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The School Shooting EpidemicCase Studies:

Virginia Tech Massacre

Blacksburg, VA April 17, 2007

Columbine High School

Littleton, CO

April 20, 1999

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Objectives• Review major school

shooting incidents• Focus on VA Tech and

Columbine

– EMS/Police Response– Triage and Transport– Community Response– Public Affairs/Media– School Safety– Mental Health

• School shooting in PLANNING exercises

• RESPONSE– awareness– develop systems– scene safety– Integration

• MITIGATION– school procedures– health care response– community

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Virginia Tech Disaster Day 1

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Questions For Discussion

• What went well with the response to the disaster? What should be improved?

• What are the key elements of a media message during and after a disaster? Any comments about the VA Tech president’s statements?

• Where might the primary triage site be for a

school shooting disaster?

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School Safety

• Open vs Closed Campus

• Layout

• Cameras and Metal Detectors

• Security personnel

• Willingness of systems to report concerning behavior

• Weapons policies

• Interventions for high risk students

• Community risks

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Shock and disbelief

turn to anger and blame….

How could we have known?

What could we have done differently?

Who is responsible?

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School shootings

bring immediate

national attention.

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Your scene and

medical facilities

will be flooded with

- Parents and family

- Students and friends

- Community

- Media

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EMS Response• Notification

• Scene control and assessment

• Search and rescue

• Triage and initial stabilization of victims

• Transport to definitive care

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DON’T BECOME A VICTIM……

Responders are becoming targets too.

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“Lionizing” of Killers

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Questions for Discussion

• Can school shootings be described as “viral” or “infectious”?

• What are some warning signs and demographic factors that characterize potential school shooters?

• What can be done to counter the cycle of school shooting violence at the individual level? The community level?

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DEBRIEFING

-Psychological Impact

-Medical Care Review

-Systems Review

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Psychosocial Issues

• Victim

• Bystanders

• Parents and Family

• School, Healthcare, Police Personnel

• Community

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Children deal with becoming celebrities and activists as a result of being victims and heroes.

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Evacuation of Victims and Hospital Response

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Hospital Response• Assess for plan activation• Handle convergence phenomenon• Triage and emergent care• Death and donors• Ongoing hospitalization• Debriefing

– Psychological impact– Medical care and systems

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The Convergence Phenomenon

• Law Enforcement

• Parents and Family

• Healthcare Personnel

• The Media

• SpectatorsQuickTime™ and a

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The incident is only the beginning. As more information is revealed, there is more to process psychologically for victims and community.

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The community as victims and as a support for recovery.

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Most students will cope well. Some will not and we need to find ongoing ways to identify them and provide help long term.

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Life goes on….

Returning to routine is important.

Striking a balance is an ongoing challenge.

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Placing the Blame

• Shooters parents/upbringing

• Other students

• School officials and policies

• School design and safety

• Law enforcement

• Gun access

• Litigation

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Lessons Learned

• A school shooting can happen in any community

• Children and adults will respond with ongoing psychological stress

• Refine multi-casualty response systems to include school children

• Review and drill school shooting scenarios• “Let it end here” is a goal

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Long Term Impact

• Psychological– Reminders– Vulnerability

• Catalyst for change– Activism– Frustration– Remedies