Psychiatrists ask: Defer active shooter drills
Two psychiatric groups have pushed for the postponement of scheduled live-shooter drills in public schools nationwide, saying current evidence does not show that these simulations “reduce casualties or prevent incidents.”
In a statement on Saturday, the Philippine Psychiatric Association (PPA) and Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (PSCAP) also said multiple studies demonstrate that the drills, which “expose learners to hyper-realistic scenarios of violence,” may cause lasting psychological harm.
The Department of Education (DepEd) earlier issued a memorandum ordering the conduct of a “Nationwide Simultaneous School Safety Drill for Active Attack Incidents” on Aug. 25.
The order was issued after last week’s shooting at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) that left two dead, including the gunman, a 14-year-old Grade 8 student who killed himself after shooting a Grade 10 student.
PPA and PSCAP stressed that while preparedness is crucial, safety exercises must be trauma-informed and based on scientific evidence.
They cited the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, which found inadequate evidence that high-intensity simulations improve safety outcomes and advised against the use of such drills and deceptive practices.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, they added, has warned against exposing children to high-intensity shooter simulations and the use of deception.
“School safety is best strengthened through measures that protect without causing trauma. Locks, controlled entry points, and perimeter security should be prioritized,” PPA and PSCAP said.
According to the groups, schools should consider tabletop exercises instead of live active-shooter simulations, allowing teachers, staff and parents to discuss and plan responses to hypothetical emergencies.
“For example, participants might ask: ‘If an intruder enters, who locks the doors? Who calls parents? Where do students go?’” they said.
At the same time, the groups stressed the need for inclusive participation, including appropriate accommodations for learners with disabilities, sensory-processing needs or previous traumatic experiences.
“Each school should conduct a needs assessment before developing and implementing drills, to ensure that the unique characteristics of its community are considered,” they said.
Tighter security
PPA and PSCAP stressed that their call for a deferment has the same objective as DepEd’s, which is to protect learners.
“That goal is best achieved through preventive, trauma-informed, and evidence-based measures, so that schools remain places of safety, resilience and hope,” they said.
The first active shooter drill was conducted at Manila Science High School in July, where the drill featured a simulated attacker armed with a plastic pistol entering the school compound, followed by an actual police response team.
It was prompted by a shooting attack carried out by two students in a Tacloban City school on June 22. While both shooters were arrested, three other students were killed, while at least 20 others were wounded.
After the Aug. 18 on-campus shooting, AdZU said it would implement tighter security measures and install more equipment.
“Beginning Monday, we will implement more thorough vehicle inspections, stricter ID checks, closer monitoring of entry and exit points, and tighter control of visitor access,” AdZU University president Fr. Ernald Andal, SJ., said on Saturday evening in a community update.
Andal said the school would enhance its security facilities long-term through “additional CCTV [cameras] in classrooms and hallways, strengthened real-time monitoring, additional metal detectors and X-ray machines at designated pedestrian entrances, and better visitor reception and holding areas.”
He added that AdZU continues to work with authorities on the shooting incident, with the official report expected to come out on Monday. —WITH A REPORT FROM KEITH CLORES
