drills?

Lockdown drills are a preventative strategy used to keep individuals safe when there is an immediate threat to the building or community (NASP, 2018).

Types of Lockdown Drills

There are different forms of lockdown drills that are used depending on the location and severity of the threat. The terminology between schools differ (i.e., internal threat, external threat, shelter in place, etc.). The following are two common examples of lockdown drill procedures:

Full lockdown:”Lock/barricade doors, close blinds, cover windows, turn out lights, be silent, and make rooms seem unoccupied” (NASP, 2018).
Lock out: “Lock classroom and exterior doors; no one enters or leaves the building, but teachers continue with instruction” (NASP, 2018).

Opposing Viewpoints

While schools in Michigan are required to complete two lockdown drills each school year, there is controversy regarding effectiveness and outcomes following lockdown drills.

Positives:

Lockdown drills help keep students and staff physically safe during a threat (NASP, 2018).
Using a post-study, between subject design with 74 fourth through sixth grade students, Zhe and Nickerson (2007) concluded that lockdown drills can increase knowledge and skill, while maintaining perceptions of safety (if completed with best practice).

Drawbacks:

Traditional lockdowns are “no longer a viable - stand alone option” (Jonson, et al., 2018).
“Lockdowns save lives during real attacks, but even when there is no gunman stalking the hallways, the procedures can inflict immense psychological damage on children convinced that they’re in danger”. - Washington Post
Lockdown drills have the potential to lead to psychological stress, anxiety or trauma symptoms (NASP, 2018).

Best Practices and Recommendations

Lockdown drills are considered the best practice in response to a threatening situation. When completing a lockdown, the following are considered best practices (NASP, 2018):

Have a plan that considers the developmental level and needs of those involved.
Be prepared for a lockdown by conducting drills, working collaboratively with law enforcement to determine the type of lockdown needed, communicating with parents, and actively supporting staff and students demonstrating signs of stress or trauma.
Use clear, direct language.
Use the least-restrictive form of lockdown when possible to reduce a stress-provoking situation (Rich & Cox, 2018).
Provide supports following the lockdown to reassure students of safety (Rich & Cox, 2018).

Conclusions

When implementing lockdown drills, it is recommended that schools evaluate how well their current practices align with best practices. The following are some questions to guide this process:

Does our school regularly conduct lockdown drills? What types?
What language is used to communicate a lockdown drill?
Do students know the drills are occurring? Do they know why?
Are staff informed about trauma and mental health?
Is an evaluation completed following a lockdown drill to consider areas of improvement

Resources

National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). (2018). Mitigating Negative Psychological Effects of School

Lockdowns: Brief Guidance for Schools. Bethesda, MD: NASP. Retrieved from

https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources/school-safety-and-crisis/mitigating

psychological-effects-of-lockdowns

Jonson, C. L., Moon, M. M., & Hendry, J. A. (2018). One Size Does Not Fit All: Traditional Lockdown Versus Multioption

Responses to School Shootings. Journal of School Violence, 1-13.

Rich, S. & Cox, J. (2018, December, 26). ‘What if Someone was Shooting?’. The Washington Post. Retrieved from

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/local/school-lockdowns-in-america/

noredirect=on&utm_term=.691bf68cc005

Zhe, E. J., & Nickerson, A. B. (2007). Effects of an Intruder Crisis Drill on Children's Knowledge, Anxiety, and

Perceptions of School Safety. School Psychology Review, 36(3).

Lockdown Drills

SCHOOL SAFETY