Asking if safety drills are necessary is like asking if Mr. J has candy: YES! Safety drills are crucial for Red Knights, even if some find them frustrating. The short troubles of a safety drill are a small price to pay when it comes to the long-term safety and preparedness of students.
First of all, safety drills save lives by preparing students for real-life possibilities. Every second counts when it comes to situations like a fire, tornado, or the presence of an intruder. Safety drills simulate the genuine situation so they protect lives. Often students learn from a young age what to do during an emergency, so by the time they reach high school these drills seem repetitive. Frequently, students at BSM complain about having to do yet another drill because we practice them regularly. However, students need to have repetition so they know what to do in the event of an emergency.
Drills are also important for reducing anxiety in real-life emergencies. They allow students to feel more familiar with the conditions even under the high pressures of it happening. The minor inconvenience of taking time out of the day to practice safety allows them to become familiar with what to do and where to go. A feeling of familiarity can reduce fears and increase the confidence of students in the actual case of a crisis, as they have a sense of what they are expected to do in the case of an emergency.
Furthermore, these drills reach beyond the walls of BSM. They extend to fire safety, evacuation processes, and lock-in processes, which are valuable lessons for students to carry into their adulthood. Drills prepare students in the future for the unexpected at work, at home, or in public areas. There have been many momentary complaints about the inconvenience of going outside or not being able to go into the hallways during precaution drills. I think students should experience twenty minutes of inconvenience, rather than a lifetime of regret. The minimal minutes spent preparing for emergencies may seem like just an in-school exercise, but they can be applied to real-life safety situations.
Safety drills may seem annoying to students, but they are essential for saving lives, reducing fear, fostering responsibility, and preparing for real-world challenges. If students treat these drills with the seriousness they deserve, the brief inconvenience is worth the long-term benefit. In the end, it’s not just about your safety, but also the safety of everyone around you.