The Garland ISD has recently implemented the Standard Response Protocols of the I Love U Guys Foundation. The group’s founders realized the importance of clear language between first responders, students and staff existed and established uniformity in communication as well as incident response. Threats to school safety such as inclement weather, fires, accidents, intruders and others were studied, researched, analyzed and addressed. The Standard Response Protocol was the result of these efforts.
The SRP is based on the response to situations and includes specific terms. The four specific actions that can be performed during an incident are the focus.
The actions are:
Lockout – which is followed by the directive: “Secure the Perimeter” is the protocol used to safeguard students and staff inside the building.
Lockdown – which is followed by “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight” is protocol used to secure individual rooms and keep students quiet and in place.
Evacuate – which is always followed by a location, is used to move students and staff from one location to another, inside or outside the building.
Shelter is always followed by a type and a method and is the protocol for group and self- protection.
One of the benefits of SRP is that the standardized vocabulary allows everyone to understand the response and status of the event. Additionally, parents can understand and reinforce the protocol.
According to the foundation’s website, the differentiation between Lockout and Lockdown is a critical element. A Lockout brings all students in from outside the building, secures the perimeter and locks outside doors. This would be implemented when there is a threat or hazard outside of the building.
Crimes and other dangerous events would require a Lockout response. While the Lockout response encourages greater staff situational awareness, it allows classes to continue.
Lockdown is classroom-based and calls for locking classroom doors, turning off lights and getting students out of sight of corridor windows. It does not mandate locking outside doors which places staff and students at risk while trying to lock the doors and prevents entry of first responders.
There may be situations where both Lockdown and Lockout are necessary in which case they are identified separately. “Lockout! Secure the Perimeter. Lockdown! Locks, Lights, out of Sight.” would be announced on public address. We are in “Lockdown and Lockout” would be conveyed to emergency services.
Each campus will practice the new standards and explanatory materials will be clearly posted.
The system and materials are free to any district and the foundation only asks to be notified of a district’s use.