After the school shooting in Thailand on the 7th, campus safety has become a focus. On the 18th, a secondary school in Bangkok held an active shooter drill, with police disguised as suspects entering the campus with guns, followed by a large police assault team. The drill was very realistic. The school emphasized that repeated drills aim to build real-time decision-making ability to reduce panic during crises.
According to Central News Agency, an armed police officer played the role of a gunman, entering the campus from the school gate and firing shots into the air. He then proceeded to the classrooms in the teaching building, continuously firing and knocking on classroom doors and windows. The vice principal, hiding in the corridor, immediately picked up a phone to call the police. The police then stormed in and subdued the suspect.
Because the drill scenario was highly realistic, gunshots rang out throughout the campus, some students screamed, and others teared up, creating a tense atmosphere for a while.
● Self-Protection Principles: Run, Hide, Fight
The police stated that the self-protection principles in the face of threats are to "Run, Hide, Fight." The purpose of the drill is to increase the chances of survival for teachers and students in emergencies and to minimize casualties.
The school said that the main purpose of holding the drill is to train students and teachers in decision-making when facing sudden incidents, including learning to observe their environment, stay calm, and judge how to respond.
In addition to response procedures, the school is also strengthening safety measures in terms of hardware, such as classroom door locks and automatic locking mechanisms, hoping to limit intruder access to classrooms in a crisis.
● Blocking Doors and Windows with Desks and Chairs
During the drill, when students heard the alarm, they immediately locked classroom doors and used desks and chairs to block doors and windows, then hid in the corners of classrooms to await school instructions. After confirming the suspect had been subdued by police, teachers and students left the classrooms quickly, with some students simulating gunshot wounds and being assisted by teachers and classmates for medical aid.