@article{ref1,
title="Active shooter drills in the United States: a national study of youth experiences and perceptions",
journal="Journal of Adolescent Health",
year="2020",
author="Moore-Petinak, N'dea and Waselewski, Marika and Patterson, Blaire Alma and Chang, Tammy",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to understand youth experience and opinion surrounding active shooter drills.   METHODS: MyVoice is a national text message poll of the youth ages 14-24 years that collects youth opinion on salient policy issues. Participants are recruited to meet national benchmarks. Five open-ended probes were posed to participants on August 2, 2019. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis; quantitative data were summarized using descriptive statistics.   RESULTS: Among respondents (815 of 1283; 63.5%), the average age was 18.7 years (SD = 2.9). Most were girls (52.9%), non-white (42.8%), and with < high school diploma (56.9%). Responses centered around three themes: drill methods vary, active shooter drills cause emotional distress, and youth perceive drills to have questionable benefit. The majority (60.2%) mentioned that drills make them feel &quot;scared and hopeless,&quot; but many (56.1%) also noted drills &quot;teach kids on what to do.&quot; Others (24%) stated drills do not improve safety because they inform potential shooters or are ineffective because &quot;people will likely panic, forgetting their drill.&quot;  CONCLUSIONS: Many youth report that active shooter drills have a negative effect on their emotional health and are conflicted on their effectiveness.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1054-139X",
doi="10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.06.015",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.06.015"
}