PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION

(June 20, 2013 – Medina, Ohio).

Vice President Joe Biden released new guidelines for school safety on Tuesday (June 18), six months after the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., that left 26 dead, including 20 children.  Beyond seeking shelter and waiting for police to arrive, as many Newtown victims did, the new rules also advise to fight back — as a last resort — in a bid to stop the shooter.

Greg Crane, founder of the ALICE training program commented, “These new federal recommendations are testimony that we’ve been doing things right for the last eight years.  They’ve touched on every aspect of ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate).  We were the first training program in the country that provided response options when a shooter gained entry into a class room – other than sit there.  We’ve been doing this eight years now.  It’s rewarding to know we’re having a national impact on school safety.”

With regard to the Counter strategies in ALICE as well as these new federal recommendations, Crane echoed the words of Ohio’s Attorney General, “The only thing that is controversial is the idea is that you sit there and let an active shooter come into the classroom and mow down kids.”  Crane went on to say that any ‘Counter’ techniques must be age appropriate and rely heavily on noise and movement.

The US Department of Education’s report, on page 65, states “If running is not a safe option, hide in as safe a place as possible.  Students and staff should be trained to hide in a location where the walls might be thicker and have fewer windows.  In addition:  Hide along the wall closest to the exit but out of view from the hallway (allowing for an ambush of the shooter and for the possible escape if the shooter enters the room).”

ALICE Training is changing how schools, universities and businesses respond to armed intruders.  ALICE (Alert, Lock-down, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate), developed after Columbine, teaches strategies to survive a life-threatening event.  Supported by educators and law enforcement organizations, ALICE is quickly becoming the new standard of care across the nation.

For More Information Contact:

Name:                  Dave Mueller

Email:                   [email protected]

URL:                    www.alicetraining.com