The Safety Circuit

The National Council of School Safety Directors held a roundtable where they discussed what was working to keep schools safe. They focused on moving from compliance to performance. This roundtable of experts from different school districts discussed various approaches to school safety including training, equipment, and testing systems. The main points were that school safety requires a shift from...

The Digital4Good Social Media Emergency Plan template is a five step plan designed to help you respond to online threats effectively. The plan has five steps: Assessment, Preparation, Response, After-action, and Communication. It includes resources such as emergency contacts, social media guidelines, and lists of commonly used apps with safety considerations. The plan emphasizes the importance of...

Digital4Good is an organization that focuses on building skills and promoting responsible digital citizenship among students. It also empowers young people to be part of the solution and fosters a positive school climate. By incorporating digital citizenship and youth empowerment into school safety strategies, we can create a more resilient and inherently safer community. Link to the the Digital4G...

The paper from the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools outlines the different types of technology used for detecting weapons, including physical detection systems, brandished weapon detection, gunshot detection, and X-ray detection. These technologies all have their own strengths and limitations, but when integrated into a larger safety framework, they can contribute to deterrence, detection, delay...

The Safer Buildings Coalition (SBC) is an organization focused on improving communication for first responders and building occupants during emergencies. SBC's mission revolves around three pillars: 911 calls and texts, mobile mass notifications, and first responder communications. They have several initiatives, including 911 inside, school safety, 911 location accuracy and indoor mapping, wor...

The Safety Circuit podcast, the hosts take a deep dive into the Rescue in Color Bleeding Control Kits, which are designed to provide individuals with the necessary tools and knowledge to respond to bleeding emergencies. The kit is created by experts with a focus on intuition under stress, and it includes practical features like clear instructions and versatile tools. It is also compliant with stat...

Mobile classrooms, also known as learning cottages or modulars, are an important part of schools but they bring unique challenges when it comes to safety and security. The Partnership Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS K12) has developed a white paper on how to turn mobile classrooms into secure learning spaces. This involves identifying vulnerabilities and implementing a layered security approach....

The Violence Prevention Project (VPP) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit research center that focuses on reducing violence through rigorous and accessible research. Founded by Dr. Gillian Peterson, a psychologist, and Dr. James Densely, a sociologist, VPP takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding violence. Their team and advisory board bring diverse backgrounds and real-world experience, which...

In this episode, This podcast is exploring the latest trends in school safety, based on a report that uses data from the Cetegix platform, as well as insights from school safety leaders. The report emphasizes the shift towards evidence-based decision making and the benefits of creating a school culture that prioritizes safety. We cover topics like the shift towards prevention and mitigation over p...

Moss Clubs are a student-led initiative aimed at empowering young people to take an active role in school safety and building a positive and inclusive school environment. The club provides a structure, known as the "powers" framework, for students to approach safety from multiple angles, including preparedness, observation, willingness, education, response, and support. The club offers p...

In this episode we take a deep dive into the Pinellas County Sherriff's Office (PCSO) "Family Reunification Centers." This is part of a detailed plan for managing the aftermath of a mass casualty event developed by PCSO. They have created a Family Reunification Center (FRC) which is a designated, secure location for friends and family to gather away from the chaotic scene. The FRC is...

In this episode of the Safety Circuit podcast, the hosts discuss their deep dive into the FBI's 2024 summary of active shooter incidents. They break down the key facts, locations, shooters, casualties, and outcomes of the 24 incidents documented in the report. They emphasize the importance of using this data to inform and adapt to the landscape of potential threats and to challenge assumptions...

This deep dive explores a specific section of the 2024 FBI Active Shooter report from the Behavioral Analysis Unit 1 (BAU1) regarding the prevention of active shooter incidents. BAU 1 is part of the FBI's Critical Incident Response Group and focuses on using behavioral science before an event occurs to identify risk and manage it through threat assessment and management principles.  It also di...

Based on the 2024 FBI Active Shooter Report, Alex & Ivy discuss the data from the 2024 FBI Active Shooter Report and its implications for prevention and mitigation strategies. They address the significant decrease in active shooter incidents this year and the most frequent locations and times for these incidents. They also analyze shooter demographics, insiderthreat data, and weapons used in t...

This episode of the podcast Safety Circuit with Alex and Ivy explores the recent Sandy Hook Promise Annual Impact Report and its findings on school safety and violence prevention measures. The report highlights the significant impact of programs such as Say Something and Start with Hello weeks, and the averted attacks through the crisis center. It also discusses wins in policy, media impact, and t...

The Safety Circuit podcast reflects on the findings of the official investigation into the Covenant School shooting. Seeking maximum notoriety, a lone attacker sought out a vulnerable and personal target in the Covenant School, attacking young children to amplify media coverage. The attacker's personal history with the school influenced their selection. The attack was planned meticulously, wit...

This episode explores the work of Sandy Hook Promise, an organization founded by the families of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting. The organization focuses on preventing gun violence and creating safer schools through education, advocacy, and personal legacies. Sandy Hook Promise is a nonprofit organization focused on preventing violence, especially in schools, in honor of the victims of th...

In this special edition of the Safety Circuit podcast, we walk through a scenario involving a chemical spill at a school. The scenario is broken into smaller time increments, and we pause at each one to ask how the crisis team should respond and what protocols they should follow. We also discuss the importance of preparedness and training for successful crisis response, and how this event may impa...

In this episode an inmate escapes custody and is reported to be heading towards a school. The school goes into lockdown and receives updates about the fugitive committing more crimes and evading the police. Students become restless and parents start calling the school for information. The crisis continues throughout the school day, causing complications with transportation and early dismissal. Sta...

In this episode a gas leak is reported in a school, prompting the school to follow safety protocols and evacuate the students. After 45 minutes, it is discovered that the gas leak was caused by a nearby construction crew, but no one informed the school. The crisis team must then navigate the situation, including a student having an allergic reaction, finding a relocation site for the students, and...

In today’s episode, we are going through chronologically a medical incident at a school. These episodes are meant to be tabletop exercises designed to challenge your thinking, test your instincts, and sharpen your response strategies. Important note before we begin: Every scenario you’ll hear is based on an actual event that took place in a school setting. These aren’t just hypothetical; they’re g...

In this episode the hosts examine the disturbing but deeply informative progression leading up to the Covenant School tragedy, using the official attack progression report as their primary source. They trace the attacker’s psychological and social history from early childhood through the years of mounting mental health struggles, social isolation, and a growing fixation on violence. Key themes eme...

ASIS International is a community of security practitioners, their members represent virtually every industry in the public and private sectors, and organizations of all sizes. This episode of the podcast is Part 2 of the ASIS School Security Standard that is to be released in 2025. What is discussed in this podcast is NOT a final product of the ASIS School Security Standard and is subject to chan...

ASIS International is a community of security practitioners, their members represent virtually every industry in the public and private sectors, and organizations of all sizes. This episode of the podcast is Part 3 of the ASIS School Security Standard that is to be released in 2025. What is discussed in this podcast is NOT a final product of the ASIS School Security Standard and is subject to chan...

ASIS International is a community of security practitioners, their members represent virtually every industry in the public and private sectors, and organizations of all sizes. This episode of the podcast is Part 2 of the ASIS School Security Standard that is to be released in 2025. What is discussed in this podcast is NOT a final product of the ASIS School Security Standard and is subject to chan...