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Introduction
One recent incident of mass violence in the United States was the Parkland School Shooting that occurred on February 14th, 2018, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida (Schildkraut et al., 2022). The former school student shooter killed 17 people and injured 17 others. The incident lasted for approximately 6 minutes and sparked nationwide outrage and calls for stricter gun control measures. The shooter was arrested by the police shortly after.
Reason for Selection
I selected this incident for my research because it was a significant event that attracted national attention and sparked debates about school safety and gun control. Additionally, this incident highlights the importance of proper emergency response procedures and the impact of following or not following these procedures on the safety and health of emergency responders and the general public (Schildkraut et al., 2022). Furthermore, it serves as a reminder of the need for increased security measures in schools.
Distinction from Other Incidents
What distinguishes this incident from others is that it occurred in a school setting, which is supposed to be a safe and secure environment for children to learn and grow. The fact that a mass shooting could occur in such a setting is a reminder of the need for increased security measures and proper emergency response procedures (Schildkraut et al., 2022). Furthermore, it highlights the vulnerability of schools and the need for better preparedness in mass shootings.
Emergency Responders’ Procedures
Based on the available information, it appears that the emergency responders to this incident did not follow proper procedures. For instance, it has been reported that the school resource officer (SRO) assigned to the school did not enter the building during the shooting, which prevented him from engaging the shooter and potentially saving lives (Johnson, 2018). Additionally, some first responders reported communication issues, which hindered their ability to coordinate and effectively respond to the incident. Moreover, the lack of proper training and preparation on the part of the emergency responders may have contributed to their inability to respond to the incident appropriately.
Standard Operating Procedures
Having standard operating procedures in place would have helped to ensure that the emergency responders to this incident followed a clear and consistent approach to responding to the situation. This would have also helped to minimize confusion and ensure that the emergency responders were better prepared to handle the incident (Johnson, 2018). Standard operating procedures would have provided a clear action plan for the emergency responders, contributing to their safety and health during the incident.
Risk Management
Following the six steps of risk management, identifying hazards, analyzing hazards, evaluating risks, treating risks, monitoring, and reviewing would have helped to identify potential risks and dangers associated with responding to this type of incident. This would have allowed the emergency responders to better prepare for the incident and respond more effectively and safely (Johnson, 2018). Additionally, the development of industry response standards to incidents like this would have been informed by the results of the risk management process, which would have helped ensure that the emergency responders were better prepared to respond to similar incidents in the future.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Parkland School Shooting highlights the importance of proper emergency response procedures and the need for increased security measures in schools. The incident serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of not following reasonable procedures and the need for increased preparedness in the event of mass violence. The development of standard operating procedures and the application of risk management principles would have helped minimize the incident’s impact and ensure the safety and health of the emergency responders. By learning from incidents like this, we can work to improve our response procedures and protocols and better prepare for similar incidents in the future. U.S. must continue to address the issue of mass violence and work towards creating safer communities for everyone.
References
Johnson, S. A. (2018). Discussion of change needed following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, a brief response. Journal of Forensic Sciences & Criminal Investigation, 7(5). Web.
Schildkraut, J., Cowan, R. G., & Mosher, T. M. (2022). The Parkland mass shooting and the path to intended violence: A case study of missed opportunities and avenues for future prevention. Homicide Studies, 108876792110625. Web.
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