shelter in place suggestions --long

[Venus Pax]

Considering the VT massacre, I believe this would be as good a time as any to talk to my building-mate about a shelter-in-place in the event of an attack. (There are two of us that share a single small permanent building. We each have a door on either side of the building. We share a walk-in closet between us.)

She is as sheeple as they get, so I don't expect her to bring much to the table in the way of ideas. In fact, I may need to convince her on the importance of having a plan. (I would only discuss the shelter-in-place aspect, and not methods of fighting back or encouraging students to do so, as she would be in the prinipal's office in 2.5 seconds telling him what a freak I am, and I would be escorted off campus.)

I would like to create a "layering" plan. Ex: First plan is for students to stay close to the ground and prepare their school supplies as weapons while I'm securing the room. However, I don't know how to secure the room from the inside. My door opens out, which means I can't jam it with a chair. Her's does too, and she would most definitely panic before she could turn the key from outside the room. What would be a good way to secure the room if we can't get outside to manually lock the door?

Squeezing everyone into the closet is another option I have under consideration.

I plan to teach students how to get an outside line on our phone system so they can call 911.


My next layer is fighting, should the critters enter the building. For this, I need to have tools on hand that look practical and innocent. I was thinking of hammers and door wedges for the closet. I was also thinking of different types of spray. If I were to shoot an attacker from across the room with the 25 ft. wasp and hornet killer, would it incapacitate it?

What other things can I put in my goodie bag?

Looking for your suggestions for both myself and to direct students.

[longtooth]

This is good planning. WE have a response at the church but I have never tried to establish one w/o evident weapons.
This may take some time for us all to think about.
Good start.
LT

[GlockenHammer]

Hmm. Tough situation.

First, what grade to you teach? That makes a difference how you treat the kids. I'd be extremely cautious about teaching them to fight because of parental backlash and possible misbehavior that will later be blamed on you.

For improvised weapons, consider a letter opener that reasonably sharp and strong with a good handle. A hammer is a really good idea. I'd be careful with any chemicals because of the kids and accidental exposures. Besides, I doubt something like wasp killer is going to have the kind of effect you'd get from OC spray (which I'd certainly keep handy if allowed).

The doors are tough to suggest without seeing them. Perhaps your plan can be to join in the closet and when he enters one of the rooms, you should be able to escape through the other?

[srothstein]

You know, it is a sad comment on any society when a school teacher has to make plans to defend the students in case of an attack. An even sadder comment is that it is so rare to see a teacher doing so, knowing the possibility in today's society. Thank you for thinking ahead on this and making plans.

I think you have a good idea in what you said but I think you also need to consider exit and evacuation plans. Are there windows on both sides of the building, where if the BG is trying to get in the door, you might be able to get the kids out the windows on the other side?

Also consider if the BG enters the other half of the building, can you block the closet so there is no entry through to your side?

To secure the door that opens out, I can only think of one thing. Slip in some weekend when no one is around and put a hasp or sliding bolt type latch on the door. Event he screw and hook latches would help. If you can put two on (top and bottom), it might be able to secure the door enough to get the BG to go somewhere else. I realize these are only delays if he wants in your building, but it is all I can think of.

As for the improvised weapons, anything sprayed in their eyes will slow them down for a few minutes. I am not sure about the insecticide you mentioned, but we tend to shield our eyes very well for that reason, that they are easily irritated. Probably the best improvised weapon that looks innocuous is an alcohol based spray and a cigarette lighter. Most hairsprays are flammable and if you hold the lighter in front, you have a homemade flame thrower.

Also, while I hate to recommend sacrificing yourself, remember that it is very unnerving to have a victim fight back and run at you. If the BG does get in, and you charge at him, you will probably be shot BUT it is very unlikely to hit an immediately deadly spot. You can probably immobilize him long enough for the kids to get out and hopefully get help.

I hope someone else who has thoguht this out can chime in with a better answer. As I was typing this, I did think of reminding you to watch the Home Alone series again. They did come up with some very neat improvised weapons in the movies. Some, like spreading a slippery substance on the floor, might actually be workable.

[seamusTX]

First of all, thank you for thinking about these issues.

Your tax dollars at work: http://www.ready.gov/

More specifically: http://www.ready.gov/america/_downloads ... 040129.pdf

I think Steve's suggestion of adding bolts to the door is a good one. It's probably against some rule, but ... If you don't ask permission, they can't say No.

When I was in college, a common prank was to jam nickel coins between a door and the door frame of a dorm room. That made it impossible for the person inside to turn the knob. You could do the same thing more quickly with a wooden wedge and a hammer.

Fox brand spray is supposed to be incapacitating. I have no experience with it, but it has been mentioned here several times. It is completely legal in Texas, though your employer may have a rule against it.

There are many legal, lethal weapons. I think a steel-headed cane might be your best bet, though using it requires training.

- Jim

[razoraggie]

Readily Available Items in a Classroom:

I help my wife "semi-stock" her room with several itmes that could be used for defense. Excuse the curtness of possibly sounding brutal, but defense is made to stop a threat, not be polite.

1. Bleach in a cup thrown into the face or eyes is quite incapacitating.
2. Scissors may be available for either cutting or stabbing.
3. If the desk leggs are adjustable, they may be removed for a striking weapon.
4. An aluminum baseball bat could probably be brought in without raising any eyebrows.
5. I agree with hammers and door wedges...also you may consider a precut 2x4 to possibly brace the door if the floor permits.

[stevie_d_64]

Readily Available Items in a Classroom:

I help my wife "semi-stock" her room with several itmes that could be used for defense. Excuse the curtness of possibly sounding brutal, but defense is made to stop a threat, not be polite.

1. Bleach in a cup thrown into the face or eyes is quite incapacitating.
2. Scissors may be available for either cutting or stabbing.
3. If the desk leggs are adjustable, they may be removed for a striking weapon.
4. An aluminum baseball bat could probably be brought in without raising any eyebrows.
5. I agree with hammers and door wedges...also you may consider a precut 2x4 to possibly brace the door if the floor permits.

Venus...

I like some of these ideas...

Not sure about keeping a cup of bleach ready to use in case of attack is such a hot idea in a classroom though...but it is clever...

I would also probably not discuss anything outside of things like this with your building mate there...

You go beyond the obviously PC things like that and I can guarantee a discussion with folks upside of your paygrade may insue...But you use your own good judgement...I'm sure this will all work out in a good way for you and your kids...

[Wildscar]

4. An aluminum baseball bat could probably be brought in without raising any eyebrows.

Just be sure you have a ball with it (No pun intended ). That way its a sporting equpiment. Not just a club. I was once told that if you carry a baseball bat alone you coul dbe arested for carry weapon but if you had a ball next it it changed it to sporting equpiment. True or not I dont know. But it kinda made since.

Also hold a lighter in front of that wasp spray. You then get a good 15ft flame thrower that will act like naplam in away. Just don't hold it too long or the flame goes into the can and blows up.

[RPBrown]

Wasp spray won't be of much help for short term unless you hit in the eyes. Long term is another story.

My daughter ( who is also a teacher) bought a cheap perfume in spray bottle. Not near as evident as OC nor as likely to create a problem with sheeple. However, just as effective if you hit the eyes.

1/4" steel plate on one of the adjoining doors? Just a thought.

[SRVA]

Don't forget the fire extinguisher. A shot in the face with a dry chem extinguisher will disable someone long enough for you to get in a good solid blow to a strategic point on the body with the empty bottle.

[stevie_d_64]

Don't forget the fire extinguisher. A shot in the face with a dry chem extinguisher will disable someone long enough for you to get in a good solid blow to a strategic point on the body with the empty bottle.

You know you have to wonder why no one used a few extinguishers at VT to distract an approach or rush of others to tackle this Cho guy...

And extinguishers are all over the place in facilities like that...

[John]

With a length of rope, you can tie the door knob and the the other end to something secure (like maybe the closet door knob or a window sill). If the door opens out, an intruder would not be able to open the door. Make sure the rope is not elastic.

A couple of heavy paper weights could come in handy too.

[G.C.Montgomery]

Don't forget the fire extinguisher. A shot in the face with a dry chem extinguisher will disable someone long enough for you to get in a good solid blow to a strategic point on the body with the empty bottle.

This instantly brought to mind the image of Venus doing her best to wrap an empty fire bottle around some moron's head.

[lrb111]

VP you could use a cable to secure the door, and claim it was a bicycle lock.

It might require installing a hook for one end. All the parts are off the shelf items at Home Depot. A carabiner on one end of the cable, or a padlock that would make a slip knot would work.

I'll look up the parts for you later. Pressed this morning.

[MikeJ]

If you'll pardon a dumb question, VP, will the walls of your small building stop bullets? In other words, is the building cover or just concealment?