Participation of Children and Adolescents in Live Crisis Drills and Exercises. Pediatrics 2020 Sep;146(3)
Date
08/26/2020Pubmed ID
32839245DOI
10.1542/peds.2020-015503Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85090249546 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 15 CitationsAbstract
Children and adolescents should be included in exercises and drills to the extent that their involvement advances readiness to meet their unique needs in the event of a crisis and/or furthers their own preparedness or resiliency. However, there is also a need to be cautious about the potential psychological risks and other unintended consequences of directly involving children in live exercises and drills. These risks and consequences are especially a concern when children are deceived and led to believe there is an actual attack and not a drill and/or for high-intensity active shooter drills. High-intensity active shooter drills may involve the use of real weapons, gunfire or blanks, theatrical makeup to give a realistic image of blood or gunshot wounds, predatory and aggressive acting by the individual posing to be the shooter, or other means to simulate an actual attack, even when participants are aware that it is a drill. This policy statement outlines some of the considerations regarding the prevalent practice of live active shooter drills in schools, including the recommendations to eliminate children's involvement in high-intensity drills and exercises (with the possible exception of adolescent volunteers), prohibit deception in drills and exercises, and ensure appropriate accommodations during drills and exercises based on children's unique vulnerabilities.
Author List
Schonfeld DJ, Melzer-Lange M, Hashikawa AN, Gorski PA, COUNCIL ON CHILDREN AND DISASTERS, COUNCIL ON INJURY, VIOLENCE, AND POISON PREVENTION, COUNCIL ON SCHOOL HEALTHAuthor
Marlene D. Melzer-Lange MD Adjunct Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAge Factors
Child
Child, Preschool
Civil Defense
Deception
Emergency Shelter
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Pediatrics
Schools
Simulation Training
Societies, Medical
Survivors
United States
Young Adult
