Surviving the First Five Minutes of a School Shooting – Daniel Dluzneski pt 1

Surviving the First Five Minutes of a School Shooting

Daniel Dluzneski pt 1

We have all seen the news reports of active shootings taking place in schools, businesses and things like that. We have all watched as parents grieve and people ask,

“Why?”

“Why did this happen?”

“What could have been done differently?”

We all remember Columbine… it was after that event that “active shooter” training started to be taught to law enforcement. I had to go through it as a police officer. I prayed I would never need to use it… but I was ready if it ever took place.

You don’t have time for S.W.A.T. in most cases. In fact, you don’t really have time for the police to arrive before you take some kind of action. This is now taught to churches, businesses and schools across the country.

At the first indication of an active shooter, the first five minutes are the most important for your survival and those you love and care about. If you do the right thing in those first few minutes, your chances of survival jump immensely.

Remember the adage, “When you need help now, the police are only minutes away.”

Our guest today specializes in conducting “Active Shooter Training” for schools and businesses.

Daniel Dluzneski is a retired 24 year member of US Secret Service Agency. The Former Coordinator for Emergency Management, Safety and Security for the Pinellas County Schools in Florida and the author of very important book titled, appropriately, “The First Five Minutes: School Shooting Survival Guide for Administrators and Teachers.”

Help me welcome to the program, Daniel Dluzneski. Daniel, thank you for joining us today to discuss this very important topic.

Let’s start with this question first. Other than that brief information I just shared, can you tell us in your own words, “Who is Daniel Dluzneski?”

I remember when we were running active shooter drills with our department, we were a State Police agency and had state buildings, etc. to protect, as well as infrastructure, etc. Without going into all of the details because I don’t want to give away tactics, etc. in case someone is listening… we knew the initial responding officers would be the ones to make entry. There was no more, surround and secure and wait 30-45 minutes for the SWAT team. You were going in and you needed to rely on your patrol partners in the process.

I don’t want to get into the procedures and tactics from the law enforcement perspective, but in your book, you give several steps administrators can use to increase the survivability of this type of situation. You start with the effectiveness of lockdowns. Can you share with us the “how and why” this is a vital first step?

Folks, unfortunately, the day and time in which we live is one in which things like this are starting to happen more and more. Our society is devolving and not evolving. It used to be unthinkable that situations like we discussed today would ever happen. Now, not only do we see them happening more and more – we actually need to prepare for them happening.

I urge you, at a minimum, to drop down into the show notes and order a copy of Daniel Dluzneski’s book, “The First Five Minutes: School Shooting Survival Guide for Administrators and Teachers.” I would hope and pray you never need to implement any of the emergency situations in this book. But, if you do, they will save your life and the lives of those around you.