Early childhood educators in Louisiana are receiving active shooter training this week. Institute for Childhood Preparedness Director Andrew Roszak said this age group, of zero to five, is often overlooked and they offer specialized instructions on how to respond and even prevent an active shooter.
“And we’re teaching them tools, tips, providing resources on how best to prepare their facilities, secure their facilities and then develop their response plans,” said Roszak.
The organization is conducting 11 training sessions in Louisiana this week blanketing the state from Shreveport to New Orleans in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Education. Roszak said they’ve received positive feedback from individuals who’ve completed the training.
“We were able to stop a bad person from gaining entry. Because of the training, we were able to handle a really messy divorce or a custody battle. Because of the training, we were much more aware of what was going on in our community,” said Roszak.
Last year there were 647 mass shootings in the U.S. and there have already been 79 this year alone.
Participants are able to practice the techniques they’ve learned in a controlled environment and receive feedback from professional instructors. Roszak said it’s very important for early childhood educators to be prepared for the worst to protect such a vulnerable age group.
“I’ve got the care, the custody, and the control of the youngest citizens of Louisiana, and that means something to me. So, I’d rather be prepared and think about what to do ahead of time versus trying to develop a plan on the fly,” said Roszak.
You learn more about the organization at childhoodpreparedness.org.
To register for classes click here.
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